Jerry Edwards
@jerryedwards.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Law at West Virginia University College of Law. Formerly an ACLUFL Attorney. I enjoy writing about free expression, academic freedom, and American history.
All opinions are my own, not my employer's, and are correct, probably.
All opinions are my own, not my employer's, and are correct, probably.
Pinned
Jerry Edwards
@jerryedwards.bsky.social
· Aug 15
I am excited to announce that my article, Academic Freedom's Inflection Point, will be published in the Boston College Law Review in 2026. The SSRN link is below. I plan to make revisions to address feedback & new developments (ex. a terrible govt speech opinion). Comments are welcome & appreciated!
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
“higher immigration literally saves lives—and suggests that, by extension, lower immigration costs lives. The reason is health care for the elderly... when a community attracts more immigrants, seniors are less likely to end up in health care institutions and, ultimately, less likely to die.“
Another Deadly Consequence of Trump’s Deportation Campaign — The Bulwark
We just got new evidence of how much we stand to lose by getting rid of people from “shithole” countries.
apple.news
February 11, 2026 at 8:36 PM
“higher immigration literally saves lives—and suggests that, by extension, lower immigration costs lives. The reason is health care for the elderly... when a community attracts more immigrants, seniors are less likely to end up in health care institutions and, ultimately, less likely to die.“
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
As powerful a visual as one can imagine about how insincere “tough on crime” types are when they claim they put victims first.
They only see victims as useful tools for advancing their desire to engage in punitive social control.
Victims who do not advance that goal don’t count.
They only see victims as useful tools for advancing their desire to engage in punitive social control.
Victims who do not advance that goal don’t count.
Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground
February 11, 2026 at 8:15 PM
As powerful a visual as one can imagine about how insincere “tough on crime” types are when they claim they put victims first.
They only see victims as useful tools for advancing their desire to engage in punitive social control.
Victims who do not advance that goal don’t count.
They only see victims as useful tools for advancing their desire to engage in punitive social control.
Victims who do not advance that goal don’t count.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
My paper on the original meaning of birthright citizenship is now published
February 11, 2026 at 3:13 PM
My paper on the original meaning of birthright citizenship is now published
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
In which Ilan fails to explain why his very long article does not take a firm position on whether the children of unlawful entrants and temporary visitors are birthright citizens whereas his brief defends the constitutionality of Trump’s EO, and evidently hopes that no one will notice.
February 11, 2026 at 6:01 PM
In which Ilan fails to explain why his very long article does not take a firm position on whether the children of unlawful entrants and temporary visitors are birthright citizens whereas his brief defends the constitutionality of Trump’s EO, and evidently hopes that no one will notice.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Still glad I rerouted our flight first thing because this makes no damn sense and it seems like the administration is particularly up to no good down there right now.
February 11, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Still glad I rerouted our flight first thing because this makes no damn sense and it seems like the administration is particularly up to no good down there right now.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
New Knight Institute Initiative to Focus on "Reconstructing Free Expression" After Trump. @jameeljaffer.bsky.social: "This initiative is meant to encourage creative and ambitious thinking about how to build a system of free expression that serves democracy better." knightcolumbia.org/content/new-...
New Knight Institute Initiative to Focus on “Reconstructing Free Expression” After Trump
knightcolumbia.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:36 PM
New Knight Institute Initiative to Focus on "Reconstructing Free Expression" After Trump. @jameeljaffer.bsky.social: "This initiative is meant to encourage creative and ambitious thinking about how to build a system of free expression that serves democracy better." knightcolumbia.org/content/new-...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
February 11, 2026 at 3:43 AM
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
“Historians call this passageway a masterwork of deliberate concealment, designed to be absolutely invisible to slave catchers or city marshals during the 19th-century”
Safe house linked to Underground Railroad discovered in Manhattan
The Merchant's House is the first landmarked building in Manhattan.
ny1.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:59 AM
“Historians call this passageway a masterwork of deliberate concealment, designed to be absolutely invisible to slave catchers or city marshals during the 19th-century”
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
The political party that just really cares about the First Amendment sure seems to like locking people up for protected speech.
NEW: The Trump admin publicized the arrest of an "antifa domestic terrorist," implying he was charged with threatening federal agents. But the criminal complaint suggests Kyle Wagner was charged with Instagram beefing with controversial rightwing agitator Jayden Scott.
zeteo.com/p/trump-admi...
zeteo.com/p/trump-admi...
The Trump Admin Arrested an Antifascist for Shit-Talking a Fascist
A supposed ‘antifa domestic terrorist’ was arrested for ‘cyberstalking’ a controversial right-wing agitator who showed up at a reporter’s home to threaten him.
zeteo.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:03 AM
The political party that just really cares about the First Amendment sure seems to like locking people up for protected speech.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
... while the National Cancer Institute is now looking into whether ivermectin can cure cancer.
Personalist politics is going to kill more and more people. Our entire public health structure is run by a worm-addled madman whose sole goal is to sate the ego of a decompensating Trump.
Madness.
Personalist politics is going to kill more and more people. Our entire public health structure is run by a worm-addled madman whose sole goal is to sate the ego of a decompensating Trump.
Madness.
I genuinely cannot believe the degree to which we are pissing away this generational breakthrough, even given the fuckmuppets who are involved www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
FDA declines to review Moderna's mRNA flu shot
Under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration has taken an aggressive stance against mRNA technology.
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:32 AM
... while the National Cancer Institute is now looking into whether ivermectin can cure cancer.
Personalist politics is going to kill more and more people. Our entire public health structure is run by a worm-addled madman whose sole goal is to sate the ego of a decompensating Trump.
Madness.
Personalist politics is going to kill more and more people. Our entire public health structure is run by a worm-addled madman whose sole goal is to sate the ego of a decompensating Trump.
Madness.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
6 months for assault with a cloth hat
This one will definitely make the Harpers letter
This one will definitely make the Harpers letter
NEW: Jonathon Redondo-Rosales, a 36-year-old LA protester, spent six months in jail accused of assaulting a federal officer with a *cloth hat.*
A judge tossed out the DOJ’s case, accusing govt of acting in “bad faith” and engaging in “prosecutorial harassment“ that could “chill lawful protest”
A judge tossed out the DOJ’s case, accusing govt of acting in “bad faith” and engaging in “prosecutorial harassment“ that could “chill lawful protest”
Case dismissed against LA protester accused of assaulting federal officer with cloth hat
Judge says US government acted in ‘bad faith’ in case of Jonathon Redondo-Rosales, 36, who spent six months in jail
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:48 AM
6 months for assault with a cloth hat
This one will definitely make the Harpers letter
This one will definitely make the Harpers letter
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
February 11, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
On top of everything else, these people are embarrassingly incompetent. When all that matters is loyalty, this is the administration that you get.
KENNEDY: The Census Bureau is under your jurisdiction & responsible for defining what it means to be poor, is that right?
LUTNICK: I don't know
K: Well you need to look, bc it does. What's the % of Americans who live below poverty level?
L: I don't know
K: It's around 11%. It's been constant
LUTNICK: I don't know
K: Well you need to look, bc it does. What's the % of Americans who live below poverty level?
L: I don't know
K: It's around 11%. It's been constant
February 10, 2026 at 7:26 PM
On top of everything else, these people are embarrassingly incompetent. When all that matters is loyalty, this is the administration that you get.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Final result in OK is 64-36 GOP win *BUT* this was a Trump+58 seat, so that's a 29-point overperformance for Dems. Also two smaller overperformances in deep-blue VA districts—but it's usually hard to run up the score in a lopsided district.
Our Big Board: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Our Big Board: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
February 11, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Final result in OK is 64-36 GOP win *BUT* this was a Trump+58 seat, so that's a 29-point overperformance for Dems. Also two smaller overperformances in deep-blue VA districts—but it's usually hard to run up the score in a lopsided district.
Our Big Board: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Our Big Board: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
I point out no Democrat asked why an investigation is not even open on Renee Good’s death to repeat to everyone: an investigation is the bare minimum. And as I noted last week, the difference between how Renee’s death has been treated is simultaneously sexist and deeply misogynistic.
February 10, 2026 at 10:01 PM
I point out no Democrat asked why an investigation is not even open on Renee Good’s death to repeat to everyone: an investigation is the bare minimum. And as I noted last week, the difference between how Renee’s death has been treated is simultaneously sexist and deeply misogynistic.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
the statute that Jeanine Pirro reportedly tried to indict congressional Dems under, 18 USC 2387, was originally passed as part of the 1947 Smith Act, a notorious law used to clamp down on free speech during the Red Scare
They tried to prosecute members of Congress under the Smith Act. Absolute scenes
February 11, 2026 at 2:37 AM
the statute that Jeanine Pirro reportedly tried to indict congressional Dems under, 18 USC 2387, was originally passed as part of the 1947 Smith Act, a notorious law used to clamp down on free speech during the Red Scare
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Trump's DOJ tells the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office to block investigations into ICE shootings and prosecute Don Lemon instead ...
Joseph Thompson *quits Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office and *represents Don Lemon instead
good shit
Joseph Thompson *quits Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office and *represents Don Lemon instead
good shit
Look at who is PHVing Abbe Lowell and team into MN to represent Don Lemon.
February 11, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Trump's DOJ tells the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office to block investigations into ICE shootings and prosecute Don Lemon instead ...
Joseph Thompson *quits Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office and *represents Don Lemon instead
good shit
Joseph Thompson *quits Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office and *represents Don Lemon instead
good shit
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Holy shit.
February 11, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Holy shit.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
At least for now, the original version, with the climate chapter, is still up on the FJC website. I've downloaded my zamizdat copy for future reference, and everyone else should as well.
www.fjc.gov/sites/defaul...
www.fjc.gov/sites/defaul...
February 11, 2026 at 2:43 AM
At least for now, the original version, with the climate chapter, is still up on the FJC website. I've downloaded my zamizdat copy for future reference, and everyone else should as well.
www.fjc.gov/sites/defaul...
www.fjc.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Wild (also a surprisingly forthright account in the article) www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
Grand Jury Rebuffs Justice Dept. Attempt to Indict 6 Democrats in Congress
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Wild (also a surprisingly forthright account in the article) www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
The framers were wrong about a lot of stuff but they were definitely onto something with juries
More details here:
“Federal prosecutors …
sought and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who posted a video this fall that enraged President Trump …
who demanded that the lawmakers be punished and even suggested that they should be executed.”
“Federal prosecutors …
sought and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who posted a video this fall that enraged President Trump …
who demanded that the lawmakers be punished and even suggested that they should be executed.”
Grand Jury Rebuffs Justice Dept. Attempt to Indict 6 Democrats in Congress
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:58 AM
The framers were wrong about a lot of stuff but they were definitely onto something with juries
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
As a Hachette author, one who has written an entire novel about book bans, this is so deeply disappointing and maddening.
A publisher makes choices as to what to publish. Choosing not to offer on a book is NOT a ban. It is NOT censorship to say, we'll pass. Publishing a book is a CHOICE.
A publisher makes choices as to what to publish. Choosing not to offer on a book is NOT a ban. It is NOT censorship to say, we'll pass. Publishing a book is a CHOICE.
“I’m telling you this because right now, Hachette’s website is all about book bans: how wrong they are, and how readers like you can (and must) do your part to stop them.” @jaywillis.net on the hypocrisy of Hachette publishing noted book banner Sam Alito’s new book: open.substack.com/pub/ballsand...
Sam Alito’s Publisher Wants You to Buy the Children’s Books He Just Made It Easier to Ban
The author of Mahmoud v. Taylor is writing a book for a publisher that calls the push to ban books with LGBTQ characters an attack on “one of the most important foundations of a free society.”
open.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:07 PM
As a Hachette author, one who has written an entire novel about book bans, this is so deeply disappointing and maddening.
A publisher makes choices as to what to publish. Choosing not to offer on a book is NOT a ban. It is NOT censorship to say, we'll pass. Publishing a book is a CHOICE.
A publisher makes choices as to what to publish. Choosing not to offer on a book is NOT a ban. It is NOT censorship to say, we'll pass. Publishing a book is a CHOICE.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Also kind of pointless. I can't imagine that Alito would rule against Louisiana in anything, unless somehow the state randomly has a case against Trump (unlikely, given its politics). The only decision rule that guides Alito is "the party further to the right wins." Why bother sucking up?
They're calling it the most embarrassing op-ed of all time: The Louisiana SG, who has multiple cases pending before the Supreme Court right now, writing an essay about how his old boss, Justice Samuel Alito, is the nicest, smartest, bestest justice who ever lived www.foxnews.com/opinion/i-wo...
February 11, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Also kind of pointless. I can't imagine that Alito would rule against Louisiana in anything, unless somehow the state randomly has a case against Trump (unlikely, given its politics). The only decision rule that guides Alito is "the party further to the right wins." Why bother sucking up?
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
My article, "The Unitary Executive and Politics," is officially published in the Ohio Northern University Law Review. I thank the editors at ONU for their assistance and hard work!
Read it and cite it!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Read it and cite it!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:34 AM
My article, "The Unitary Executive and Politics," is officially published in the Ohio Northern University Law Review. I thank the editors at ONU for their assistance and hard work!
Read it and cite it!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Read it and cite it!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....