John Q. Barrett
@johnqbarrett.bsky.social
Benjamin N. Cardozo Professor of Law,
St. John's University, NYC.
Robert H. Jackson Center.
Jackson biographer.
Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure,
Legal History, Nuremberg, SCOTUS.
Iran-Contra & DOJ alum.
Wisconsin native.
#JacksonList
St. John's University, NYC.
Robert H. Jackson Center.
Jackson biographer.
Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure,
Legal History, Nuremberg, SCOTUS.
Iran-Contra & DOJ alum.
Wisconsin native.
#JacksonList
Pinned
John Q. Barrett
@johnqbarrett.bsky.social
· Nov 21
"No more time for foolishness."
--Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., quoting in 1998 a sign that he once saw on the bumper of a taxicab in Lagos, Nigeria.
--Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., quoting in 1998 a sign that he once saw on the bumper of a taxicab in Lagos, Nigeria.
Reposted by John Q. Barrett
3/ Less than 3 days after the layoffs, we had 700+ new paying members — with more joining every day to say loudly and clearly: D.C. needs local news.
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
The 51st is expanding
D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.
51st.news
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
3/ Less than 3 days after the layoffs, we had 700+ new paying members — with more joining every day to say loudly and clearly: D.C. needs local news.
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
Blush.
And more.
As in emulating U.S. chief prosecutor—and former U.S. Attorney General—Justice Robert H. Jackson, who said this in his opening statement at Nuremberg: “the defendant Hans Frank, a lawyer by profession, I blush to say,….”
And more.
As in emulating U.S. chief prosecutor—and former U.S. Attorney General—Justice Robert H. Jackson, who said this in his opening statement at Nuremberg: “the defendant Hans Frank, a lawyer by profession, I blush to say,….”
February 13, 2026 at 4:15 AM
Blush.
And more.
As in emulating U.S. chief prosecutor—and former U.S. Attorney General—Justice Robert H. Jackson, who said this in his opening statement at Nuremberg: “the defendant Hans Frank, a lawyer by profession, I blush to say,….”
And more.
As in emulating U.S. chief prosecutor—and former U.S. Attorney General—Justice Robert H. Jackson, who said this in his opening statement at Nuremberg: “the defendant Hans Frank, a lawyer by profession, I blush to say,….”
As a matter of oath and duty, *every* federal prosecutor should refuse to be part of investigating legal, constitutionally-protected conduct. That includes refusing to ask grand juries to indict people criminally for such conduct.
What AUSA would NOT refuse to do such dirty, illegal work?
What AUSA would NOT refuse to do such dirty, illegal work?
February 12, 2026 at 12:34 PM
As a matter of oath and duty, *every* federal prosecutor should refuse to be part of investigating legal, constitutionally-protected conduct. That includes refusing to ask grand juries to indict people criminally for such conduct.
What AUSA would NOT refuse to do such dirty, illegal work?
What AUSA would NOT refuse to do such dirty, illegal work?
More on Ken Starr and his sex-criminal-client-become-continuing-dear-friend Jeffrey Epstein:
@joepatrice.bsky.social
abovethelaw.com/2026/02/ken-...
@joepatrice.bsky.social
abovethelaw.com/2026/02/ken-...
February 11, 2026 at 8:33 PM
More on Ken Starr and his sex-criminal-client-become-continuing-dear-friend Jeffrey Epstein:
@joepatrice.bsky.social
abovethelaw.com/2026/02/ken-...
@joepatrice.bsky.social
abovethelaw.com/2026/02/ken-...
Here on YouTube is my February 5th Veterans Breakfast Club lecture on the Nuremberg Trials, plus Q&A. Thanks, VBC!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNYM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNYM...
80th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials
YouTube video by Veterans Breakfast Club
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Here on YouTube is my February 5th Veterans Breakfast Club lecture on the Nuremberg Trials, plus Q&A. Thanks, VBC!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNYM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNYM...
Or to be more direct:
The idea that anyone in the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office planned or sought Jeffrey Epstein’s death is absurd.
The idea that anyone in the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office planned or sought Jeffrey Epstein’s death is absurd.
February 9, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Or to be more direct:
The idea that anyone in the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office planned or sought Jeffrey Epstein’s death is absurd.
The idea that anyone in the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office planned or sought Jeffrey Epstein’s death is absurd.
If you use a “yesterday” press release as a template, plugging today’s news into it, it is a draft with a date typo. You print out that draft as you continue to work on the text. You proofread and fix the date before you finalize and release the actual “today” press release.
#Epstein
#Epstein
Can a former U.S. Attorney please explain this?
@preetbharara.bsky.social @joycewhitevance.bsky.social
@thedailybeast.bsky.social found a draft statement from SDNY Aug 9, before Epstein’s death in section w/ “at least 23 documents in the disclosure labeled as statements from SDNY U.S.A.O
@preetbharara.bsky.social @joycewhitevance.bsky.social
@thedailybeast.bsky.social found a draft statement from SDNY Aug 9, before Epstein’s death in section w/ “at least 23 documents in the disclosure labeled as statements from SDNY U.S.A.O
February 9, 2026 at 11:04 PM
If you use a “yesterday” press release as a template, plugging today’s news into it, it is a draft with a date typo. You print out that draft as you continue to work on the text. You proofread and fix the date before you finalize and release the actual “today” press release.
#Epstein
#Epstein
The House has legal power to obtain a court order granting Ghislaine Maxwell immunity from new, truthful testimony being used against her. This would eliminate her 5th Amendment privilege. With such an order, the House might make her talk fully. It should try.
#Epstein
www.axios.com/2026/02/09/g...
#Epstein
www.axios.com/2026/02/09/g...
Ghislaine Maxwell pleads Fifth Amendment at congressional deposition
Maxwell's attorney told lawmakers she would answer questions if President Trump grants her clemency.
www.axios.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:47 PM
The House has legal power to obtain a court order granting Ghislaine Maxwell immunity from new, truthful testimony being used against her. This would eliminate her 5th Amendment privilege. With such an order, the House might make her talk fully. It should try.
#Epstein
www.axios.com/2026/02/09/g...
#Epstein
www.axios.com/2026/02/09/g...
Watch the Super Bowl—enjoy.
But don’t forget to contemplate the greatest of the name on the trophy: Lombardi.
Here’s Jerry Kramer in Distant Replay, interviewing Herb Adderly.
@nflbluesky.bsky.social
@greenbaypackers.bsky.social
But don’t forget to contemplate the greatest of the name on the trophy: Lombardi.
Here’s Jerry Kramer in Distant Replay, interviewing Herb Adderly.
@nflbluesky.bsky.social
@greenbaypackers.bsky.social
February 8, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Watch the Super Bowl—enjoy.
But don’t forget to contemplate the greatest of the name on the trophy: Lombardi.
Here’s Jerry Kramer in Distant Replay, interviewing Herb Adderly.
@nflbluesky.bsky.social
@greenbaypackers.bsky.social
But don’t forget to contemplate the greatest of the name on the trophy: Lombardi.
Here’s Jerry Kramer in Distant Replay, interviewing Herb Adderly.
@nflbluesky.bsky.social
@greenbaypackers.bsky.social
I fear that Jeff Bezos does not know the name Chalmers (“Chal”) Roberts. He was a great @washingtonpost.com reporter (and person). He wrote this fine book, a history of its first century. Jeff can buy it, um, on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Washington-p...
www.amazon.com/Washington-p...
The Washington post: The first 100 years
The Washington post: The first 100 years [ROBERTS, CHALMERS M.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Washington post: The first 100 years
www.amazon.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:51 PM
I fear that Jeff Bezos does not know the name Chalmers (“Chal”) Roberts. He was a great @washingtonpost.com reporter (and person). He wrote this fine book, a history of its first century. Jeff can buy it, um, on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Washington-p...
www.amazon.com/Washington-p...
Yes, take up the stranger’s case. Every stranger is precious humanity. Every stranger is you and me.
@colbertlateshow.bsky.social
#ianmckellen
#shakespeare
substack.com/@rawstory/no...
@colbertlateshow.bsky.social
#ianmckellen
#shakespeare
substack.com/@rawstory/no...
Raw America (@rawstory)
THIS IS GREAT: Sir Ian McKellen destroys Trump on Colbert last night by performing a Shakespeare monologue from Sir Thomas More. Fits the historical moment exactly. Make sure this gets around!
substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Yes, take up the stranger’s case. Every stranger is precious humanity. Every stranger is you and me.
@colbertlateshow.bsky.social
#ianmckellen
#shakespeare
substack.com/@rawstory/no...
@colbertlateshow.bsky.social
#ianmckellen
#shakespeare
substack.com/@rawstory/no...
This Fifth Circuit panel decision is weak legal analysis driven by animus, which you also may call racism.
One tell is Judge Jones, joined by Judge Duncan, using the word “undeterred” to describe the immigrants, through lawyers, making a legal argument—as in “How dare these people assert rights?”
One tell is Judge Jones, joined by Judge Duncan, using the word “undeterred” to describe the immigrants, through lawyers, making a legal argument—as in “How dare these people assert rights?”
“Late Friday night, the Fifth Circuit adopted the extreme minority view—that the government can indefinitely detain without bond millions of non-citizens who have been here for generations; who have never committed a crime; and who pose neither a risk of flight nor any threat to public safety.”
208. The Fifth Circuit Jumps the Immigration Detention Shark
Late Friday, two of the nation's most right-wing circuit judges adopted an odious legal claim that district court judges from across the country (and ideological spectrum) have overwhelmingly rejected
www.stevevladeck.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:02 PM
This Fifth Circuit panel decision is weak legal analysis driven by animus, which you also may call racism.
One tell is Judge Jones, joined by Judge Duncan, using the word “undeterred” to describe the immigrants, through lawyers, making a legal argument—as in “How dare these people assert rights?”
One tell is Judge Jones, joined by Judge Duncan, using the word “undeterred” to describe the immigrants, through lawyers, making a legal argument—as in “How dare these people assert rights?”
Donald Trump racism.
Not news. But this is an update.
Be fully disgusted.
Make sure that everyone knows.
And everyone, finally, break fully with him—let this be The End.
Not news. But this is an update.
Be fully disgusted.
Make sure that everyone knows.
And everyone, finally, break fully with him—let this be The End.
President Trump on Thursday shared a video that contained a clip portraying former President Barack Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Trump Shares Video Portraying the Obamas as Apes
The video, shared by the president’s Truth Social account, contains a brief clip of the faces of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, on the bodies of apes.
nyti.ms
February 6, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Donald Trump racism.
Not news. But this is an update.
Be fully disgusted.
Make sure that everyone knows.
And everyone, finally, break fully with him—let this be The End.
Not news. But this is an update.
Be fully disgusted.
Make sure that everyone knows.
And everyone, finally, break fully with him—let this be The End.
How absurd is Jeff Bezos? Read this Ron Charles piece for one glimpse of all of the high talent and public treasure that Bezos has thrown away instead of valuing and promoting it.
After 20 years, I've been laid off at The Washington Post.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
I’ve Been Laid Off. I’m Not Done.
After 20 years at The Washington Post, I’m suddenly on my own — and still writing about books.
substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:35 AM
How absurd is Jeff Bezos? Read this Ron Charles piece for one glimpse of all of the high talent and public treasure that Bezos has thrown away instead of valuing and promoting it.
Judicial misconduct toward a law clerk, & then resignation staged to secretly end investigation & look heroic?
Or a false or exaggerated misconduct accusation & resignation on the grounds stated?
Judge Mark Wolf should clear this air.
And reporters should stay on this.
@carriejohnson.bsky.social
Or a false or exaggerated misconduct accusation & resignation on the grounds stated?
Judge Mark Wolf should clear this air.
And reporters should stay on this.
@carriejohnson.bsky.social
Wow it sure looks like Judge Mark Wolf, a federal district judge in Boston, retired in order to end an inquiry into possible misconduct and then pretended he was retiring so he could speak out against Trump. Via the great @carriejohnson.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
Newly released court records reveal misconduct inquiry into federal judge
A federal judge said he retired to speak out about threats to the rule of law. Newly released court orders suggest his exit coincided with a misconduct inquiry that ended when he stepped down.
www.npr.org
February 5, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Judicial misconduct toward a law clerk, & then resignation staged to secretly end investigation & look heroic?
Or a false or exaggerated misconduct accusation & resignation on the grounds stated?
Judge Mark Wolf should clear this air.
And reporters should stay on this.
@carriejohnson.bsky.social
Or a false or exaggerated misconduct accusation & resignation on the grounds stated?
Judge Mark Wolf should clear this air.
And reporters should stay on this.
@carriejohnson.bsky.social
Great piece by @ruthmarcus.bsky.social.
And a great prescription: Jeff Bezos, set up and endow generously The Washington Post as a non-profit organization.
And a great prescription: Jeff Bezos, set up and endow generously The Washington Post as a non-profit organization.
@ruthmarcus.bsky.social writes about mass layoffs at the Washington Post—where she spent more than 40 years as a reporter, an editor, an editorial writer, and a columnist—and the paper’s decline under Jeff Bezos. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/hsbIts
How Jeff Bezos Brought Down the Washington Post
The Amazon founder bought the paper to save it. Instead, with a mass layoff, he’s forced it into severe decline.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
February 4, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Great piece by @ruthmarcus.bsky.social.
And a great prescription: Jeff Bezos, set up and endow generously The Washington Post as a non-profit organization.
And a great prescription: Jeff Bezos, set up and endow generously The Washington Post as a non-profit organization.
I have been educated by many fine institutions. One, high on the list, since the 1970s, was The Washington Post.
This is a devastating day, first of all for the Post's people, but also for people like me, and for people who won't get to get what the great Post gave to me.
@washingtonpost.com
This is a devastating day, first of all for the Post's people, but also for people like me, and for people who won't get to get what the great Post gave to me.
@washingtonpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:57 PM
I have been educated by many fine institutions. One, high on the list, since the 1970s, was The Washington Post.
This is a devastating day, first of all for the Post's people, but also for people like me, and for people who won't get to get what the great Post gave to me.
@washingtonpost.com
This is a devastating day, first of all for the Post's people, but also for people like me, and for people who won't get to get what the great Post gave to me.
@washingtonpost.com
Remember bright days, before weak people surrendered their commitments to the public service of strong journalism:
The Washington Herald
The (old) Washington Times
The Washington Times-Herald
The Washington Post & Times-Herald
The Washington (Evening) Star
The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com
The Washington Herald
The (old) Washington Times
The Washington Times-Herald
The Washington Post & Times-Herald
The Washington (Evening) Star
The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Remember bright days, before weak people surrendered their commitments to the public service of strong journalism:
The Washington Herald
The (old) Washington Times
The Washington Times-Herald
The Washington Post & Times-Herald
The Washington (Evening) Star
The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com
The Washington Herald
The (old) Washington Times
The Washington Times-Herald
The Washington Post & Times-Herald
The Washington (Evening) Star
The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com
I trust the D.N.J. Judges to stay polite about this absurd idea and just say No.
The rumored Trump pick to be U.S. Attorney for New Jersey has under five years of legal experience but is proficient in Microsoft Excel and Office
February 3, 2026 at 11:22 PM
I trust the D.N.J. Judges to stay polite about this absurd idea and just say No.
Former Supreme Court law “clerks often spend the rest of their careers … reading still-secret older case files, some said…. While they are not supposed to share specifics with clients, plenty of details slip out, the former clerks said.”
Tell more—how many former clerks copy & keep Court papers?
Tell more—how many former clerks copy & keep Court papers?
Amid calls to increase transparency and revelations about the U.S. Supreme Court's inner workings, Chief Justice John Roberts imposed nondisclosure agreements on clerks and employees. People familiar with them said they appeared to be more forceful.
How the Supreme Court Secretly Made Itself Even More Secretive
Amid calls to increase transparency and revelations about the court’s inner workings, the chief justice imposed nondisclosure agreements on clerks and employees.
nyti.ms
February 3, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Former Supreme Court law “clerks often spend the rest of their careers … reading still-secret older case files, some said…. While they are not supposed to share specifics with clients, plenty of details slip out, the former clerks said.”
Tell more—how many former clerks copy & keep Court papers?
Tell more—how many former clerks copy & keep Court papers?
I will be the Veterans Breakfast Club guest online this Thursday evening, February 5th, at 1900, discussing the Nuremberg trials. Join us!
veteransbreakfastclub.org/event/80th-a...
veteransbreakfastclub.org/event/80th-a...
80th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials - Veterans Breakfast Club
Glenn Flickinger sits down with legal historian John Q. Barrett to explore the origins, drama, and legacy of the Nuremberg
veteransbreakfastclub.org
February 2, 2026 at 5:48 PM
I will be the Veterans Breakfast Club guest online this Thursday evening, February 5th, at 1900, discussing the Nuremberg trials. Join us!
veteransbreakfastclub.org/event/80th-a...
veteransbreakfastclub.org/event/80th-a...
Read and heed Paul Krugman on Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh.
All, including the Supreme Court justices who are in the process of deciding Trump v. Lisa Cook, should see how this nomination at least insults and maybe really threatens sound economic policy making.
pkrugman.bsky.social
All, including the Supreme Court justices who are in the process of deciding Trump v. Lisa Cook, should see how this nomination at least insults and maybe really threatens sound economic policy making.
pkrugman.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Read and heed Paul Krugman on Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh.
All, including the Supreme Court justices who are in the process of deciding Trump v. Lisa Cook, should see how this nomination at least insults and maybe really threatens sound economic policy making.
pkrugman.bsky.social
All, including the Supreme Court justices who are in the process of deciding Trump v. Lisa Cook, should see how this nomination at least insults and maybe really threatens sound economic policy making.
pkrugman.bsky.social
Reposted by John Q. Barrett
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
![Philadelphia, September 17, 1787: "Well, Dr. Franklin, what do we have?" "A republic, if you
can keep it."
With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike,
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED this 31st day of February, 2026.
_________________________________________________
FRED BIERY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
[photo of Liam]
Credit: Bystander
Matthew 19:14
John 11:35](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:73t3muu2pudsajp7a2fj3aly/bafkreigfz6fzbu65haq7nfqgaoe7m42gsaonpinpmaaptuzd5atkqvya4i@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Ken Starr in November 2018 described his former client Jeffrey Epstein, who when Starr represented him pleaded guilty to statutory rape, as his “trusted friend.”
Now returning to my weekend activity of going through the latest Epstein files for references to former Baylor president Ken Starr
"Jeffrey was indeed Judge Starr's client at Kirkland & Ellis, and is now the Judge's trusted friend"
"Jeffrey was indeed Judge Starr's client at Kirkland & Ellis, and is now the Judge's trusted friend"
February 1, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Ken Starr in November 2018 described his former client Jeffrey Epstein, who when Starr represented him pleaded guilty to statutory rape, as his “trusted friend.”
Read Laurence Tribe @tribelaw.bsky.social on Jill Lepore's "We the People." Tribe sees Lepore's writing about the difficulty of amending the Constitution as assisting arguments to scrap it. Tribe urges “clinging to it as both sword and shield at a time of existential crisis for our republic.”
“Whatever its value as social history, We the People is highly misleading as legal history and jeopardizes today’s urgent project of preserving our republic and protecting its surviving strands of democracy.” —@tribelaw.bsky.social
Is the Constitution ‘Dead, Dead, Dead’? | Laurence H. Tribe
The difficulty of amending the Constitution does not mean that it is a flawed and outdated relic of a distant past.
www.nybooks.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Read Laurence Tribe @tribelaw.bsky.social on Jill Lepore's "We the People." Tribe sees Lepore's writing about the difficulty of amending the Constitution as assisting arguments to scrap it. Tribe urges “clinging to it as both sword and shield at a time of existential crisis for our republic.”