Today’s episode is another roundup of how trial judges are playing whack-a-mole with the Trump administration, and how all of it fits in with Trump’s plan to usurp Congress’s power to reshape the country in his image. Plus, we’ve got some crazy stories featuring the Interim US Attorney for DC trying to strongarm Georgetown University, a blast from the past with bigoted Kentucky court clerk Kim Davis, and a subscriber bonus on an obscure Civ Pro rule that Trump plans to use to make terrible losing arguments in court.

Links:

Ermold v. Davis [Sixth Circuit Opinion, Gay Marriage Clerk Case]

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca6.151496/gov.uscourts.ca6.151496.6015541768.2.pdf

AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. Department of State (DC docket)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/

Harris v. Bessent DC Circuit appeal

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69704122/cathy-harris-v-scott-bessent/

Some asshole is signing your name to stupid letters

https://www.loweringthebar.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/browns_letter_1974.pdf

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The Supreme Court is still sitting on its (tiny) hands, but trial judges are holding strong against the Trump administration’s assault on the rule of law. We’ll talk about the pushback to Trump’s anti-trans executive orders, his assault on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the effort to ensure that the Dear Leader can fire watchdogs at will. Plus subscribers get a deep dive on trial judges attempting to SCOTUS-proof their rulings to protect trans kids.

Links:

Dellinger v. Bessent [District Court Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624836/dellinger-v-bessent

Dellinger v. Bessent [SCOTUS Docket]

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a790.html

National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624423/national-treasury-employees-union-v-vought/ 

Jones v. Bondi  [Docket via Court Listener]

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277335

Washington v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69620657/state-of-washington-v-trump/

PFLAG v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69614668/pflag-inc-v-donald-j-trump/

Seila Law v. CFPB [SCOTUS Opinion]

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-7_new_bq7d.pdf

Corporate Transparency Act, 31 USC § 5336

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5336

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The Trump administration is now openly defying court orders as multiple trial court judges seek to rein in the government’s illegal conduct. Are sanctions the solution? In at least one case, we won’t know until Chief Justice Roberts releases the “administrative hold” he imposed to consider Trump’s latest meritless request for help from the Supreme Court. All of this plus the return of ChatGPT lawyering and a subscriber bonus on the OG Coat Factory Law Firm!

Links:

Jack Smith 278e disclosure

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25522081-smith-john-l-special-counsels-office-smith-termination-278-2025-2025-01-10/

Talbott v. Trump

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583866/talbott-v-trump/

Wadsworth v. Walmart (ChatGPT litigation)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67564066/wadsworth-v-walmart-inc/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

Trump’s anti-Covington EO (Patreon bonus)

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/suspension-of-security-clearances-and-evaluation-of-government-contracts/

Doe v. Office of Personnel Management.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69582338/doe-v-office-of-personnel-management/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. US Department of State

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/

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The Trump administration has been sued by everyone and their mother, and we’re here to cover it all. From the First Amendment violations to the illegal terminations, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we’ve got an update in the Eric Adams case.

Links:

AP v. Budowich 

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69662918/associated-press-v-budowich

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69580474/philadelphia-yearly-meeting-of-the-religious-society-of-friends-v-us/

Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. v. De Moraes

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69650977/trump-media-technology-group-corp-v-de-moraes/

Mizelle Letter to Judge Srinivasan [via Bloomberg]

https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/r0FHd6DtBQwE/v0

Dunne/Pomerantz Feb. 20 amicus

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916.135.0_1.pdf

US v. Adams criminal docket (SDNY)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69197933/united-states-v-adams/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

In re Flynn, 973 F.3d 74 (DC Cir. 2020)

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3512121653435918827

Bessent v. Dellinger (Supreme Court Shadow docket) order

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a790_6i79.pdf’

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It’s been another wild week as the Trump administration took some time off from breaking all the laws to break the rules of civil procedure. Will the Supreme Court let them get away with it?

Links:

AIDS VACCINE ADVOCACY COALITION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/

Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Duffy

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.637159

Dellinger v. Bessent Supreme Court docket

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a790.html

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We follow up on the Thursday Night Massacre, as Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove finally got someone to file the paperwork to dismiss the case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. And we do a deep dive into Dellinger v. Bessent, as the Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to remind everyone that the laws don’t actually apply to Donald Trump. All of that and DOCKET ALERTS!

Links:

Courts Stand Up For Trans Rights and the Rule of Law

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/courts-stand-up-for-trans-rights

Bove Feb. 10 letter to Sassoon (SDNY) ordering dropping of Adams prosecution

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/76308bc134b67d36/4cc46c59-full.pdf

Hagen Scotten resignation letter

https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/0b16892a-b4a3-4511-9eab-44ff6f69a97f.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_4

US v. Adams docket

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/

Nick Akerman amicus

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916.124.0.pdf

Henry Cuellar criminal docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68499933/united-states-v-cuellar/

Dellinger v. Bessent district court docket

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277297/

Dellinger v. Bessent (DC Circuit docket)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.41741/gov.uscourts.cadc.41741.01208711227.0.pdf

Dellinger v. Bessent (SCOTUS petition)

***REPLACE S3 LINK WHEN SCOTUS LINK IS AVAILABLE***

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25536866/bessent-v-dellinger-vacatur-app-final.pdf

Seila Law v. CFPB (2020)

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-7_n6io.pdf

AIDS VACCINE ADVOCACY COALITION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/

Talbott v. Trump

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583866/talbott-v-trump/ 

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Trump’s personal lawyers are turning the DOJ into a protection racket, dropping bribery charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams after he agreed to violate the City’s immigration laws. But they can’t find any lawyer in the Justice Department to implement their corrupt decree. At least seven prosecutors have been fired or quit. But will anyone in America notice?

Links:

Sassoon resignation letter

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/24535586a908999e/3801d435-full.pdf

Bove response letter to Sassoon

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/7c71f04757006735/05b1f604-full.pdf

Dellinger v. Bessent docket (Office of Special Counsel)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277297/

US v. Eric Adams [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69197933/united-states-v-adams/ 

Bove Letter Ordering Adams Dismissal [via NYT]

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/76308bc134b67d36/4cc46c59-full.pdf 

After Meeting With Trump’s Border Czar, Adams Opens Rikers to ICE Agents

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/nyregion/adams-ice-rikers-homan.html

How the Justice Dept. Helped Sink Its Own Case Against Eric Adams

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/nyregion/adams-lawyers-justice-department-dismissal.html

Grand Vizier Musk Is A Problem For The Justice Department

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/grand-vizier-musk-is-a-problem-for

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Donald Trump got bored during the Super Bowl, and now apparently pennies are illegal. Also, as everything Trump torches the entire executive branch, trial judges aim their garden hoses at the flames to save what they can. Today we’ll talk about as many cases as we can cram into an hour. Come for the DOGE take over of Treasury, stay for the Project 2025 shutdown of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Links:

ABA STATEMENT on the Rule of Law

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/

When You’ve Lost Clarence Thomas

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/when-youve-lost-clarence-thomas

New York v. Trump (state Treasury challenge) docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69623558/state-of-new-york-v-donald-j-trump/

CNN: Trump stopping penny production

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-doge-usaid-news-02-09-25#cm6yd9c61001m3b6no8ip8cc3

Coinage clause annotated

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C5-1/ALDE_00001066/

Coinage Act of 1792

https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/historical-documents/coinage-act-of-april-2-1792

31 U.S.C. § 5112

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5112

12 U.S.C. § 5481 et seq. (creating CFPB)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/chapter-53/subchapter-V

Sen. Warren Initial Report on the CFPB

https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/2011/07/Report_BuildingTheCfpb1.pdf

Seila Law, LLC v. CFPB

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14557349188638541514

NTEU V. VOUGHT I docket (CFPB data)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277286/

NTEU V. VOUGHT II docket (CFPB dismantling)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277287/

CFPB v. CFSA

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-448_o7jp.pdf

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Donald Trump’s blitzkrieg of executive orders is running into a million lawsuits. And Elon Musk’s inability to keep his mouth shut isn’t helping. We’ll discuss the avalanche of lawsuits by labor unions, non-profits, FBI agents, and anonymous federal employees, along with the judiciary’s response. 

Links:

44 USC § 3501 Note

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/44/3501

Musk associates sought to use critical Treasury payment system to shut down USAID spending, emails show

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/06/politics/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-system/index.html

US v. Illinois docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69616357/united-states-v-state-of-illinois/

FBI Agents Association v. DOJ

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69609596/federal-bureau-of-investigation-agents-association-v-department-of-justice/ 

AFL-CIO v. Department of Labor docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69613359/afl-cio-v-department-of-labor/ 

Nat’l Council of Nonprofits v. OMB (“Nonprofits Case”) docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/

ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS v. BESSENT (challenge to Treasury/BFS)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69607077/alliance-for-retired-americans-v-bessent/

Doe v. OPM docket (challenge to Musk server spoofing OPM email)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69582338/doe-v-office-of-personnel-management

New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (challenge to birthright EO)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69560542/new-hampshire-indonesian-community-support-v-trump/ 

The Three-Headed Chimera of Trumpian Destruction [Gift Link]

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-three-headed-chimera-of-trumpian-destruction/sharetoken/09cb444c-9355-4852-be93-f505cbbd1418 

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Elon Musk has invaded Washington. He has set loose a pack of feral teenage code monkeys with a god complex inside every federal agency, promising to do for Washington what he did for Twitter. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, and Musk also has a plan to “rightsize” the government by waving unenforceable contracts at federal employees to induce them into resigning. There’s a Fork in the Road all right, but this one is perhaps best not taken.

Links:

Nat’l Counsel of Nonprofits v. OMB (“Nonprofits Case”) docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/

Elon Musk Wants to Get Operational Control of the Treasury’s Payment System. This Could Not Possibly Be More Dangerous by 

https://www.crisesnotes.com/elon-musk-wants-to-get-operational-control-of-the-treasurys-payment-system-this-could-not-possibly-be-more-dangerous/

Office of Personnel Management “Fork in the Road”

https://www.opm.gov/fork

OPM Guidance on Schedule Policy/Career (formerly Schedule F)

https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/OPM%20Memorandum%20re%20Schedule%20Policy%20Career%20Guidance%2001-27-25%20FINAL.pdf

American Federation of Gov’t Employees v. Trump docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69588089/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-trump/

VSIP 5 U.S.C. § 3521 et seq.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/part-III/subpart-B/chapter-35/subchapter-II

Truman EO 9830

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-9830-amending-the-civil-service-rules-and-providing-for-federal-personnel

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