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
Hey, read this. lpeproject.org/blog/whistli...
February 12, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Hey, read this. lpeproject.org/blog/whistli...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court's opinion in 2017 held that RCV couldn't be used for general elections for state offices because of constitutional provisions requiring the person "having the largest number of votes" to win. It was an utterly atextual and ahistorical opinion. They should reverse it.
There's a chance that Maine's next governor could be elected with well short of a majority of the vote, especially with two sitting legislators running as independents. But things could change if Democrats succeed in their drive to have ranked-choice voting cover general elections for state offices.
Morning Digest: How Maine Democrats plan to implement ranked-choice voting for governor this fall
The state Supreme Court stands in their way, but they're hoping for some help from ... Alaska
www.the-downballot.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:14 PM
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court's opinion in 2017 held that RCV couldn't be used for general elections for state offices because of constitutional provisions requiring the person "having the largest number of votes" to win. It was an utterly atextual and ahistorical opinion. They should reverse it.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Props to everyone who recognized this story as bullshit from the jump. The heuristic “they’re lying” will almost always get you to the correct answer
BREAKING: DOJ moves to drop criminal charges in alleged shovel/broom attack in Minneapolis that led ICE to open fire. "Newly discovered evidence in this matter is materially inconsistent with the allegations in the Complaint Affidavit," prosecutors say. www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
February 13, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Props to everyone who recognized this story as bullshit from the jump. The heuristic “they’re lying” will almost always get you to the correct answer
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Fun fact on Oldham, he believes that a Government official subject to Ex Parte Young liablity can avoid it in a preinforcement challenge simply by making a nonbinding disclaimer of an intent to enforce against the particular plaintiff.
My money has long been on Oldham, who wrote a completely unprincipled opinion in the Watson mail-in ballot case before the Supreme Court. He's one of the few people who I think would be worse than Alito on the Court (Bove too, for corruption reasons)
electionlawblog.org?p=152986
electionlawblog.org?p=152986
February 12, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Fun fact on Oldham, he believes that a Government official subject to Ex Parte Young liablity can avoid it in a preinforcement challenge simply by making a nonbinding disclaimer of an intent to enforce against the particular plaintiff.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Ring cancelled its partnership with Flock after Super Bowl ad blowback - by Annie Palmer @cnbc.com... www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/a...
Amazon's Ring cancels Flock partnership amid Super Bowl ad backlash
Ring's decision to cancel its partnership with Flock comes as tech companies face growing pressure to reexamine their work with federal agencies.
www.cnbc.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Ring cancelled its partnership with Flock after Super Bowl ad blowback - by Annie Palmer @cnbc.com... www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/a...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Incredibly powerful opinion chronicling the awfulness in Whipple and the ways it interfered with the right to counsel.
One key part of the ruling (that ICE will likely appeal ASAP); Judge Brasel bars ICE from transferring anyone out of Minnesota within 72 hours of arrest.
One key part of the ruling (that ICE will likely appeal ASAP); Judge Brasel bars ICE from transferring anyone out of Minnesota within 72 hours of arrest.
February 13, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Incredibly powerful opinion chronicling the awfulness in Whipple and the ways it interfered with the right to counsel.
One key part of the ruling (that ICE will likely appeal ASAP); Judge Brasel bars ICE from transferring anyone out of Minnesota within 72 hours of arrest.
One key part of the ruling (that ICE will likely appeal ASAP); Judge Brasel bars ICE from transferring anyone out of Minnesota within 72 hours of arrest.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
I shared this the other day before I actually read it bc I trust @skennedy2504.myatproto.social and @liberalcurrents.com enough and wanted to remember to read it later lol
now it's later and I can confirm: strong stuff here on the justices' media environment
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-supreme-...
now it's later and I can confirm: strong stuff here on the justices' media environment
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-supreme-...
The Supreme Court Lives in Fox News' America
A Court that does not share a common factual world with the people it governs is untethered from democratic reality.
www.liberalcurrents.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:11 PM
I shared this the other day before I actually read it bc I trust @skennedy2504.myatproto.social and @liberalcurrents.com enough and wanted to remember to read it later lol
now it's later and I can confirm: strong stuff here on the justices' media environment
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-supreme-...
now it's later and I can confirm: strong stuff here on the justices' media environment
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-supreme-...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
There are many reasons why some Jewish orgs abandoning coalitional allies is short-sighted. I'll add one more: when bigotry against other groups seeps into the mainstream, it inevitably bolsters antisemitism too. If you care about antisemitism, you can't afford NOT to care about other bigotries.
That Train Is Arriving On Schedule
One of my recent hobbyhorses has been to raise the alarm at one of the single most self-destructive trends I've witnessed in contemporary Je...
dsadevil.blogspot.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:05 AM
There are many reasons why some Jewish orgs abandoning coalitional allies is short-sighted. I'll add one more: when bigotry against other groups seeps into the mainstream, it inevitably bolsters antisemitism too. If you care about antisemitism, you can't afford NOT to care about other bigotries.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Executive capture of agency decision making….
Trump official overruled FDA scientists to reject Moderna's flu shot — Ars Technica
FDA's top vaccine regulator, Vinay Prasad, is known for overruling scientists.
apple.news
February 13, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Executive capture of agency decision making….
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Truly stomach-turning shit, like, their depravity knows no limitations. These children need to be freed, and their captors need to face consequences
The Trump administration is incarcerating migrant girls in, essentially, a forced pregnancy camp.
Trump administration is sending pregnant migrant girls to South Texas shelter flagged as medically inadequate
Government sources and advocates for the children worry the goal is to concentrate them in Texas, where abortion is banned.
www.kut.org
February 12, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Truly stomach-turning shit, like, their depravity knows no limitations. These children need to be freed, and their captors need to face consequences
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
BREAKING: Following Law Dork's filing on Tuesday, the court in U.H.A. v. Bondi lifted the sealing requirement — aka, our third request — for the documents to be submitted, including the ICE rescission memo relating to 8 USC 1159.
Subscribe to Law Dork: www.lawdork.com
Subscribe to Law Dork: www.lawdork.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:32 PM
BREAKING: Following Law Dork's filing on Tuesday, the court in U.H.A. v. Bondi lifted the sealing requirement — aka, our third request — for the documents to be submitted, including the ICE rescission memo relating to 8 USC 1159.
Subscribe to Law Dork: www.lawdork.com
Subscribe to Law Dork: www.lawdork.com
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
February 12, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
This is a long one, but stick with it; I think we had a really great conversation that gets into everything from the nuts and bolts to the greater historical picture.
NEW. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on Trump's mass deportation regime.
“The government wants to arrest, detain, and deport one in every 24 people—4% of the population. That can't be done without transforming who we are and our relationship to law enforcement.”
youtu.be/AJ9WFEhCpTM?...
“The government wants to arrest, detain, and deport one in every 24 people—4% of the population. That can't be done without transforming who we are and our relationship to law enforcement.”
youtu.be/AJ9WFEhCpTM?...
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick: Trump’s Mass Deportation Regime
YouTube video by Conversations with Bill Kristol
youtu.be
February 12, 2026 at 10:17 PM
This is a long one, but stick with it; I think we had a really great conversation that gets into everything from the nuts and bolts to the greater historical picture.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
“we‘ve been working to gut the Fourteenth Amendment for generations. we are so proud”
well, there it is
February 12, 2026 at 8:15 PM
“we‘ve been working to gut the Fourteenth Amendment for generations. we are so proud”
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
well, there it is
February 12, 2026 at 4:24 PM
well, there it is
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
really interesting to me how many professional political commentators have basically retconned the draconian immigration enforcement policies of Obama and Biden out of existence and have completely swallowed the right wing narrative of immigration enforcement
Not going to read them all because jesus fucking christ but this is nasty work from Friedersdorf
February 12, 2026 at 4:29 PM
really interesting to me how many professional political commentators have basically retconned the draconian immigration enforcement policies of Obama and Biden out of existence and have completely swallowed the right wing narrative of immigration enforcement
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Let me introduce everyone to the 24th Amendment! C’mon down, Fighting 24th:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election…shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election…shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Thank you, Julie Johnson, for speaking out against the grotesquely misnamed SAVE act. We need you to keep fighting for us in the House.
February 12, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Let me introduce everyone to the 24th Amendment! C’mon down, Fighting 24th:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election…shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election…shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
This is interesting. Federal court finds a woman faced with serious harm from pregnancy but not death has a right to terminate the fetus not b/c abortion is a constitutional right but because of the ancient and well-recognized right to self-defense! Yes! storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:40 PM
This is interesting. Federal court finds a woman faced with serious harm from pregnancy but not death has a right to terminate the fetus not b/c abortion is a constitutional right but because of the ancient and well-recognized right to self-defense! Yes! storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
See ICE wants these cases in Texas, where Trump-infected courts are more tolerant of their antics, more biased against non-citizens, more willing to let DHS fill up concentration camps.
(Not all Texas judges, for sure. Plenty are bravely faithful to the rule of law. ICE is playing the numbers)
17/
(Not all Texas judges, for sure. Plenty are bravely faithful to the rule of law. ICE is playing the numbers)
17/
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
See ICE wants these cases in Texas, where Trump-infected courts are more tolerant of their antics, more biased against non-citizens, more willing to let DHS fill up concentration camps.
(Not all Texas judges, for sure. Plenty are bravely faithful to the rule of law. ICE is playing the numbers)
17/
(Not all Texas judges, for sure. Plenty are bravely faithful to the rule of law. ICE is playing the numbers)
17/
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Meanwhile, DHS shows its contempt for the judiciary in a different way. In dozens, likely now thousands, of cases, DHS openly defies court orders.
Minnesota courts enter orders forbidding ICE from moving noncitizens who’ve filed habeas petitions out of Minnesota. They move them anyway.
16/
Minnesota courts enter orders forbidding ICE from moving noncitizens who’ve filed habeas petitions out of Minnesota. They move them anyway.
16/
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Meanwhile, DHS shows its contempt for the judiciary in a different way. In dozens, likely now thousands, of cases, DHS openly defies court orders.
Minnesota courts enter orders forbidding ICE from moving noncitizens who’ve filed habeas petitions out of Minnesota. They move them anyway.
16/
Minnesota courts enter orders forbidding ICE from moving noncitizens who’ve filed habeas petitions out of Minnesota. They move them anyway.
16/
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
Legal status doesn’t matter: if you exceed ICE’s melanin threshold, you get snatched. It is ethnic cleansing. There is no other word for it.
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Legal status doesn’t matter: if you exceed ICE’s melanin threshold, you get snatched. It is ethnic cleansing. There is no other word for it.
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
Reposted by Jerry Edwards
I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it.
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it.
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/