Erin Durant
@erindurant42.bsky.social
Founder of Durant Barristers. I like sports, law and birds. Currently lawyering part-time.
View my photography website at https://erindurant.smugmug.com
View my photography website at https://erindurant.smugmug.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Erin Durant
For context: Jack served as head of the Office of Legal Counsel during the Bush administration. He’s widely regarded—especially in conservative legal circles—as a leading authority on executive power. The fact that he’s expressing this view in such stark terms is significant.
Harvard Law School’s Jack Goldsmith:
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
November 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
For context: Jack served as head of the Office of Legal Counsel during the Bush administration. He’s widely regarded—especially in conservative legal circles—as a leading authority on executive power. The fact that he’s expressing this view in such stark terms is significant.
I’m very concerned for the people of Venezuela. I’ve met several other the years through the sport of softball and I hope they are going to be okay.
November 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I’m very concerned for the people of Venezuela. I’ve met several other the years through the sport of softball and I hope they are going to be okay.
Reposted by Erin Durant
So apparently the administrators at Northwestern have caved to the extortionist demands of the Feds. Faculty voted 595-4 AGAINST this measure.
November 29, 2025 at 3:30 AM
So apparently the administrators at Northwestern have caved to the extortionist demands of the Feds. Faculty voted 595-4 AGAINST this measure.
This was an excellent discussion about AI and some of the policy decisions that governments need to be making now to avoid some of the dangers of AI. It’s worth a listen: doac-perks.com/r/V_j74qZv2o.
November 29, 2025 at 12:27 AM
This was an excellent discussion about AI and some of the policy decisions that governments need to be making now to avoid some of the dangers of AI. It’s worth a listen: doac-perks.com/r/V_j74qZv2o.
I’m grateful the court found us a judge to handle today’s application. I’m very grateful that my senior associate Andrew Paterson did an excellent job on behalf of our client. I’m also proud that I made another positive step in the right direction by attending briefly and helping where I could.
November 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I’m grateful the court found us a judge to handle today’s application. I’m very grateful that my senior associate Andrew Paterson did an excellent job on behalf of our client. I’m also proud that I made another positive step in the right direction by attending briefly and helping where I could.
I wish to be an emotional support person for an elderly flamingo. Or a baby flamingo.
‘It’s a real honour’: B.C. man gains grumpy bird’s trust, becomes emotional support person for elderly flamingo #BritishColumbia
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/sa...
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/sa...
‘It’s a real honour’: B.C. man gains grumpy bird’s trust, becomes emotional support person for elderly flamingo
When Travis Budgeon began working at the Butterfly Gardens, the horticulturalist met all sorts of bugs, and one particular bird.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 27, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I wish to be an emotional support person for an elderly flamingo. Or a baby flamingo.
I got invited to a US conference hosted in Florida. I was very clear that the reason I would not attend was Donald Trump and his economic war on Canada. My personal and business travel budget will be spent elsewhere and mostly in Canada.
🚨 Several US conferences that bring together scientists have seen their attendance levels drop this year as a result of the Trump administration's war on DEI, following the anti-science blueprint of Project 2025.
#Science
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#Science
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘Anti-woke’ policies blamed for falling attendance at some US conferences
Scientific meetings that support Black, Latino and Indigenous researchers are grappling with funding cuts and other restrictions.
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I got invited to a US conference hosted in Florida. I was very clear that the reason I would not attend was Donald Trump and his economic war on Canada. My personal and business travel budget will be spent elsewhere and mostly in Canada.
A friend has asked if I could take headshot photos of their firm’s lawyers. I’m a bit concerned that lawyers may be more challenging to photograph than birds. We tend to be much less cute.
November 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
A friend has asked if I could take headshot photos of their firm’s lawyers. I’m a bit concerned that lawyers may be more challenging to photograph than birds. We tend to be much less cute.
No new photos today because it’s a rainy, foggy mess of a day in Ottawa. Here’s one of my favourites from earlier in the year. Blue-headed vireo. #photography
November 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM
No new photos today because it’s a rainy, foggy mess of a day in Ottawa. Here’s one of my favourites from earlier in the year. Blue-headed vireo. #photography
I was pleased to speak with a journalist today about court delays and how they impact civil litigation clients. I shared that recent experiences with delays and unpredictability are factors leading me away from that field of practice.
November 26, 2025 at 4:21 PM
I was pleased to speak with a journalist today about court delays and how they impact civil litigation clients. I shared that recent experiences with delays and unpredictability are factors leading me away from that field of practice.
Little know fact: this is now the second iteration of the independent professional Canadian Baseball League. My husband Brad played in the first attempt, for the Trois-Rivières Saints. I hope this league lasts longer than the CBL v 1 which shut down after half a season.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Kitchener Panthers excited for next season under newly formed Canadian Baseball League | CBC News
Next season, the Kitchener Panthers and Guelph Royals will be part of the Canadian Baseball League, a revamped pro version of the Intercounty Baseball League.
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Little know fact: this is now the second iteration of the independent professional Canadian Baseball League. My husband Brad played in the first attempt, for the Trois-Rivières Saints. I hope this league lasts longer than the CBL v 1 which shut down after half a season.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Is that one man extremely tall or is everyone else miniature?
Some wins for multilateralism at the G20 — and big questions about its long-term future
Next century will see 'diffusion of energy and influence,' Carney says
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Next century will see 'diffusion of energy and influence,' Carney says
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
ANALYSIS | Some wins for multilateralism at the G20 — and big questions about its long-term future | CBC News
The G20 summit is supposed to be the pinnacle of multilateralism: the idea that nations can co-operate, compromise and co-ordinate for the greater good. But a lot has changed in the past two decades.
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Is that one man extremely tall or is everyone else miniature?
“I wouldn’t recommend that people try to get themselves in his crosshairs, but I would certainly say that anyone who finds themselves in those crosshairs should be standing up and speaking out, and not cutting deals or capitulating.”
We need more people like @marcelias.bsky.social.
We need more people like @marcelias.bsky.social.
Marc Elias: Capitulating To Trump Isn’t Strategy — It’s Surrender abovethelaw.com/2025/11/marc...
Marc Elias: Capitulating To Trump Isn’t Strategy — It’s Surrender - Above the Law
Above the Law’s 2020 Lawyer of the Year Is still fighting to protect your right to vote.
abovethelaw.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
“I wouldn’t recommend that people try to get themselves in his crosshairs, but I would certainly say that anyone who finds themselves in those crosshairs should be standing up and speaking out, and not cutting deals or capitulating.”
We need more people like @marcelias.bsky.social.
We need more people like @marcelias.bsky.social.
November 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
This outcome bothers me. Especially given how 23 Chinese swimmers were treated who actually did test positive for a banned substance (they were permitted to compete in the Olympics anyway). Given Penny’s age and stage, this could very well be the end of her career.
www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/art...
www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/art...
Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak accepts two-year ban for whereabouts failures
Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak has been banned from all competition until the summer of 2027 due to an anti-doping rule violation.
www.sportsnet.ca
November 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This outcome bothers me. Especially given how 23 Chinese swimmers were treated who actually did test positive for a banned substance (they were permitted to compete in the Olympics anyway). Given Penny’s age and stage, this could very well be the end of her career.
www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/art...
www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/art...
First time noticing what a beaver’s ear looks like. #photography
November 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
First time noticing what a beaver’s ear looks like. #photography
I’d like to report a murder. Last night and this morning at Mer Bleue Bog #photography
November 24, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I’d like to report a murder. Last night and this morning at Mer Bleue Bog #photography
Look at this dog!!! 12/10
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Look at this dog!!! 12/10
Reposted by Erin Durant
November 24, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Were you a sleeper cell spy? In fifty years, will all this be declassified? And you'll confess why you did it and I'll say, "Good riddance" 'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden. I would've died for your sins, instead, I just died inside. And you deserve prison, but you won't get time.
November 24, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Were you a sleeper cell spy? In fifty years, will all this be declassified? And you'll confess why you did it and I'll say, "Good riddance" 'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden. I would've died for your sins, instead, I just died inside. And you deserve prison, but you won't get time.
I highly recommend the book Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism (2025) by Sarah Wynn-William, a former Facebook/Meta director of global public policy. It’s eye opening on these issues.
Imagine knowing your platform was a playground for predators, fueling teen depression, eating disorders, and suicide and deciding the best course of action was… absolutely nothing. Meta didn’t just “miss” anything.
November 23, 2025 at 11:27 PM
I highly recommend the book Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism (2025) by Sarah Wynn-William, a former Facebook/Meta director of global public policy. It’s eye opening on these issues.
A very wintery weekend in Ottawa. #photography
November 23, 2025 at 10:19 PM
A very wintery weekend in Ottawa. #photography
Associates will return because they have to. The real question is whether the equity partners will return.
Four-Day Attendance Mandates Meet Reality: Partners Hope Associates Show Up, But Aren’t Holding Their Breath
https://abovethelaw.com/2025/11/four-day-attendance-mandates-meet-reality-partners-hope-associates-show-up-but-arent-holding-their-breath/
Four-Day Attendance Mandates Meet Reality: Partners Hope Associates Show Up, But Aren’t Holding Their Breath
Biglaw firms are just coasting on vibes when it comes to their in-office work requirements.
abovethelaw.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Associates will return because they have to. The real question is whether the equity partners will return.