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Rob Mullins

@robertmullins.bsky.social

460 followers 580 following 1.5K posts

Law lecturer, University of Queensland. My views are not the views of my employer.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · Jun 16

My article "Does Nature Need Rights?" (coauthored with the wonderful Lulu Weis), forthcoming in the OJLS, is now available open access: academic.oup.com/ojls/advance...

Does Nature Need Rights?

Abstract. Rights of nature (RoN) appear to provide a promising alternative to anthropocentric environmental rights. But do they meet the demands of transfo

academic.oup.com

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 19h

Some unedifying comparisons: can you be prosecuted if you lie about being an amputee, or a Christian, or having a history of mental illness?

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 19h

Yeah that's the tell isn't it? You can have a rule that you prosecute deception as to identity, but you have to enforce it equally.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 20h

I think from that perspective, the failure to hear from a single trans person was the cruellest part of it. (I genuinely think it is because they could not have looked a trans person in the eyes while they delivered the judgment.)

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 20h

Yeah. I have friends at the bar and their strategy seems to be more or less "don't get sick", but I think you should all take it easier on yourselves

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 20h

How would you manage it if you really had to? It nearly happened to me once lecturing and I have no idea what I would have done.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

I've seen e.g. Yglesias and Shor taking him very seriously, which is more grist to the "they're secretly race science guys" mill.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

Oh dear

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

What's the go with Astral Codex 10? I have seen suss people refer to them but haven't got the fortitude to read it.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, I agree. There is also the unforgivable sleight of hand from birth sex (per Corbett) to biological sex, which is just deceptive. No biologist would accept the Corbett criteria.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

I'll just say that on this point I prefer the Australian approach of giving courts a general permission to look at extrinsic materials like Hansard to the extent it assists.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

English (and maybe British) lawyers have a very constricted view of what counts as "evidence", so e.g. you aren't meant to look at Hansard to identify legislative intent except in cases of ambiguity. But I think this was an ambiguous case. I agree completely about the HRA.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

I agree with you about this (and have written about it more than once). The only defence of the SC I have seen people make (on here, not in print) is that the court had to choose the least incoherent interpretation. But (i) I don't buy it and (ii) that's not what the Court said they were doing.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

I know people I regard as very good lawyers who think it was rightly decided. And I suspect academic commentaries on judgements are usually critical. But I do think to think it was rightly decided you have to accept the coherence of the "biological sex" categories.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

This sounds like every Daily Nous thread on gender I have ever read.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

I've been looking for papers and articles written in (even partial) defence of the judgment in FWS. So far I have: Michael Foran's paper and blog post, Karen Monaghan KC's article in Briefings, and Ben Cooper KC's paper. All three were involved on the winning side. Does anyone know of any others?

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

I enjoyed this interview with the philosopher of biology John Dupré (which touches on the UK Supreme Court's use of "biological sex", among many other things): graduatejournal-leap.universiteitleiden.nl/2025/05/move...

Movement all the way down: Interview with John Dupré and Liedewij Laan: Reflections on a World that is Movement all the Way Down - Leiden Elective Academic Periodical

Philosopher of science John Dupré and nanobiology professor Liedewij Laan fundamentally challenge conventional ideas on science, movement, and objects.

graduatejournal-leap.universiteitleiden.nl

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Reposted by Rob Mullins

Lawrence Solum @lsolum.bsky.social · 2d

Please help me get the word out about the new websites for Legal Theory Blog and the Legal Theory Lexicon. Reposting here and on other social media sites is great. It would be especially helpful if law school faculty members could send an email to their colleagues with the new addresses.

Legal Theory Blog

Discover our latest articles and updates. Stay informed with recent posts that cover a variety of topics you care about!

legaltheoryblog.com

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 2d

My own parents have done a wonderful job in retirement (after some adjustment for both of them), too. I don't think it's universal

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 2d

I suspect I have been making my story too simplistic. Members of my own family have been very engaged in retirement too.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 2d

That's very interesting (and sad to hear).

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 2d

Absolutely. It's part and parcel of the decline of community/civil society. My grandfather stayed involved in lots of community groups well past retirement. There are fewer opportunities now.

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 2d

I really buy the theory that this is about a loss of social and cultural power, rather than political power. If you were e.g. in upper management, or a senior public servant, or an experienced teacher, you are used to having people listen to you. Gradually, the music stops.

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Reposted by Rob Mullins

Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 2d

UK investigative journalist focused on gender here 🙋🏻 I’m looking into this topic already, but if anyone has any tips they’d like to share feel free to DM me!

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Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 3d

"born at Harvard" this has triggered me. Born in Rome in the 13th century would be much more accurate!

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 3d

It's awful. Trans men (and nbs too) are so often just ignored.