Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Ziff

@djsziff.bsky.social

2.6K followers 550 following 2K posts

Teaching Professor, University of Washington School of Law #LegalWriting My stuff: https://linktr.ee/djsziff

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · Nov 11

Um. Hello new followers. I apologize in advance for my posts. I write about legal citation and #LegalWriting generally. E.g.,
A 27-page review of The Bluebook: digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/faculty-arti...
An essay on the citation of so-called "slave cases": digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/faculty-arti...
1/

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 2d

Because woke?

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 2d

I don't want anybody else.
When I want legal advice
I ask myself.

Charlie Savage @charliesavage.bsky.social · 2d

C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself

It is not clear what is behind the move by Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist. A legal ethics specialist said it could raise conflict-of-interest issues.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...

C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself

www.nytimes.com

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 2d

It stops the world and melts with you?

Reposted by David Ziff

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 3d

I ask this not facetiously: Does the Chief's idea of the States' equal dignity and equal sovereignty from Shelby County have any application when the President is acting unilaterally without Congress? Or just a limit on Congress's power? Obviously only Roberts's opinion matters. He must care, right?

Reposted by David Ziff

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 3d

"[O]ur federal system preserves the integrity, dignity, and residual sovereignty of the States. But the federal balance is not just an end in itself: Rather, federalism secures to citizens the liberties that derive from the diffusion of sovereign power.”

Owen Barcala @obarcala.bsky.social · 3d

To say what is happening makes you sound like a crackpot on a forum. A federal judge is enjoining the president from unlawfully sending federalized soldiers to invade the states of his political opponents against their will.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 3d

Warning: This doctrine may only apply when Congress creates a formula to address historical and systemic racism.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 3d

"[O]ur federal system preserves the integrity, dignity, and residual sovereignty of the States. But the federal balance is not just an end in itself: Rather, federalism secures to citizens the liberties that derive from the diffusion of sovereign power.”

Owen Barcala @obarcala.bsky.social · 3d

To say what is happening makes you sound like a crackpot on a forum. A federal judge is enjoining the president from unlawfully sending federalized soldiers to invade the states of his political opponents against their will.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 3d

Sort of hearing an implied "for now" appended to that statement.

Adam Klasfeld @klasfeldreports.com · 3d

Immergut asks Hamilton if he believes that sending the California National Guard to Oregon is an appropriate way to respond to her order.

Hamilton: "I'm not a policy-maker."

Immergut: "You're a lawyer."

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 3d

I ask this not facetiously: Does the Chief's idea of the States' equal dignity and equal sovereignty from Shelby County have any application when the President is acting unilaterally without Congress? Or just a limit on Congress's power? Obviously only Roberts's opinion matters. He must care, right?

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 3d

The rare hyperyikes.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 4d

I'm no network exec but not sure I'd use TV Off as bumper music.

Reposted by David Ziff

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 4d

Why not demand a statutory Bivens and get rid of QI in government funding negotiations? Obviously a promise from Trump to do anything is worthless. But an individual $$ court remedy?
Also, good messaging! "Did you know federal agents can violate your const'l rights and you have no remedy?! Well..."

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 4d

Whenever Will Vest enters the game.

Denim vest from Seinfeld. He's smoothing it!

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 4d

Oh fun! Never thought about the lyrics. But the song is great. Hilarious.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 4d

Why not demand a statutory Bivens and get rid of QI in government funding negotiations? Obviously a promise from Trump to do anything is worthless. But an individual $$ court remedy?
Also, good messaging! "Did you know federal agents can violate your const'l rights and you have no remedy?! Well..."

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 4d

The @mlb.com radio feeds in the app are the worst. You cannot have "Guess this person" or "What does this word mean" quiz-based ads, and then repeat them over and over again throughout the game, using the same ones for MONTHS. Don't ask me about Mike Piazza's post-game speech after 9-11 again!!!

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 4d

1. Congrats!
2. Funny saying a friend uses for themselves: "A face for radio, a voice for print." Always makes me chuckle.
3. Love the show! Been with you guys since I lived in NYC and you started. I was at the game that started the playoff losing streak, G2 at NYY after the Santana win in G1.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 5d

Thinking about "vindictive prosecution" and just how many of these legal tests and limits on executive power are based on a tacit understanding that the feds won't flat out admit what they're doing, so the courts will look the other way. The rules can't withstand boasting about motives!

Reposted by David Ziff

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 5d

This is important. The GOP can open the government literally today with zero Democrats. Just ditch the filibuster. Go ahead. Why won’t they do it?

Murshed Zaheed @murshedz.bsky.social · 5d

Good to see resolve/resilience from rank and file and House Democrats. Good on @rephuffman.bsky.social daring the republicans to abolish the filibuster ▶️ "[L]et them proceed with GOP votes and let the country see with perfect clarity who owns all the damage and destruction they're fomenting." (1/2)

"🩺 Zoom in: Some Democrats openly acknowledge that, while health care is extremely important to them, it's not the only thing at stake.

🛑 "People want this to be a sort of reckoning, where people finally said, 'No,'" Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) told us.
"We're going to start with these ACA subsidies because it's the most urgent," Landsman told us.
"But ... you're creating a really important moment where sh*t didn't fly."
The bottom line: "I marvel at the naivete of any Democrat who thinks we should give them Dem votes so they can just turn around and ignore us, crash the health care system, and dismantle what's left of our democracy," Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told us.

"The filibuster is toast anyway," he added, effectively daring Republicans to ignore the Senate's requirement for 60 votes and pass a party-line funding bill.
"So let them proceed with GOP votes and let the country see with perfect clarity who owns all the damage and destruction they're fomenting.""

Reposted by David Ziff

Benjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · 5d

If I wielded any actual power over the English language:

1. Everyone uses the series comma.
2. No one definitively declares what a word does or doesn't mean without looking it up first.
3. The phrase "begs the question," in any of its meanings, is banned.

Otherwise you're on your own.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 5d

But imagine if you had that power!

Reposted by David Ziff

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 7d

Feeling powerless and overwhelmed these days? Give a quick read to this interview with Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) and then consider the call for volunteers at the end!
wabarnews.org/2025/09/11/i...
cc: @nwirp.bsky.social @wastatebar.bsky.social

In Conversation With Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) - Washington State Bar News

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 5d

But imagine if you had that power!

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 6d

One of my favorite bands

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 6d

You can have my answer now, Mr. President.

Michael Corleone before he says "My offer is nothing" to the Senator trying to extort him.

David Ziff @djsziff.bsky.social · 7d

Feeling powerless and overwhelmed these days? Give a quick read to this interview with Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) and then consider the call for volunteers at the end!
wabarnews.org/2025/09/11/i...
cc: @nwirp.bsky.social @wastatebar.bsky.social

In Conversation With Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) - Washington State Bar News

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.