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John Ross

@johnkennethross.bsky.social
60 followers 91 following 4 posts

Editor of the Short Circuit newsletter: @shortcircuitij.bsky.social Listen to Bound By Oath, a podcast on constitutional history: ij.org/podcasts/bound-by-oath/mr-th…

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Reposted by John Ross
Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
NEW: Leo Garcia Venegas, detained three times by DHS, just won a major victory in his case. The court stayed three DHS policies: Immigration agents can no longer raid construction sites without a warrant, round up workers based on how they look, and refuse to let them go after they show a REAL ID.
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Chris Ingraham @cingraham.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Big news from @ij.org: A federal judge in Alabama has just ordered ICE and CBP to stop warrantless raids of construction sites, to stop detaining people without individualized suspicion, and to stop detaining people who present valid ID. More to come shortly.
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The latest from Bound By Oath! In 1966, a man faced prison for handing out leaflets protesting a fatal police shooting. Today, we know the case as Younger v. Harris, which kicked off Younger abstention, the bane of many a civil rights plaintiff. W/ Fred Smith of Stanford Law! ij.org/podcasts/bou...
ij.org
Younger abstention | Season 4, Ep. 4 - Institute for Justice
In 1966, Los Angeles officials tried to put a man in prison for handing out leaflets in protest of a fatal police shooting. Today, we […]
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Anthony Sanders @ijsanders.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
BREAKING: Pennsylvania Sup Ct rejects the Open Fields Doctrine under the PA constitution (4th Am analog). All justices agree the game wardens violated our clients' rights. Congrats to @joshuawindham.bsky.social of @ij.org who argued the case! BIG state con law ruling www.pacourts.us/assets/opini...
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
It's the latest #BoundByOath! The 4th Amendment requires "oath or affirmation". Yet, the Supreme Court effectively read those words out of the Constitution in 1960. The Court has a chance, though, to fix its mistake. Will it? Learn the whole story here. ij.org/podcasts/bou...
ij.org
Oath or Affirmation. (And Treason.) - Institute for Justice
On this episode, we recover a lost part of the Fourth Amendment that the Supreme Court essentially erased in 1960. In the case of Jones […]
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Listen to John Ross’s wonderful podcast that explains why today’s boring doctrinal decision really sucks and hurts civil rights plaintiffs.
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John Ross @johnkennethross.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Sad to learn that SCOTUS did not blow the Rooker-Feldman doctrine to smithereens today. But it does mean this nice little podcast episode on Mr. Rooker & Prof. Feldman is going to remain timely forever. ij.org/podcasts/bou...
ij.org
Rooker and Feldman and Treason | Season 4, Ep. 1 - Institute for Justice
Next week, the Supreme Court is going to hear a huge civil rights case that no one is talking about—because the legal issue before the […]
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
We filed another lawsuit over another wrong house raid in Georgia. A SWAT team showed up Cathy George’s apartment looking for a man she never met. And it turned out he was already in jail. It’s insane how often this stuff happens. youtu.be/QamIUQVD2X4?...
youtu.be
He Was Already in Jail—So Why Did SWAT Raid Her Home?
YouTube video by Institute for Justice
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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Because she was working with a federal task force, she was considered a federal officer, and thus protected by SCOTUS rulings making it all but impossible to sue federal cops, even for egregious abuse. Now consider what this means for Trump's immigration thugs. Democrats had two years to fix this.
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Chris Ingraham @cingraham.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
A St. Paul police officer fabricated a massive sex trafficking case and had multiple people locked up under false charges. The Supreme Court yesterday affirmed a ruling that she can't be sued by her victims. She appears to still be employed by the St. Paul PD. ij.org/press-releas...
ij.org
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Hamdi Mohamud’s Case Against St. Paul Officer Who Framed Her - Institute for Justice
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for certiorari filed by the Institute for Justice (IJ) on behalf of Hamdi Mohamud. The petition asked the […]
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Paul Fairie @paulisci.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Knut Hamsun, Norwegian Nobel laureate in literature, sided with the Nazis so much he presented Goebbels with his Nobel medal in 1943 (which wasn't widely known until later). Norwegians responded by mailing so many of Hamsun's books back to him that his local post office had to hire extra staff.
Norwegians Apply Boycott As Traitor's Punishment

As a means of treating public enemies who are too powerfully protected to be dealt with otherwise the boycott has no equal. It is one of the few remaining weapons left in the hands of the conquered peoples of Europe.

A new form has been invoked in Norway against the country's foremost literary figure, Knut Hamsun, author of Growth of the Soil and a Nobel prizewinner for literature. As such he has been honored by every Norwegian. Now he has chosen to become a follower of Quisling, the traitor who rules Norway as a Nazi agent.
Nazi power prevent direct measures of punishment, but it does not keep his countrymen from letting him know how they hate and despise his desertion. Every house, therefore, that has owned a copy of Hamsun's books is now returning them to Hamsun. So many copies have been sent back that the postoffice in the little town where he lives has had to hire extra helpers to handle the mass. Every mail brings him more of his books, rejected by the people who once held them in honor.
Authors, like other artists, are apt to be more sensitive than the average run of men. If this applies to Hamsun, he has fallen on evil days.
--The Butte Daily Post, 25 Jan 1943
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
WOW. Remember this May video of a US citizen wrestled to the ground by ICE agents and detained for an hour despite having a valid REAL ID? It gets worse. Two weeks later, ICE did it AGAIN — handcuffed him and detained him for 20 minutes despite his REAL ID. Now the Institute for Justice is suing.
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
NEW CASE: We just sued DHS to stop the immigration raids on construction sites. Our client, Leo García Venegas, has been arrested twice just for working in construction while Latino—despite being a US citizen with a Real ID. Here’s a short video explaining the case: youtu.be/rYSfX9Wxs3M
youtu.be
Innocent CITIZEN Arrested TWICE by ICE
YouTube video by Institute for Justice
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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
I didn't believe the RFK Jr. crew for a moment when they claimed to be for health freedom, and I was right.
washingtonpost.com
FDA limits approval for new coronavirus vaccines to high-risk people
The narrowed approval marks a shift from past recommendations for everyone ages 6 months and older to receive annual coronavirus vaccines.
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
New case: @ij.org is representing George Retes, an army vet who ICE disappeared during the raid on a cannabis farm. They held George for three days without charges. He never got a phone call, let alone access to an attorney. He missed his daughter's third birthday. t.co/TtGX8jKXF6
Photo of George in army fatigues sitting on the back of an army vehicle.
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Joanna Schwartz @jcschwartzprof.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
There will now be 10,000 new ICE agents & 100,000 new detention beds--and few safeguards protecting people from constitutional violations by the feds. Time for states to pass laws allowing people to sue fed agents. Read about it these "converse-1983" statutes here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
We filed another mistaken-identity case. The video is genuinely harrowing: youtu.be/3J6SBmLyfG8 It's so fucked that this happens all the time and no one ever faces any consequences. All our clients say that going through this completely erodes whatever trust they had trust in law enforcement.
youtu.be
Grandma "Kidnapped" by US Marshals (BODYCAM)
YouTube video by Institute for Justice
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Anthony Sanders @ijsanders.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
In all the universal/nationwide injunctions debate almost no one (including SCOTUS) has said anything about state & local governments. That’s terribly unfortunate because UIs are needed in suits against them the most, as I explain here. 1/ 🧵 ij.org/cje-post/uni...
ij.org
Universal Injunctions Are a Bigger Deal for States and Cities Than for the Feds - Institute for Justice
Universal injunctions are even more important when states or cities violate the constitution than when the feds do.
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Andrew Wimer @andrewwimer.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Argument is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29, at 10 am. Check out IJ's listeners' guide for more information: ij.org/case/martin-... END
ij.org
Listeners' Guide to Martin v. US - Institute for Justice
Supreme Court Argument Resources Media Contact Andrew Wimerawimer@ij.org(703) 298-5938 Video Photo Gallery What happened to the Martins? In 2017, Trina Martin and her son Gabe […]
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
New episode of Bound By Oath is a great explainer on the technical issues for tomorrow's SCOTUS argument in Martin v. United States. It answers the age-old question: "Can an administrative functionary have discretion to commit an intentional tort?" No, they cannot. ij.org/podcasts/bou...
ij.org
Trust But Verify | Season 3, Ep. 12 - Institute for Justice
In 1973, federal narcotics agents raided a pair of homes in Collinsville, Illinois by mistake. They didn’t find any drugs, but they did terrorize two […]
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
In the latest episode of #BoundByOath we discuss how wrong house raids in 1973 led Congress to give victims of federal agents a remedy for similar outrages. It's essential background to the Supreme Court's oral argument next week in Martin v. U.S. ij.org/podcasts/bou...
ij.org
Trust But Verify | Season 3, Ep. 12 - Institute for Justice
In 1973, federal narcotics agents raided a pair of homes in Collinsville, Illinois by mistake. They didn’t find any drugs, but they did terrorize two […]
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Anthony Sanders @ijsanders.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Thank you to everyone who came to @shortcircuitij.bsky.social 10th anniversary last night! Among other things we learned from @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social that arbitration is hilarious (seriously, it got the biggest laughs of the night).
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
One day until showtime.
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
In North Carolina today to launch yet another @ij.org case about a SWAT team raiding the wrong house. Watch the case video here: youtu.be/5ukdm8QBTzc
youtu.be
SWAT Raids Wrong House, Sends Owner to Hospital
YouTube video by Institute for Justice
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
After 4 relists, the court denied cert this morning in our Texas Wrong House Raid case Sotomayor and Jackson would have granted cert It was a great case to address QI b/c the SWAT leader conceded he violated 4A, & the 5th Cir granted QI anyway b/c he did more than "nothing" to find the right house
Line from Supreme Court orders list denying cert in Jimerson v. Lewis, No. 24-473, and noting that Justices Sotomayor and Jackson would have granted cert.
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
10 years ago today, Feb 13, 2015, @ij.org published our 1st Short Circuit newsletter. Thanks to all who have read @johnkennethross.bsky.social's weekly work since the beginning (the few the proud!) or have joined along the way. Here's a short 🧵down memory lane (this is our original webpage). 1/
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
It's the latest episode of #BoundByOath, our legal history podcast! Get the real story of Camara v. Municipal Court (1967). With an interview of Marshall Krause, who argued the rental inspection case on behalf of Roland Camara. ij.org/podcasts/bou...
ij.org
Everything You Eat, Drink, and Wear | Season 3, Ep. 11 - Institute for Justice
Government officials must obtain a warrant before forcibly entering a home (absent consent or an emergency). That rule goes back to the Founding. But in […]
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Patrick Jaicomo @pjaicomo.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS GRANTED CERT IN @IJ.org CASE MARTIN V. UNITED STATES!!!
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
2025 marks 10 years of Short Circuit. We've holding a party & you're invited! April 3 @ 7pm in DC. See Judges Diane Wood & Kent Jordan @adamliptak.bsky.social Eugene Volokh @volokhc.bsky.social @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social @conlawwarrior.bsky.social plus @ij.org folks. Register below! #AppellateSky
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Humboldt fined Rhonda Olson $7.47M for property she just bought for $60K. The fines were because the prior owner grew weed on land that loggers had graded without a permit back in the 80s. The trial court said she had no constitutional case. Last week, the Ninth Circuit reversed: bit.ly/4a9Nsi7. 🧵
Rhonda Olson standing on her mountainous property in the northwest corner of Humboldt County, CA.  She's holding a Notice of Violation that charged her with millions in fines for someone else's conduct.
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Short Circuit @shortcircuitij.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
The latest episode of #BoundByOath! We look at SWAT tactics & ask: who pays the tab when the government damages or destroys private property for the public good—the unlucky owner or the public as a whole? W/ @mollyxbrady.bsky.social @pjaicomo.bsky.social & Jeffrey Redfern! ij.org/podcasts/bou...
ij.org
Special Weapons and Tactics | Season 3, Ep. 10 - Institute for Justice
In 2020, a police SWAT team blew up Vicki Baker’s house after a fugitive barricaded himself inside. On this episode, we ask: who pays the […]
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Jared @jaredmcclain.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
We won (on 9 of our 10 issues on appeal)! Sometimes looking crazy pays off. The Ninth Circuit ruled that we stated four constitutional claims against Humboldt County’s extortive use of fines against anyone they suspected of growing weed without a permit. cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...
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Patrick Jaicomo @pjaicomo.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
🚨#QUALIFIEDIMMUNITY CERT ALERT🚨 In October, @ij.org filed cert. on behalf of an innocent family, subjected to a #WrongHouseRaid in the Dallas metro area. In Jimerson v. Lewis, we ask #SCOTUS to either hear the case or summarily reverse the 5th Cir.'s grant of QI. 1/10 ij.org/press-releas...
ij.org
Family Asks Supreme Court to Hear Qualified Immunity Case Against SWAT Commander Who Ordered Officers to Raid Wrong Home - Institute for Justice
WASHINGTON—Today, an innocent family whose Lancaster, Texas, home was raided by a SWAT team in March 2019 asked the United States Supreme Court to hear […]
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Daniel A. Horwitz @danielahorwitz.bsky.social · 09/10/2024
Sad news: The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the right of SLAPP-suit filers to evade consequences by nonsuiting: tncourts.gov/sites/defaul.... The calamitous effects of this ruling are guaranteed.
tncourts.gov
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