Columns, Congress, Media, Politics

Pelosi’s Court: How the Jan. 6 Committee Undermined its Own Legitimacy

Below is my column in The Hill on the January 6th Committee hearings and how the Democrats undermined the legitimacy of their investigation by breaking the long tradition of bipartisan and balanced membership on such special committees. Many of us support the effort to release more information and evidence on what occurred on that day. However, Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided to forego even the pretense of a bipartisan and full inquiry.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Pelosi’s Court: How the Jan. 6 Committee Undermined its Own Legitimacy” →

Academia

Professors: Being “Color Blind” Fosters Racism

There is a new study by psychology researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of Louisville that maintains that those people who maintain a “color-blind” racial philosophy are actually fostering racism.  There is a growing movement from elementary schools to colleges that it is not enough to be non-racist. You must be anti-racist. A collateral position is that color blindness allows white people to evade racism or racial justice questions.  The question is whether the study in the Journal of Counseling Psychology will be used to support universities requiring affirmative anti-racism statements and other direct responses from faculty and students.

Continue reading “Professors: Being “Color Blind” Fosters Racism” →

Columns, Courts, Criminal law, Media, Politics

The Kavanaugh Murder Attempt is Shocking But Not Surprising

Below is my column in USA Today on the alleged attempted murder of Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his home outside of Washington, D.C. Less than 24 hours later, protesters were back in front of the Kavanaugh home as well as the home of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. In addition, pro-choice activists posted the location of the school of the Barrett children. It is all part of a national rage addiction where neither decency nor responsibility are relevant. Indeed, seven children of a justice are no longer even a concern in venting one’s rage.

Here is the column: Continue reading “The Kavanaugh Murder Attempt is Shocking But Not Surprising” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics

Court Rules for Home Depot in Barring Black Lives Matter Imagery

In January, I wrote a column criticizing the legal position of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in favor of Whole Food workers seeking to wear Black Lives Matter (BLM) symbols or clothing at work.  Now a judge has rejected a similar claim brought by employees at Home Depot despite a decision in their favor earlier by the NLRB General Counsel. Continue reading “Court Rules for Home Depot in Barring Black Lives Matter Imagery” →

Congress, Criminal law, Politics

“An Absolute, Shameless, and Soulless Lie”: Republican Lashes Out at Liz Cheney for Pardon Accusation

There is an interesting initial battle brewing over an accusation made by Rep. Liz Cheney during the first public hearing of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riot. Cheney called out Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Scott Perry by name as seeking a pardon from former President Trump for his involvement in post election challenges. However, Perry has denounced the accusation, stating on Twitter that “[t]he notion that I ever sought a Presidential pardon for myself or other Members of Congress is an absolute, shameless, and soulless lie.”

Continue reading ““An Absolute, Shameless, and Soulless Lie”: Republican Lashes Out at Liz Cheney for Pardon Accusation” →

Politics, Supreme Court

Pro-Choice Protesters Post School Information on the Children of Justice Amy Coney Barrett

Despite the alleged attempted murder of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the pro-choice group Ruth Sent Us descended upon the home of Justice Amy Coney Barrett and her family within 24 hours of the arrest.  Now, the group has posted information on where Justice Barrett goes to church and where her children go to school. It is another example of our age of rage. Indeed, it is an example of the rage addiction that has taken hold of many in the country where even potentially targeting the children of a judge or justice is considered fair game. Continue reading “Pro-Choice Protesters Post School Information on the Children of Justice Amy Coney Barrett” →

Free Speech, Media, Politics

No Stadium for You: Democratic Leader Cites Jan. 6th Comment for Shelving Stadium Plans

The start of the Jan. 6th hearings has been accompanied by the anticipated attacks on anyone expressing doubts about the scope, findings, or balance of the investigation. That was evident this week when Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) cited an opposing view by a coach with the Washington Commanders as one of the reasons that the state shelved a proposal for a new stadium for the team. It is doubtful that the comments of Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio made this week were truly a significant part of the decision since D.C. and Maryland also opted out for now on economic grounds. However, Saslaw clearly wanted to use the decision to pressure the team for allowing dissenting views to be expressed even by employees in their personal capacity. Saslaw, like so many today, finds it intolerable that such opposing positions could be uttered in public. Groups like the NAACP have called for Del Rio to be fired.

Continue reading “No Stadium for You: Democratic Leader Cites Jan. 6th Comment for Shelving Stadium Plans” →

Columns, Congress, Politics

Goodbye CRT, Hello GRT: Democrats Link Opponents to Terrorists Through the ‘Great Replacement Theory’

Below is my column in the Hill on the new Democratic campaign to link criticism of illegal immigration to domestic terrorism. The effort is to make the Great Replacement Theory (GRT) a new catchphrase against political and media opponents. However, the effort to make GRT the new CRT is not gaining traction. The reason is that GRT sweeps broadly to include commentary on both the left and right.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Goodbye CRT, Hello GRT: Democrats Link Opponents to Terrorists Through the ‘Great Replacement Theory’” →

Uncategorized

Res Ipsa Hits 59,000,000

crowd vj dayThis morning Res Ipsa passed the 59,000,000 mark in views on the blog. We have used these moments to give thanks for our many regular readers around the world and give you an idea of the current profile of readers on the blog and our readership around the world. As always, I want to offer special thanks for Darren Smith, who has continued to help manage the blog and help out folks who encounter posting problems.  I also want to thank Kristin Oren who continues her amazing work proofing posts on a daily basis to remove my embarrassing typos.  Finally, I would like to thank our regular readers who alert me to typos or any violations of the civility or copyright policies on the blog. Continue reading “Res Ipsa Hits 59,000,000” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Supreme Court

So You Say You Want a Revolution? President Biden Continues to Talk Revolution if the Court does not Rule as Demanded

“So you say you want a revolution.” When they sang those lines, the Beatles could well have been talking about Democratic leaders today. Revolution seems much in the minds and the rhetoric of politicians who are continuing to threaten swift responses to the Court if it rules against their wishes. The latest armchair revolutionary is President Joe Biden himself who went on Jimmy Kimmel to do the first sit down interview in months. To his credit, Biden was promising only a “mini-Revolution.” Continue reading “So You Say You Want a Revolution? President Biden Continues to Talk Revolution if the Court does not Rule as Demanded” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Media, Politics

Biden: “I Don’t Want to Emulate Trump’s Abuse of the Constitution” Despite Losing a Series of Court Fights

There was an interesting moment last night when President Joe Biden appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for his first network interview in 118 days. When Kimmel pushed Biden on the possibility of issuing an executive order on gun control. After all, Kimmel said, “Trump passed those out like Halloween candy.” Biden said that he did not want “to emulate Trump’s abuse of the constitution” and “pass[] those out like Halloween candy.” It was an ironic statement from a president who has racked up an impressive array of losses in the courts which have found that he has repeatedly disregarded constitutional limits. There is an advantage to arranging to be interviewed by a comedian rather than a reporter. There was no push back from Kimmel on a statement that is dramatically at odds with the President’s actual record in the courts. Continue reading “Biden: “I Don’t Want to Emulate Trump’s Abuse of the Constitution” Despite Losing a Series of Court Fights” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Lawyering

Shapiro Resigns From Georgetown After the Law School Reinstates Him on a “Technicality”

Last week, many of us initially celebrated the reinstatement of the Center for the Constitution Director Ilya Shapiro as a belated but important victory for free speech and academic freedom. Then we all read the rationale from Law Dean William Treanor, who adopted a technicality that not only avoided a full endorsement of Shapiro’s rights but left a menacing uncertainty as to his (and any other conservative’s) future protections at Georgetown University Law School.  Shapiro has elected to leave Georgetown to take a position with the Manhattan Institute given the lack of support for his right to speak freely at the law school. Unfortunately, most schools want to avoid litigation (and the controversy) over terminating dissenting faculty. The preference is to make life on faculties so hostile or intolerable that faculty will simply resign.

Continue reading “Shapiro Resigns From Georgetown After the Law School Reinstates Him on a “Technicality”” →

Criminal law, Politics

San Francisco Voters Oust District Attorney in Rare Recall

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin has been lionized by the press for years. He had the ultra-liberal resume for an ultra-liberal city. Boudin is the son of Weather Underground terrorists and  a former translator in Hugo Chávez’s presidential palace in Venezuela. Now, in a rare move, the voters of San Francisco have ousted Boudin in a rebuke not only to him but the failure of other leaders who have been downplaying or deflecting increasing crime in our major cities. Continue reading “San Francisco Voters Oust District Attorney in Rare Recall” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Supreme Court, Testimony

Turley Testifies in the Senate on Domestic Terrorism

This morning I will be testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the expansion of domestic terrorism investigations. The hearing is titled “Examining the ‘Metastasizing’ Domestic Terrorism Threat After the Buffalo Attack” and will begin at 10 am in the Hart Senate Office Building (Room 216). The written testimony is linked below.

Continue reading “Turley Testifies in the Senate on Domestic Terrorism” →

Columns, Congress, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics

Subpoena Wars: Washington is on a Path to Mutually Assured Destruction

Below is my column in The Hill on the subpoena war raging in Washington as the Jan. 6th Committee prepares for its first public hearings this week. This weekend, the Justice Department announced that it would not be prosecuting former chief of staff Mark Meadows and social media director Dan Scavino. As noted below, they took a wiser course of limited cooperation. The refusal to prosecute triggered a backlash from Rep. Adam Schiff who wanted to see more criminal charges out of the Biden Administration.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Subpoena Wars: Washington is on a Path to Mutually Assured Destruction” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks