Ben Keener's Avatar

Ben Keener

@btkeener.bsky.social

Aspiring jurisconsult https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=3865326

54 Followers  |  41 Following  |  33 Posts  |  Joined: 07.04.2025
Posts Following

Posts by Ben Keener (@btkeener.bsky.social)

Grateful for the citation @jedshug.bsky.social and @evanbernick.bsky.social !

27.02.2026 01:33 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

WAY too many tabs!

25.02.2026 21:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Although my own paper with the Penn Law Review focuses on the English common law exclusively, @kewhittington.bsky.social and I agree on the original rule. Glad to see this out in print!

My paper: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

11.02.2026 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

My paper on the original meaning of birthright citizenship is now published

11.02.2026 15:13 β€” πŸ‘ 52    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
Post image

But it's better in the original Law French.

Also, go Selden Society!

06.02.2026 01:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

From Baker’s edition of Coke’s notes vol. vi at pp 1436-37

06.02.2026 00:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

β€œNote that whoever is born upon the king's land is the king's subject, and whoever is [present] upon any part of the land, even if he is an alien, owes obedience to the king” Edward Coke

06.02.2026 00:10 β€” πŸ‘ 82    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Here’s the clincher. Another set of Coke’s private notes on the subject

06.02.2026 00:09 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Per John Baker’s publications of Coke’s Notebooks, vol vii at 1621

05.02.2026 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Critically, Coke says: β€œby the law of nature and nations he is the subject of the king of the realm where he was born. Thus if a Spaniard has issue in England or an Englishman has issue in Spain, such issue is the subject of the king where he is born and not the king where his parents are subject.”

05.02.2026 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Below are Edward Cokes’s notes on the Postnati problem before Calvin’s Case. Clear evidence that the traditional view of birthright subjecthood is correct:

05.02.2026 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

It's true that more cases would not likely have modified the general rule (nor the central example of a captured fort)! I would especially enjoy clarity about the status of ambassadors and so-called "perpetual enemies." But I am heartened that so many manuscripts remain unstudied and unedited!

13.12.2025 01:05 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Some reading given the Court’s docket

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

09.12.2025 22:17 β€” πŸ‘ 54    πŸ” 29    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
Post image

Now online with the Penn Law Review!

SSRN: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

20.11.2025 22:53 β€” πŸ‘ 42    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

I’ll continue to direct interested readers to my paper β€œCalvin’s Case and Birthright Citizenship” (with Penn Law Review) that explains the origins of the rule in detail. β€œJus soli” might not have been used in 1608, but it didn’t appear out of thin air

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

17.07.2025 19:07 β€” πŸ‘ 59    πŸ” 18    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

Thank you, @gauthamrao.bsky.social !

21.11.2025 04:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Now online with the Penn Law Review!

SSRN: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

20.11.2025 22:53 β€” πŸ‘ 42    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
legaltheoryblog.com

Both Legal Theory Blog and the Legal Theory Lexicon are moving to Wordpress and new web addresses:

Legal Theory Blog: Legal Theory Blog: Legal Theory Blog: legaltheoryblog.com

Legal Theory Lexicon: https:/legaltheorylexicon.com/

26.09.2025 13:00 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Another important piece about birthright citizenship and the common law. Grateful for the cite, @kewhittington.bsky.social!

23.08.2025 08:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

No problem!

17.07.2025 19:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I’ll continue to direct interested readers to my paper β€œCalvin’s Case and Birthright Citizenship” (with Penn Law Review) that explains the origins of the rule in detail. β€œJus soli” might not have been used in 1608, but it didn’t appear out of thin air

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

17.07.2025 19:07 β€” πŸ‘ 59    πŸ” 18    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

... and national security in Hong Kong). Articles are from Jeffrey Goldsworthy (on Dr Bonham's Case); @anuragdeb.bsky.social and @colinmurray.bsky.social (on Art 2 of the Winsor Framework the Legacy Act and the IMA); Lisa Burton Crawford and Janina Boughey (on Automated Information about Law); ...

19.06.2025 12:52 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Bonham's Case and Judicial Duty <p>Bonham’s Case is perhaps one of the most famous cases in the common law tradition. It is also one of the most poorly understood. Chief Justice Edward Coke ap

My Paper: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

09.07.2025 00:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Public Law journal | Sweet & Maxwell Since 1956, the Public LawΒ journal has been the leading forum for information and debate in the constantly evolving area of law and government.

His Paper: www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/en-gb/produc...

09.07.2025 00:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

It is a huge honor to be cited by Jeffrey Goldsworthy, a titan of public law and legal philosophy. Everyone should read his latest synopsis of the literature on Bonham's Case.

09.07.2025 00:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks very much, @evanbernick.bsky.social! Still waiting on a rebuttal πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ

19.05.2025 23:31 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you for the share @lsolum.bsky.social !

07.05.2025 11:38 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

When CJ John Marshall ruled that PA was obliged to return a prize of war in US v. Peters (1809), governor Snyder raised a militia army to resist enforcement. When asked to support PA and defy the Supreme Court, President Madison wrote: (1/3)

04.05.2025 17:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
United States v. Peters, Opinion, 20 February 1809

From the Papers of John Marshall, vol. 7. Read more here (3/3) rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/founders/def...

04.05.2025 17:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"It is sufficient...to remark that the executive of the United States is not only unauthorized to prevent the execution of a decree sanctioned by the Supreme Court of the United States, but is expressly enjoined by statute to carry into effect any such decree..." (2/3)

04.05.2025 17:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0