Cesar A. Lopez-Morales

Justice Sotomayor’s former law clerk, and #BULaw alum, @calmpr.bsky.social (’14) led an inspiring conversation with the Justice about her dedication to public service, the values that guide her work, and her commitment to justice.

Boston University School of Law had the honor of hosting United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as this year’s Shapiro Lecture speaker.

Learn more and watch the full lecture here ➡️ www.bu.edu/law/record/a...

Photography by: Colgan Johnson

Last Friday, I had the honor to lead this conversation with Justice Sotomayor at BU Law’s Annual Shapiro Lecture.

Beyond BigLaw: Comparing Law Firm Performance in Fortune 500 Federal Appeals in the First Two Months of 2025 This article compares law firms most trusted by Fortune 500 companies for high-stakes federal appeals, using new empirical data to reveal who actually delivers results when the stakes are highest.

An interesting statistical analysis by Adam Feldman of which firms appellate practices are actually trusted by Fortune 500 companies to handle their important cases. @adamfeldman.net

open.substack.com/pub/legalyti...

“When the Executive publicly announces its intent to break the law, and then executes on that promise, it is the Judiciary’s duty to check that lawlessness, not expedite it.”

-Justice Sonia Sotomayor

A cert petition asking the Supreme Court to take and decide the tariff case now, bypassing the court of appeals:
www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/u...

The real problem with the Supreme Court’s expected Fed carve out is not that it lacks a principle but that the real principle isn’t articulated. The reason it will carve out the Fed is functional but it won’t say that. And its jurisprudence doesn’t leave room to ventilate the functional arg.(1/8)

Post-argument shot at the Delaware Supreme Court.

With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:

Congratulations to @calmpr.bsky.social on his being selected by the Hispanic National Bar Association as one of the HNBA Top Lawyers Under 40.
mailchi.mp/hnba/announc...

Thank you, @bobloeb.bsky.social !

Truly, we are at a moment when we need organizations — the ABA, ALI, law firms, law schools — speaking out.

As Judge Coughenour said, “There are other times in world history where we look back and people of goodwill can say where were the judges, where were the lawyers?”

It’s time for the lawyers.

Today, Judge Engelmayer granted a temporary restraining order, barring DOGE affiliated-employees from gaining access to data from the Treasury Department, in the suit by states attorneys general. Find the suit, and more legal challenges to actions taken by the Trump adminsitration here:

Compare Bondi's memo, which characterizes DOJ attorneys as "the president's lawyers," with this memo that Ted Olson, who was then Reagan's OLC chief, sent to AG William French Smith in 1982. knightcolumbia.org/documents/jw...

DOJ’s challenge to SB8.

@bobloeb.bsky.social and @joedudekjd.bsky.social - Yes, here’s one example:

www.justice.gov/archives/opa...

Making the Presidency is such an amazing book! Not that many books on John Adams—even those that rightly vindicate his incredible yet oft-forgotten legacy—focus on his presidency. @lmchervinsky.bsky.social does a fantastic job discussing this part of his life and our history. Highly recommend it!

Follow @theappellateproj.bsky.social! #AppellateSky

Most of Puerto Rico Is Darkened by New Year’s Eve Blackout Only a fraction of the island’s 1.4 million utility customers had power on Tuesday morning. The electricity provider said it would take 24 to 48 hours to restore power.

A sweeping blackout hit Puerto Rico early Tuesday, halting power to nearly all of the island. The electricity provider said it would take 24 to 48 hours to restore power.

In fact, as we speak, Puerto Rico is experiencing an island-wide blackout, and the island’s electricity provider has indicated that it would take 24-48 hours to restore power to its utility customers. What a way to end 2024 and start the new year!

The Corporate Transparency Act case trundles on. While the en banc petition on the motions panel’s stay was pending, the brand new merits panel of the Fifth Circuit reinstates the stay itself. So all you compliance people at companies can chill.

More action this morning in the Fifth Circuit in the big Corporate Transparency Act case. Plaintiffs filed an emergency motion and a petition for rehearing en banc (both attached) seeking reconsideration by the full court by Jan 6:

This evening FinCEN extended the Corporate Transparency Act deadline to January 13, 2025, for reporting companies created or registered prior to 2024 to file their beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN.

Given the 5th Circuit ruling, FinCEN needs to update its website and provide guidance as to whether its going to extend its prior deadline in light of the pause caused by the court order.

On this day, the Supreme Court issues the Korematsu decision In December 1944, the Supreme Court handed down one of its most controversial decisions, which upheld the constitutionality of internment camps during World War II. Today, the Korematsu decision has been rebuked but never formally overturned.

#OnThisDay in 1944, #SCOTUS issues one of its most controversial decisions: that internment camps during World War II were constitutional.

#ConstitutionDaily explores the history of Korematsu v. United States: ow.ly/EgQm50Up6yp

Fun! The only game where “that’s a major question” is an acceptable answer.

Bonus points if it’s in the Question Presented!

#Appellate Jobs
The MacArthur Justice Center is hiring for fill two Supreme Court & Appellate Counsel positions.

www.macarthurjustice.org/career/supre....

@marinklevy.bsky.social and
rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social leading the way. #AppellateSky