Seth Stern
@sethstern.bsky.social
Bloomberg Law editor for Supreme Court, federal judiciary, Justice Department and Homeland Security news; author of Speaking Yiddish to Chickens and co-author of Justice Brennan biography; Bill Hennessy sketch
Halligan should be listed in the signature block used on all pleadings as “United States Attorny and Special United States Attorney,” according to the email, which misspells “Attorney.”
NEWS: DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel has blessed the use of Lindsey Halligan's name as US Attorney on her prosecutors' court filings despite a judge ruling she was illegally appointed. They're advised to add DAG Todd Blanche to the signature block as well.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
DOJ Legal Adviser Says Halligan Can Still Be Called US Attorney
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has advised that Lindsey Halligan can continue to be referred to as the Eastern District of Virginia’s US attorney in court filings, according to an em...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Halligan should be listed in the signature block used on all pleadings as “United States Attorny and Special United States Attorney,” according to the email, which misspells “Attorney.”
Reposted by Seth Stern
NEW: DOJ identified top US officials involved in the decision not to turn around planes of deported migrants in March per a judge’s order, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Judge Emil Bove (a DOJ official at the time)
buff.ly/p0f1hnf
buff.ly/p0f1hnf
November 26, 2025 at 3:29 AM
NEW: DOJ identified top US officials involved in the decision not to turn around planes of deported migrants in March per a judge’s order, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Judge Emil Bove (a DOJ official at the time)
buff.ly/p0f1hnf
buff.ly/p0f1hnf
Reposted by Seth Stern
Lost in the huge Comey/James dismissals is Halligan has a new No. 2, an ex-prosecutor parachuting in from Ky., who'd be in line to refile the Trump retribution charges depending on outcome of appeal. Robert McBride has no EDVA experience. w/ Celine Castronuovo:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
DOJ Defense of Top Prosecutors Tees Up Debate for Supreme Court
The Justice Department’s plans to appeal a ruling that an interim US attorney is unlawfully serving is likely to force the Supreme Court to weigh in on the Trump administration’s maneuvers to install ...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Lost in the huge Comey/James dismissals is Halligan has a new No. 2, an ex-prosecutor parachuting in from Ky., who'd be in line to refile the Trump retribution charges depending on outcome of appeal. Robert McBride has no EDVA experience. w/ Celine Castronuovo:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
The Justice Department’s plans to appeal a ruling that an interim US attorney is unlawfully serving is likely to force the Supreme Court to weigh in on the Trump administration’s maneuvers to install loyalists as top prosecutors.
DOJ Defense of Top Prosecutors Tees Up Debate for Supreme Court
The Justice Department’s plans to appeal a ruling that an interim US attorney is unlawfully serving is likely to force the Supreme Court to weigh in on the Trump administration’s maneuvers to install loyalists as top prosecutors.
bit.ly
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 AM
The Justice Department’s plans to appeal a ruling that an interim US attorney is unlawfully serving is likely to force the Supreme Court to weigh in on the Trump administration’s maneuvers to install loyalists as top prosecutors.
“This is what happens when you completely unmoor DOJ from the historical expertise that DOJ possesses,” said Sasha Samberg-Champion, a former appellate lawyer for the Civil Rights Division, tells Celine Castronuovo and @suzannemonyak.bsky.social
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Trump Loyalists in DOJ Face Criticism as Judges Expose Blunders
Judges’ rebukes this week of blunders by top Justice Department lawyers show the pitfalls of installing President Donald Trump loyalists to their roles, lawyers and scholars said.
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
“This is what happens when you completely unmoor DOJ from the historical expertise that DOJ possesses,” said Sasha Samberg-Champion, a former appellate lawyer for the Civil Rights Division, tells Celine Castronuovo and @suzannemonyak.bsky.social
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
NEW: US District Judge Sarah Pitlyk and Jesus Osete of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division are on a White House list of candidates interviewing for an 8th Circuit seat, per source familiar
Litigator Erin Hawley, Sen. Hawley's spouse, also expressed interest
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Litigator Erin Hawley, Sen. Hawley's spouse, also expressed interest
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Litigator Erin Hawley Said to Be Interested in Circuit Judgeship
A Trump-appointed trial judge and a senior Justice Department official are included on a White House list of candidates interviewing for a federal appeals court seat in Missouri, a person familiar wit...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
NEW: US District Judge Sarah Pitlyk and Jesus Osete of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division are on a White House list of candidates interviewing for an 8th Circuit seat, per source familiar
Litigator Erin Hawley, Sen. Hawley's spouse, also expressed interest
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Litigator Erin Hawley, Sen. Hawley's spouse, also expressed interest
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
“Why would I recuse myself from voting for someone who I think would be terrific?” Sen. Josh Hawley told Bloomberg Law's @tianaheadley.bsky.social
A Trump-appointed trial judge and a senior Justice Department official are included on a White House list of candidates interviewing for a federal appeals court seat in Missouri, a person familiar with the judicial selection process said.
Litigator Erin Hawley Said to Be Interested in Circuit Judgeship
A Trump-appointed trial judge and a senior Justice Department official are included on a White House list of candidates interviewing for a federal appeals court seat in Missouri, a person familiar with the judicial selection process said.
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
“Why would I recuse myself from voting for someone who I think would be terrific?” Sen. Josh Hawley told Bloomberg Law's @tianaheadley.bsky.social
Reposted by Seth Stern
News: Voting machine co. Smartmatic to be arraigned today in 1st corporate foreign bribery indictment in 15 years.
Comes after Miami US Atty shut down negotiations, bolstering Fox News in defense of Smartmatic defamation suit.
I explore the twists & turns:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Comes after Miami US Atty shut down negotiations, bolstering Fox News in defense of Smartmatic defamation suit.
I explore the twists & turns:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Smartmatic Bribery Case Can’t Escape Election Conspiracy Shadow
The Justice Department’s bribery indictment of voting machine company Smartmatic reflects a rare alignment of career prosecutors with conspiracy theorists in Trump’s base and the president’s biggest m...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
News: Voting machine co. Smartmatic to be arraigned today in 1st corporate foreign bribery indictment in 15 years.
Comes after Miami US Atty shut down negotiations, bolstering Fox News in defense of Smartmatic defamation suit.
I explore the twists & turns:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Comes after Miami US Atty shut down negotiations, bolstering Fox News in defense of Smartmatic defamation suit.
I explore the twists & turns:
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
A yearlong probe reveals dozens of pregnant women in jails face horrific conditions with limited medical care. Many are ignored when seeking help, miscarrying or giving birth on floors or in toilets. Newborns face health issues; some don't survive.
Pregnancy Behind Bars Proves Deadly for Women and Their Babies
A yearlong probe reveals dozens of pregnant women in jails face horrific conditions with limited medical care. Many are ignored when seeking help, miscarrying or giving birth on floors or in toilets. Newborns face health issues; some don't survive.
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
A yearlong probe reveals dozens of pregnant women in jails face horrific conditions with limited medical care. Many are ignored when seeking help, miscarrying or giving birth on floors or in toilets. Newborns face health issues; some don't survive.
PREVIEW: Supreme Advocacy: What It Takes to Argue at the Supreme Court is a Bloomberg Law documentary film that takes viewers inside the rarefied world of the Supreme Court—offering an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to argue before the highest US court.
youtu.be/9sfXWWM5YQc
youtu.be/9sfXWWM5YQc
Trailer: Supreme Advocacy, an Original Documentary Film
YouTube video by Bloomberg Law
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
PREVIEW: Supreme Advocacy: What It Takes to Argue at the Supreme Court is a Bloomberg Law documentary film that takes viewers inside the rarefied world of the Supreme Court—offering an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to argue before the highest US court.
youtu.be/9sfXWWM5YQc
youtu.be/9sfXWWM5YQc
Reposted by Seth Stern
Social media gigs are colliding with federal noms as the wife of Trump’s pick to be the top prosecutor in Dallas is an influencer w/ 1.2 million instagram followers. Brooke Raybould posts a lot about her life and family, and ex-marshals say it’s a concern news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
A Prosecutor Pick, His Influencer Wife, and Ex-Marshals’ Worries
Brooke Raybould would like to sell you her life. The social media influencer posts daily about her life on Instagram—a recent move to Texas, taking care of five sons, and her and her husband’s workout...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Social media gigs are colliding with federal noms as the wife of Trump’s pick to be the top prosecutor in Dallas is an influencer w/ 1.2 million instagram followers. Brooke Raybould posts a lot about her life and family, and ex-marshals say it’s a concern news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
Gift link to NYT article about the corruption of DOJ. One former insider says “I wouldn’t even call it the Justice Department anymore. It’s become Trump’s personal law firm. … [T]he American people should be enraged.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department (Gift Article)
Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Gift link to NYT article about the corruption of DOJ. One former insider says “I wouldn’t even call it the Justice Department anymore. It’s become Trump’s personal law firm. … [T]he American people should be enraged.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
President Trump plans to tap a litigator behind efforts to prevent transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports to be a federal judge in Indiana, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Attorney in Trans Athlete Challenges Tapped by Trump for Bench
President Donald Trump plans to tap a litigator behind efforts to prevent transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports to be a federal judge in Indiana.
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
President Trump plans to tap a litigator behind efforts to prevent transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports to be a federal judge in Indiana, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
NEW: DOJ has been in settlement talks with Michael Flynn -- Trump's first national security adviser seeking $50M for his prosecution by ex-special counsel Robert Mueller -- and Stefan Passantino, a Trump I White House lawyer who accused the House Jan. 6 committee of privacy violations
bit.ly/4hWdolc
bit.ly/4hWdolc
November 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
NEW: DOJ has been in settlement talks with Michael Flynn -- Trump's first national security adviser seeking $50M for his prosecution by ex-special counsel Robert Mueller -- and Stefan Passantino, a Trump I White House lawyer who accused the House Jan. 6 committee of privacy violations
bit.ly/4hWdolc
bit.ly/4hWdolc
8th Circ. Judge David Stras talking to Federalist Society in Dec. about what his grandparents' Holocaust experience taught him about the First Amendment. It's closed press, as is what appears to be every FedSoc event listed on their calendar going forward. Policy change?
fedsoc.org/events/what-...
fedsoc.org/events/what-...
What My Grandparents’ Experiences in the Holocaust Taught Me about the First Amendment
Join the Iowa Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society for a discussion with Judge David Stras! Fea...
fedsoc.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:44 PM
8th Circ. Judge David Stras talking to Federalist Society in Dec. about what his grandparents' Holocaust experience taught him about the First Amendment. It's closed press, as is what appears to be every FedSoc event listed on their calendar going forward. Policy change?
fedsoc.org/events/what-...
fedsoc.org/events/what-...
Reposted by Seth Stern
NEWS: Miami US Attorney prompted prosecutor resignations by demanding they sign statements under penalty of perjury naming those with whom they discussed an assignment expected to target Trump's foes, prompting office-wide fear of witch hunt news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Miami US Attorney Instills Fear as Trump Enemy Probes Ramp Up
Miami’s US attorney is alarming staff with unconventional interrogation tactics to oust prosecutors, while warning the office about dishonesty and disobedience as he staffs up investigations of the pr...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:41 PM
NEWS: Miami US Attorney prompted prosecutor resignations by demanding they sign statements under penalty of perjury naming those with whom they discussed an assignment expected to target Trump's foes, prompting office-wide fear of witch hunt news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Judge VanDyke said competitive shooting is an “outlet” that allows him to hang up his robe and connect with “ordinary Americans.” “It’s not with stuffy lawyers,” VanDyke said. @jordanonrecord.bsky.social @suzannemonyak.bsky.social @jacqthomsen.bsky.social report
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
‘CrossFit Meets Shooting’ in Judge VanDyke’s Off-Bench Hobby
Federal judges are people, too, and between panels last week at the Federalist Society’s annual lawyers convention, three offered rare glimpses into how they unwind from the stresses of the job.
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Judge VanDyke said competitive shooting is an “outlet” that allows him to hang up his robe and connect with “ordinary Americans.” “It’s not with stuffy lawyers,” VanDyke said. @jordanonrecord.bsky.social @suzannemonyak.bsky.social @jacqthomsen.bsky.social report
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
There were few signs of any distance between the Federalist Society and Trump, who’d expressed disappointment earlier this year about advice he’d gotten from the organization on judicial nominations during his first term, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Conservatives Take a Victory Lap at Federalist Society Event
A Trump administration official had a message for a roomful of conservative lawyers at the Federalist Society’s annual convention, as he and other officials discussed the president’s priorities and ac...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 PM
There were few signs of any distance between the Federalist Society and Trump, who’d expressed disappointment earlier this year about advice he’d gotten from the organization on judicial nominations during his first term, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described a “war” against the federal judiciary at the Federalist Society conference today and called on young conservative lawyers in the audience to join the fight, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
DOJ’s No. 2 Official Asks Lawyers to Join ‘War’ Against Judges
Todd Blanche, second-in-command at the Justice Department, described a “war” against the federal judiciary and called on young conservative lawyers in the audience to join the fight against so-called ...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described a “war” against the federal judiciary at the Federalist Society conference today and called on young conservative lawyers in the audience to join the fight, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
There's now "more antisemitism on the right than at any time in my life," Sen. Ted Cruz told the Federalist Society today — urging conservatives to "stand up" to bigotry after Tucker Carlson interviewed white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his podcast.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Cruz Urges Right to Condemn Antisemitism After Carlson Podcast
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on conservatives to speak out against what he saw as a recent rise in antisemitism within the Republican party, days after a conservative leader drew outrage for defendi...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
There's now "more antisemitism on the right than at any time in my life," Sen. Ted Cruz told the Federalist Society today — urging conservatives to "stand up" to bigotry after Tucker Carlson interviewed white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his podcast.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Seth Stern
SCOOP: Inside the Miami US attorney’s office readying grand jury probes into DOJ officials/special counsel’s offices who investigated Trump:
- recruiting lawyers
- election conspiracist’s possible return
- MAGA influencer-fueled reorg
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
- recruiting lawyers
- election conspiracist’s possible return
- MAGA influencer-fueled reorg
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
DOJ Miami Office Readies Conspiracy Probe Into Trump Enemies (1)
The South Florida US attorney’s office is recruiting prosecutors and restructuring its chain of command in preparation for a grand jury investigation expected to target former Justice Department offic...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:10 PM
SCOOP: Inside the Miami US attorney’s office readying grand jury probes into DOJ officials/special counsel’s offices who investigated Trump:
- recruiting lawyers
- election conspiracist’s possible return
- MAGA influencer-fueled reorg
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
- recruiting lawyers
- election conspiracist’s possible return
- MAGA influencer-fueled reorg
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
South Florida US attorney’s office is recruiting prosecutors and restructuring its chain of command in preparation for a grand jury investigation expected to target former DOJ officials and others involved in Trump cases, @benjaminpenn.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
DOJ Miami Office Readies Conspiracy Probe Into Trump Enemies (1)
The South Florida US attorney’s office is recruiting prosecutors and restructuring its chain of command in preparation for a grand jury investigation expected to target former Justice Department offic...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
South Florida US attorney’s office is recruiting prosecutors and restructuring its chain of command in preparation for a grand jury investigation expected to target former DOJ officials and others involved in Trump cases, @benjaminpenn.bsky.social reports
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
A Trump-appointed judge in Delaware has declined to appoint the president’s interim US attorney to head the office in the state on an ongoing basis.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Trump Judge Declines to Appoint His Pick as Delaware US Attorney
A Trump-appointed judge in Delaware has declined to appoint the president’s interim US attorney to head the office in the state on an ongoing basis.
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 AM
A Trump-appointed judge in Delaware has declined to appoint the president’s interim US attorney to head the office in the state on an ongoing basis.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Former DOJ official Chad Mizelle suggested the only way to push the Supreme Court to address this is to apply political pressure, including by impeaching federal judges, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports. This problem must be solved with “power,” Mizelle said
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Ex-DOJ Official Chad Mizelle Urges Trump to ‘Stand Up’ to Judges
Former Justice Department official Chad Mizelle criticized “Democrat-appointed” federal trial judges who’ve ruled against the Trump administration in nationwide decisions and suggested change will req...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Former DOJ official Chad Mizelle suggested the only way to push the Supreme Court to address this is to apply political pressure, including by impeaching federal judges, @suzannemonyak.bsky.social reports. This problem must be solved with “power,” Mizelle said
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...