Heather Walter-McCabe
@profwaltermac.bsky.social
Law Professor at SLU - JD/MSW - fueled by coffee and anxiety while working at the intersection of law, social work, & public health. My emphasis is on LGBTQ health equity. My work is intersectional. #TransRights is non-negotiable. Legal Epi.🏳️🌈
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
In Printz v. United States, #SCOTUS held that the Constitution bars the federal government from forcing or otherwise compelling local or state governments to enforce federal law.
The liberal squish who wrote the majority opinion in that case? Justice Antonin Scalia:
tile.loc.gov/storage-serv...
The liberal squish who wrote the majority opinion in that case? Justice Antonin Scalia:
tile.loc.gov/storage-serv...
January 28, 2026 at 1:41 PM
In Printz v. United States, #SCOTUS held that the Constitution bars the federal government from forcing or otherwise compelling local or state governments to enforce federal law.
The liberal squish who wrote the majority opinion in that case? Justice Antonin Scalia:
tile.loc.gov/storage-serv...
The liberal squish who wrote the majority opinion in that case? Justice Antonin Scalia:
tile.loc.gov/storage-serv...
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
this stuff is complex (at least to this non-lawyer), but chris breaks it down better than anyone. a must read post
Here's my report at Law Dork on the hearing before Judge Menendez: www.lawdork.com/p/challengin...
January 27, 2026 at 3:09 AM
this stuff is complex (at least to this non-lawyer), but chris breaks it down better than anyone. a must read post
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
In today's @nytimes.com, @barryfriedman1.bsky.social and I argue that, with no *other* means of pursuing accountability for lawlessness by ICE, local/state prosecutions become not just legally viable, but necessary—both to punish past abuses and to deter future ones:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/o...
Opinion | Local Prosecution Is the Answer to Federal Lawlessness
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:56 AM
In today's @nytimes.com, @barryfriedman1.bsky.social and I argue that, with no *other* means of pursuing accountability for lawlessness by ICE, local/state prosecutions become not just legally viable, but necessary—both to punish past abuses and to deter future ones:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/o...
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
We're getting a snowstorm tomorrow. But New York City is prepared.
January 24, 2026 at 11:30 PM
We're getting a snowstorm tomorrow. But New York City is prepared.
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
Amazingly, women in Missouri still cannot finalize a divorce while pregnant.
Another effort to change the law has been launched now that the 2026 legislative session is underway, led by State Senator Maggie Nurrenbern
www.missourinet.com/2026/01/22/s...
Another effort to change the law has been launched now that the 2026 legislative session is underway, led by State Senator Maggie Nurrenbern
www.missourinet.com/2026/01/22/s...
State Senator renews effort to allow pregnant women in Missouri to finalize divorces (LISTEN) - Missourinet
Women in Missouri still cannot finalize a divorce while pregnant. Another effort to change the law has been launched now that the 2026 legislative session is underway. Democratic State Senator Maggie ...
www.missourinet.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Amazingly, women in Missouri still cannot finalize a divorce while pregnant.
Another effort to change the law has been launched now that the 2026 legislative session is underway, led by State Senator Maggie Nurrenbern
www.missourinet.com/2026/01/22/s...
Another effort to change the law has been launched now that the 2026 legislative session is underway, led by State Senator Maggie Nurrenbern
www.missourinet.com/2026/01/22/s...
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
Seven organizations, led by American Academy of Pediatrics, are seeking to remove all ACIP members and prohibit the panel from conducting further meetings. My story for @medscape.com
#healthpolicy #IDsky #pediatrics #vaccines #measles #COVID #healthlaw #publichealth
#healthpolicy #IDsky #pediatrics #vaccines #measles #COVID #healthlaw #publichealth
AAP, Others Sue to Disband ACIP and Invalidate Its Actions
The panel was not lawfully appointed and has not proven to be free of undue influence, says the lawsuit.
www.medscape.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Seven organizations, led by American Academy of Pediatrics, are seeking to remove all ACIP members and prohibit the panel from conducting further meetings. My story for @medscape.com
#healthpolicy #IDsky #pediatrics #vaccines #measles #COVID #healthlaw #publichealth
#healthpolicy #IDsky #pediatrics #vaccines #measles #COVID #healthlaw #publichealth
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
my neighborhood. an incredible image for anyone who has ever driven down briarcliff
January 22, 2026 at 1:48 AM
my neighborhood. an incredible image for anyone who has ever driven down briarcliff
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
BREAKING: Another of DOJ's invasive trans care subpoenas quashed as to patient records. This one was challenged by patients of Children's National Hospital.
Opinion from Judge Julie Rubin (Biden): storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Opinion from Judge Julie Rubin (Biden): storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 22, 2026 at 1:38 AM
BREAKING: Another of DOJ's invasive trans care subpoenas quashed as to patient records. This one was challenged by patients of Children's National Hospital.
Opinion from Judge Julie Rubin (Biden): storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Opinion from Judge Julie Rubin (Biden): storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Don’t let people tell you people in Red states don’t care. Mo turned up on a weekday and worked for change at the statehouse. Rally followed by meetings.
January 22, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Don’t let people tell you people in Red states don’t care. Mo turned up on a weekday and worked for change at the statehouse. Rally followed by meetings.
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
Cites my piece from the Journal of Law and the Biosciences with Lisa Verity and Ana Santos Rutschman: The pressing need for FDA regulation of tattoo ink academic.oup.com/jlb/article/...
Glad to see that FDA now has guidance for industry on tattoo ink safety (Oct. 2024): www.fda.gov/regulatory-i...
Glad to see that FDA now has guidance for industry on tattoo ink safety (Oct. 2024): www.fda.gov/regulatory-i...
January 21, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Cites my piece from the Journal of Law and the Biosciences with Lisa Verity and Ana Santos Rutschman: The pressing need for FDA regulation of tattoo ink academic.oup.com/jlb/article/...
Glad to see that FDA now has guidance for industry on tattoo ink safety (Oct. 2024): www.fda.gov/regulatory-i...
Glad to see that FDA now has guidance for industry on tattoo ink safety (Oct. 2024): www.fda.gov/regulatory-i...
MO showing up today. The line to get in to the Statehouse goes around the corner.
January 21, 2026 at 5:26 PM
MO showing up today. The line to get in to the Statehouse goes around the corner.
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
New research maps the campaign to erase trans people from UK data 🔢
This peer-reviewed article offers the first detailed account of how UK campaign groups have sought to define sex as strictly biological across the census, policing, healthcare and digital ID.
doi.org/10.1080/0958...
This peer-reviewed article offers the first detailed account of how UK campaign groups have sought to define sex as strictly biological across the census, policing, healthcare and digital ID.
doi.org/10.1080/0958...
January 19, 2026 at 1:42 PM
New research maps the campaign to erase trans people from UK data 🔢
This peer-reviewed article offers the first detailed account of how UK campaign groups have sought to define sex as strictly biological across the census, policing, healthcare and digital ID.
doi.org/10.1080/0958...
This peer-reviewed article offers the first detailed account of how UK campaign groups have sought to define sex as strictly biological across the census, policing, healthcare and digital ID.
doi.org/10.1080/0958...
I have never been so invested in a bus ride, especially someone else’s bus ride.
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
January 20, 2026 at 5:46 AM
I have never been so invested in a bus ride, especially someone else’s bus ride.
An important and thoughtful article for fellow white people. substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Dear White People: Renee Nicole Good
Watching Your "Ah-ha" Moment is Nauseating
substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:43 AM
An important and thoughtful article for fellow white people. substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
NEW: On heading into year two of the second Trump administration, and the necessity of pushback.
The Minnesota pushback to "Operation Metro Surge" shows the power that the people maintain in the face of Trump's authoritarianism.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
The Minnesota pushback to "Operation Metro Surge" shows the power that the people maintain in the face of Trump's authoritarianism.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
On heading into year two of the second Trump administration, and the necessity of pushback
The Minnesota pushback to "Operation Metro Surge" shows the power that the people maintain in the face of Trump's authoritarianism.
www.lawdork.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:00 AM
NEW: On heading into year two of the second Trump administration, and the necessity of pushback.
The Minnesota pushback to "Operation Metro Surge" shows the power that the people maintain in the face of Trump's authoritarianism.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
The Minnesota pushback to "Operation Metro Surge" shows the power that the people maintain in the face of Trump's authoritarianism.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
The arts matter. Artists of all kind - please keep shining your light. You are so important in these moments!
Incredibly emotional to hear my poem has been turned into a song of resistance and is being sung in Minneapolis right now. Please do not give up.
January 18, 2026 at 9:52 PM
The arts matter. Artists of all kind - please keep shining your light. You are so important in these moments!
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
you know this guy is a FOR REAL photographer because he's telling the story of his brutal, unconditional arrest by federal goons and can't help but slip in a gear review
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
January 17, 2026 at 3:37 PM
you know this guy is a FOR REAL photographer because he's telling the story of his brutal, unconditional arrest by federal goons and can't help but slip in a gear review
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
For those of you looking to follow some more queer scholar-activists in 2026, check out this starter pack with many fabulous folks.
✊🏾🌈
✊🏾🌈
January 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM
For those of you looking to follow some more queer scholar-activists in 2026, check out this starter pack with many fabulous folks.
✊🏾🌈
✊🏾🌈
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
If you are a faith leader, we need you to come to Minneapolis!
Amazing people are organizing this opportunity. You can find out more at MarchMinnesota.org
Amazing people are organizing this opportunity. You can find out more at MarchMinnesota.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:41 PM
If you are a faith leader, we need you to come to Minneapolis!
Amazing people are organizing this opportunity. You can find out more at MarchMinnesota.org
Amazing people are organizing this opportunity. You can find out more at MarchMinnesota.org
Thank you to the many people in MN who are showing up but a special shout out to the legal colleagues doing this work. People have many things to say about lawyers but this is when we are at our best. Well done!
There's another one scheduled with over 270 attorneys registered.
At one point today, there were 283 Minnesota attorneys doing a training on how to file emergency habeas petitions to keep our neighbors from being shipped out of state and held indefinitely.
That would be the second largest law firm in the state. And that training was just put together this week.
That would be the second largest law firm in the state. And that training was just put together this week.
January 16, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Thank you to the many people in MN who are showing up but a special shout out to the legal colleagues doing this work. People have many things to say about lawyers but this is when we are at our best. Well done!
This is intended to have a chilling effect. What an embarassment for the school.
The University of Arkansas's law school just withdrew the appointment of its new dean six days after hiring her because conservative politicians complained that she filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of transgender students
Culture warriors cancel new U of A law dean before she started - Arkansas Times
Culture warriors claim the scalp of Emily Suski, the would-be law school dean whose legal opinion on transgender athletes seems to have offended Arkansas officials.
arktimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:20 AM
This is intended to have a chilling effect. What an embarassment for the school.
Important thread
There are places where Trump, as president, has broad freedom of action. And there are places where Trump, as president, has been able to act unilaterally because the main point of opposition, Congress (and SCOTUS), support his program. (1/?)
January 16, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Important thread
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
Correction: there were enough attorneys in this training to form the largest law firm in the state. Remember when the Pentagon thought bringing 25 JAG attys to town would help? They generally have little civilian law experience. The Feds are going to need more lawyers.
www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/p...
It was over 300 for much of the call
January 16, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Correction: there were enough attorneys in this training to form the largest law firm in the state. Remember when the Pentagon thought bringing 25 JAG attys to town would help? They generally have little civilian law experience. The Feds are going to need more lawyers.
www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/p...
In studies GSA clubs have been shown to have a positive impact on LGBTQ mental health. To do away with these clubs will cause harm. The anti-trans policies will as well. The abject cruelty to children…Getting involved with local school boards is public health.
The King George County school board adopted outgoing anti-trans Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s harsh and restrictive Republican policies just days before Democrat Abigail Spanberger will be sworn in as Virginia’s next governor.
www.advocate.com/politics/sta...
www.advocate.com/politics/sta...
Virginia school board adopts anti-transgender policy and blocks LGBTQ+ club
“They don’t realize how large a part of their school those kids make up,” a queer middle school student told The Advocate.
www.advocate.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:40 PM
In studies GSA clubs have been shown to have a positive impact on LGBTQ mental health. To do away with these clubs will cause harm. The anti-trans policies will as well. The abject cruelty to children…Getting involved with local school boards is public health.
Reposted by Heather Walter-McCabe
A federal judge has barred USDA from cutting funds to help Minnesota administer its SNAP program.
January 14, 2026 at 11:42 PM
A federal judge has barred USDA from cutting funds to help Minnesota administer its SNAP program.