Emerson Wright
@profemersonwright.bsky.social
Legal research and writing prof, dog dad, amateur angler. 🏳️⚧️
This is extreme and horrifying.
🚨HOLY CRAP. The Trump admin just took a SLEDGEHAMMER to due process, largely eliminating the Board of Immigration Appeals process and MANDATING DISMISSAL of ALL appeals (which cost $1,000 thanks to OBBBA) filed after tomorrow unless a majority of the BIA votes to hear the case.
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
This is extreme and horrifying.
Reposted by Emerson Wright
One of the things I try to instill in my students is that "constitutional" and "unconstitutional" are not legal terms of art. It's OUR Constitution. We're empowered to have views on it, and to view government action or inaction as consistent with our country's norms, values, and traditions—or not.
It's a weird situation to be in, but we need to distinguish between "what the law is" vs. "what SCOTUS says the law is." It may not feel like it, but these are two different things!
SCOTUS is now a purely political body—like a House of Lords, or as @jamellebouie.net put it, a Guardian Council. 1/3
SCOTUS is now a purely political body—like a House of Lords, or as @jamellebouie.net put it, a Guardian Council. 1/3
February 5, 2026 at 3:53 PM
One of the things I try to instill in my students is that "constitutional" and "unconstitutional" are not legal terms of art. It's OUR Constitution. We're empowered to have views on it, and to view government action or inaction as consistent with our country's norms, values, and traditions—or not.
It is a natural law of academia that when I have lots of things to work on, many students come to office hours. When I am caught up, they ghost me.
February 5, 2026 at 3:43 PM
It is a natural law of academia that when I have lots of things to work on, many students come to office hours. When I am caught up, they ghost me.
Sunday at Stetson Law, we were honored by a visit from Justice Stephen Breyer. In a conversation with Dean Barros, Justice Breyer offered poignant advice on civility, persuasive advocacy, cultivating fulfillment, and shared values that make us American. He was also hilarious. Such a special event!
February 3, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Sunday at Stetson Law, we were honored by a visit from Justice Stephen Breyer. In a conversation with Dean Barros, Justice Breyer offered poignant advice on civility, persuasive advocacy, cultivating fulfillment, and shared values that make us American. He was also hilarious. Such a special event!
Reposted by Emerson Wright
A reminder to law students who are interviewing for biglaw firms in the weeks ahead:
There are lots of firms out there you could work for. You should carefully consider which firms comport with your personal and professional values—and which ones don’t.
There are lots of firms out there you could work for. You should carefully consider which firms comport with your personal and professional values—and which ones don’t.
A sordid bankshot: Patriots owner Robert Kraft had just been indicted for a sex crime in S. Fla (soliciting prostitution), so Jeffrey Epstein reached out to Brad Karp, chairman of the Paul Weiss biglaw firm offering to help find Kraft a lawyer.
Karp was among the earliest to capitulate to Trump.
Karp was among the earliest to capitulate to Trump.
The hits: they keep on coming
January 30, 2026 at 11:17 PM
A reminder to law students who are interviewing for biglaw firms in the weeks ahead:
There are lots of firms out there you could work for. You should carefully consider which firms comport with your personal and professional values—and which ones don’t.
There are lots of firms out there you could work for. You should carefully consider which firms comport with your personal and professional values—and which ones don’t.
Catherine O'Hara is such a loss.
January 30, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Catherine O'Hara is such a loss.
CORKY WE LOVE YOU WE WANT YOU TO LIVE
January 30, 2026 at 6:44 PM
CORKY WE LOVE YOU WE WANT YOU TO LIVE
You're gonna show Winkie.
January 30, 2026 at 6:44 PM
You're gonna show Winkie.
Herb Ertlinger's Fruit Wine
January 30, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Herb Ertlinger's Fruit Wine
I use this clip in class every year to teach students to use case illustrations to show, rather than tell, the reader how the law applies.
So many times Catherine O’Hara made me laugh until I thought I would have an aneurysm. I wish I could pay that back.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=fCVK...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=fCVK...
Fold In The Cheese! | Schitt's Creek | Netflix
YouTube video by Still Watching Netflix
m.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:42 PM
I use this clip in class every year to teach students to use case illustrations to show, rather than tell, the reader how the law applies.
Reposted by Emerson Wright
As someone who studies police misconduct and has investigated many police departments for misconduct that falls WAY short of what we’ve seen from CBP/ICE this year, this THIS is the “demand” for THIS moment? ….. I’m without words.
SCHUMER says Democrats are “united” behind three DHS reforms
1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.
2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.
3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.
1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.
2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.
3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.
January 28, 2026 at 9:11 PM
As someone who studies police misconduct and has investigated many police departments for misconduct that falls WAY short of what we’ve seen from CBP/ICE this year, this THIS is the “demand” for THIS moment? ….. I’m without words.
Reposted by Emerson Wright
I'm not so sure about this. Most legal research and legal writing profs I know are working to instill a healthy skepticism into the AI research process. My sense is most students are very cautious about relying on AI results and see how bad they often are.
Honestly, I'm terrified of what's going to happen with new lawyers. They are really being trained to use and rely on AI research in law school, and I feel like I'm waiting for the clock to hit zero on a time bomb.
January 28, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I'm not so sure about this. Most legal research and legal writing profs I know are working to instill a healthy skepticism into the AI research process. My sense is most students are very cautious about relying on AI results and see how bad they often are.
I have my highest per capita rate of emphatic nodders in class this semester, and MAN am I thankful. As an emphatic nodder myself, I used to be self-conscious about it, but now I know how clutch those people are.
January 27, 2026 at 7:35 PM
I have my highest per capita rate of emphatic nodders in class this semester, and MAN am I thankful. As an emphatic nodder myself, I used to be self-conscious about it, but now I know how clutch those people are.
I've been informed that I've developed a wacky professor reputation because of my tendency to research and highlight papers while on the elliptical in the school gym. Can't stop won't stop.
January 26, 2026 at 10:22 PM
I've been informed that I've developed a wacky professor reputation because of my tendency to research and highlight papers while on the elliptical in the school gym. Can't stop won't stop.
I spoke to Orion about my long, tortured relationship with tobacco use. The administration's attacks on public health disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ folks in more far-reaching ways than the overt homo- and transphobic attacks we've seen reveal.
1 in 6 queer and 1 in 3 trans U.S. adults smoke cigarettes. That’s compared with 1 in 9 straight adults.
Recent federal cuts mean fewer people and resources are available to address this disparity — and researchers are starting to take matters into their own hands.
Read more of my latest here:
Recent federal cuts mean fewer people and resources are available to address this disparity — and researchers are starting to take matters into their own hands.
Read more of my latest here:
As federal anti-smoking programs get cut, who’s looking out for LGBTQ+ adults?
Amid cuts to national smoking programs, researchers are taking matters into their own hands. They worry LGBTQ+ adults will get left behind.
19thnews.org
January 26, 2026 at 6:33 PM
I spoke to Orion about my long, tortured relationship with tobacco use. The administration's attacks on public health disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ folks in more far-reaching ways than the overt homo- and transphobic attacks we've seen reveal.
Reposted by Emerson Wright
I hardly ever start from scratch. I have a separate letter as a guide for how I write letters of a particular type, based on particular types of experiences with students, but I retype everything manually.
January 26, 2026 at 6:09 PM
I hardly ever start from scratch. I have a separate letter as a guide for how I write letters of a particular type, based on particular types of experiences with students, but I retype everything manually.
Law profs: how often and to what extent do you repurpose recommendation letters for different students/jobs? Do you start from scratch each time or use some form of template?
January 26, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Law profs: how often and to what extent do you repurpose recommendation letters for different students/jobs? Do you start from scratch each time or use some form of template?
Reposted by Emerson Wright
We set out to determine how many images of women and girls Grok created during its nudifying spree. What we found was “industrial-scale abuse,” experts said. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Musk’s Chatbot Flooded X With Millions of Sexualized Images in Days, New Estimates Show
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:56 PM
We set out to determine how many images of women and girls Grok created during its nudifying spree. What we found was “industrial-scale abuse,” experts said. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
I expressly prohibit my students from using Grok for anything in my course, even when AI use is permitted, and I feel better about that choice every day.
January 22, 2026 at 8:07 PM
I expressly prohibit my students from using Grok for anything in my course, even when AI use is permitted, and I feel better about that choice every day.
Reposted by Emerson Wright
"we didn't ARREST that 5-year-old child, we just DETAINED him because we're deporting his father" is a shitty fucking defense and JD Vance is an embarrassing slimeball
Q: A school district alleges ICE agents detained a 5 year old after preschool. Are you proud of how you're conducting this immigration crackdown?
JD VANCE: The 5 year old was not arrested. His dad was an illegal alien. So the story is that ICE detained a 5 year old -- what are they supposed to do?
JD VANCE: The 5 year old was not arrested. His dad was an illegal alien. So the story is that ICE detained a 5 year old -- what are they supposed to do?
January 22, 2026 at 7:59 PM
"we didn't ARREST that 5-year-old child, we just DETAINED him because we're deporting his father" is a shitty fucking defense and JD Vance is an embarrassing slimeball
Jim Jordan is the living embodiment of "I have more of a comment than a question."
January 22, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Jim Jordan is the living embodiment of "I have more of a comment than a question."
Reposted by Emerson Wright
People who don’t know how to make a PDF: “AI is inevitable.”
The disconnect between management and employee on AI usage is big. At the same time, CEOs are reporting they aren't seeing any revenue growth from AI.
🤷
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/wo...
🤷
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/wo...
CEOs Say AI Is Making Work More Efficient. Employees Tell a Different Story.
How much time workers say the technology saves them on the job is vastly different from what executives report.
www.wsj.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:48 PM
People who don’t know how to make a PDF: “AI is inevitable.”
Something to think about when evaluating junior faculty: I keep seeing wonderful opportunities to present at international conferences. But many of us cannot safely travel because of the administration's attacks. I have to be VERY careful about travel and worry about the effect on my advancement.
January 21, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Something to think about when evaluating junior faculty: I keep seeing wonderful opportunities to present at international conferences. But many of us cannot safely travel because of the administration's attacks. I have to be VERY careful about travel and worry about the effect on my advancement.
Reposted by Emerson Wright
Writing is thinking, so why are universities signing partnerships with companies that outsource the task to LLMs; why are K-12 schools doing the same
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
January 21, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Writing is thinking, so why are universities signing partnerships with companies that outsource the task to LLMs; why are K-12 schools doing the same
I LOVE the first day of school. I LOVE IT. I do a silly icebreaker where I make the students tell me their favorite animals. Every time it 1) gives me great new-to-me critters to research, and 2) leads to emails like "Hi Prof. Wright, I'm in your R&W class (whale sharks) and I have a question . . ."
January 20, 2026 at 5:16 PM
I LOVE the first day of school. I LOVE IT. I do a silly icebreaker where I make the students tell me their favorite animals. Every time it 1) gives me great new-to-me critters to research, and 2) leads to emails like "Hi Prof. Wright, I'm in your R&W class (whale sharks) and I have a question . . ."