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Adam Davidson

@sonofdavid.bsky.social
603 followers 489 following 92 posts

Assistant Professor at UChicago Law. Researching police, prisons, abolition, and the 13th amendment. Views, for better or worse, are my own. Things I wrote: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAu… Background by Oscar Joyo

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Reposted by Adam Davidson
Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 14/09/2026
Cis people do not understand how much trans people's rights have regressed in just 5 years. 5 years ago, there were none of these restrictions. 19 states banned legal recognition 21 states have bathroom bans 8 states ban gender marker changes on DLs 25 ban gender affirming care for trans youth
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
In @statecourtreport.org today discussing state pushes to go beyond the 13th amendment to ban slavery and involuntary servitude with no exceptions and what needs to happen to turn those rights on paper into on-the-ground change. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...
statecourtreport.org
Transforming the Modern Push to Abolish Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
Nine states have amended their constitutions to eliminate or narrow the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. The exception exists in the federal 13th Amendment.
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Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: state constitutions provide resources & affordances for progressive politics that have yet to be fully exploited. They're all easier to change than the federal one & many have been updated to reflect emerging problems...y'know, like a democracy should.
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Ann M. Lipton @annmlipton.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
It's 5 4 in that there are 4 votes that the constitution does not mandate birthright citizenship.
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Ann M. Lipton @annmlipton.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Ilhan Omar represents the best of what America can be.
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Mark Lemley @marklemley.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
My colleague Nora Freeman Engstrom has put together a guide for bringing tort suits against ICE law.stanford.edu/wp-content/u...
law.stanford.edu
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Every time I think I’ve seen the worst qualified immunity decision I can imagine, the federal courts release some new, fresh hell on my psyche.
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Jonathan M. Katz @katz.theracket.news · 08/05/2026
Meanwhile in Ohio
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Eliza Orlins @elizaorlins.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Hi. There is some drama over on LawyerThreads. There’s a lawyer (who is also very active on Facebook) who is out in the world saying that the law is neutral. Just want to chime in as a career public defender and say THE LAW IS NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN FUCKING NEUTRAL. 🧵
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Charlotte Garden @charlottegarden.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
There is *a lot* to unpack here but I have to go meet with students so I'll just say: not enough "yikes" in the world.
To satisfy the second and third preconditions—politically cohesive voting by the minority and racial-bloc voting by the majority—the plaintiffs must provide an analysis that controls for party affiliation, showing that voters engage in racial-bloc voting that cannot be explained by partisan affiliation.
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 28/04/2026
there is something genuinely clarifying and useful about this kind of stuff. they are totally hoods off and proud of it, which means we should not hesitate to describe them accordingly
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Charles Johnson @charles.littlegreenfootballs.com · 20/04/2026
Did I just argue with a joke?

Part of a Bluesky educational series
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
I really wish these people had no power so that I could enjoy how hilarious this is instead of being terrified for what it means about how they’re going to further destroy our public health system.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Donald Trump 🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 Terrence Howard Making up fake ways to do math that make no damn sense.
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22/04/2026
i think it is cool that the president of the united states routinely slurs black people as biological inferior
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Daniel Solove @daniel-solove.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Interested in becoming a law professor focusing on privacy and AI? Apply as soon as possible to GW Law’s VAP in Privacy & Technology Law. We start reviewing applications soon: www.law.gwu.edu/privacy-and-...
law.gwu.edu
Privacy and Technology Law Fellowship | GW Law | The George Washington University
The Privacy and Technology Law Fellowship is designed to assist attorneys who are interested in pursuing a legal academic career in an area of privacy and technology law.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
This is now so quaint that I saw the “Secretary of Education Omarosa” joke in the corner and my first thought was that she seems way too qualified and reasonable to be appointed now.
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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
By my count, there are now over 50 House Democrats, along with two Senate Democrats, who have called for Trump to be impeached or removed via the 25th Amendment for his post on Iran. More here: www.axios.com/2026/04/07/t...
House
1. Ansari
2. Omar
3. Pocan
4. Tlaib
5. DeGette
6. Thanedar
7. Stansbury
8. Khanna
9. Frost
10. Julie Johnson
11. Olszewski
12. Ramirez
13. Nikema Williams
14. Moulton
15. Pressley
16. Summer Lee
17. Magaziner
18. McBride
19. McCollum
20. Swalwell
21. Liccardo
22. Dexter
23. Ocasio-Cortez
24. Robert Garcia
25. Menendez
26. Castro
27. McClain Delaney
28. Fletcher
29. Simon
30. Watson Coleman
31. Mike Thompson
32. Hayes
33. Foushee
34. Ritchie Torres
35. Sylvia Garcia36. Leger Fernandez
37. Pingree
38. Tonko
39. Lofgren
40. McGarvey
41. Dan Goldman
42. Espaillat
43. DeSaulnier
44. Schakowsky
45. Cohen
46. Jacobs
47. Trahan
48. Gomez
49. Grijalva
50. Sanchez
51. Matsui
52. Tokuda
53. Bonamici
54. Jayapal
55. Min

Senate
1. Markey
2. Wyden
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Jonathan M. Katz @katz.theracket.news · 07/04/2026
More, faster.
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gelbach @gelbach.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
This is an appropriate statement.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
If you find yourself plotting political violence online, best case scenario you are talking to a Fed. Worst case scenario is you are involved in a Pooh Shiesty wearing an ankle monitor to the robbery stupid-level plot that could get people—including you—hurt for no good reason. Don’t do it.
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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 03/04/2026
Right after they finish with trans youth, their moving on to target youth with ADHD and autism to satisfy their austerity driven eugenics project. They don't even dignify us with new talking points.
​A screenshot of a mobile webpage from The Telegraph's Health section. The headline reads, "Have mental health labels like ADHD and autism gone too far? Some experts think so," followed by a subheadline stating, "As a new report reveals skyrocketing autism and ADHD rates, some experts believe self-diagnoses are overshadowing those in real need of help."
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Despite coming out on April 1, this is not an April Fool’s joke.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
I guess I’ll join the chorus of lawyers explaining that SCOTUS didn’t strike down CO’s law yesterday, they said courts have to more closely interrogate it before upholding it. This, to be clear, is BAD for anyone who thinks CO’s ban is good and legal. But the fight in the courts is not over.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
When they granted cert, I thought they were either seriously considering limiting birthright citizenship, or wanted to tell a Brown v. Board, 9-0 unity story with a politically salient, but legally slam dunk case.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
A related fact people are surprised by: I’m part of the first generation of my family to be an equal citizen of this country. I was born in 1989.
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Kyle Barry @kylecbarry.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
BREAKING: The PA Supreme Court holds that mandatory life without parole sentences for all "felony murder" convictions -- a sentence more than 1,000 people in PA are serving -- violates the state constitution's "cruel" punishment ban. This is GROUNDBREAKING: www.pacourts.us/assets/opini...
CHIEF JUSTICE TODD           OPINION No. 3 WAP 2024 Appeal from the Order of the Superior Court entered June 13, 2023, at No. 1008 WDA 2021, Affirming the Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County entered December 19, 2016, at No. CP-02-CR-0016878-2014. : : : : : : : : : : : ARGUED:  October 8, 2024 DECIDED:  MARCH 26, 2026 In this appeal by allowance, we granted allocatur to consider whether a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for a felony murder conviction violates the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article I, Section 13 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.1  For the reasons that follow, we determine that a mandatory life without parole sentence for all felony murder convictions, absent an assessment of culpability, is inconsistent with the protections bestowed upon our citizens under the “cruel punishments” clause of our Commonwealth’s organic charter.2  Thus, we reverse the order of the Superior Court, vacate Appellant’s judgment of sentence, and remand for resentencing.  However, as we have done under similar circumstances, we stay our order for 120 days to provide a reasonable amount of time for the General Assembly to consider remedial measures.
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R. S. DIENG @drlandislife.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
UN votes to recognise slavery as 'gravest crime against humanity'
The landmark resolution calls for an apology and contributions to a reparations fund, without specifying an amount.
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Alison Siegler @alisonsiegler.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Incredibly excited and proud to share that last night, the Federal Criminal Justice Clinic’s groundbreaking litigation to end ATF’s discriminatory stash house stings—spanning four years and dozens of clients—was featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver! Watch the segment here at 9:05 (1 of 4)
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
At some point I want to collect all of the warnings that the liberal justices have been putting into their dissents about the conservative majority. This one’s less dramatic than some others, but Sotomayor noting that this is a “resurgence” of protecting violent cops is right.
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Isaac Chotiner @ichotiner.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
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State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · 13/03/2026
Are you a law student or recent graduate looking for clerkship opportunities? State Court Report is hosting a free virtual event on everything you need to know about clerking on a state supreme court. Judges from high courts across the country will share insights. RSVP today:
brennancenter.org
What to Know About Clerking on a State Supreme Court
Judges from high courts across the country share insights for law students and recent graduates.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Governor Polis defends against this case by saying that the work incarcerated people do in the state isn’t involuntary servitude. If he—or other politicians, prosecutors, or administrators—believes that, I’m happy to explain to them how they can put their money where their mouth is. 🧵
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Glad to see this case continuing to move forward. Over 100 years after the Thirteenth Amendment, voters are choosing to end slavery and involuntary servitude without exception. Judges and legislators shouldn’t undermine that choice.
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Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Yep. You’re going to say “fuck tha police” one day and a month later you won’t be able to get through TSA.
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Sarah Lawsky @sarahlawsky.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Please contribute information to the 2026 law school entry level hiring report. prawfsblawg.com/lawsky-entry...
prawfsblawg.com
2026 Lawsky Entry-Level Hiring Report Call for Information
Gather key details for the 2026 Lawsky entry-level hiring report for entry level law professors. Find out how to contribute and access past reports here!
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Good try. Too bad he had Isiah Thomas and Barack Obama come up right after him and let him know we don’t care about no time right now.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Was thrilled to be asked to contribute to this issue. I talk about some interesting parts of the history of slavery and continuing fights to end its modern incarnations, but the thesis of the piece is simple: In this moment, stand up and fight back. It’s worth it, and you won’t be standing alone.
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UChicago Law Review @uchilrev.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Professors @sonofdavid.bsky.social and @jocelynsimonson.bsky.social encourage scholars to look to bottom-up sources of knowledge for a richer understanding of the relationships between law, politics, economics, and the material world.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
I’m guessing Alito calling the remedy of a race-conscious redrawn district to prevent dilution of minority votes “unadorned racial discrimination” is a preview of what we’re about to see in the VRA case. Would also explain the weird procedural reach. They’re just jumping the gun by a few weeks.
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Emma Evans @trance.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Every time I repost it, it's because I've seen posts that can lead to jail time. Every single time I post it, someone comes out and is like 'FUCK YEAH MAKE THOSE POSTS' And I think what a fucking wanker, to have *shitposting* being the hill to die on, not actual doing anything, just SHITPOSTING 🤪
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Ursula @ladyofsardines.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
“How many of these gentle people have I helped to kill just by paying my taxes?" June Jordan, 1984
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Deborah McDowell @dem8z.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Dayum. Just heard a minister say, as perhaps only Black ministers can, “We will fight until hell freezes over, and then we will fight on the ice.” I’m stealing that!!
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Jeffrey Vagle @jvagle.me · 20/02/2026
Supreme Court: IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
Held: IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. The
judgment in No. 24–1287 is vacated, and the case is remanded with
instructions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction; the judgment in No. 25–
250 is affirmed.
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Adam Davidson @sonofdavid.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
What Toobin is searching for is abolition constitutionalism (or something abolition constitutionalism adjacent). There are a bunch of liberal/Left scholars theorizing it, or theorizing methods related to it (like The Originalism Trap). And both Sotomayor and Jackson have already used its methods.
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Daniel A. Horwitz @danielahorwitz.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Grand juries, neighbors > elite universities, law firms
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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Pour one out for every professional political pundit, writer, consultant whatever that has spent the last decade trying to pretend that the Trump phenomenon was about trade or opiates and not a big chunk of white america losing its mind over having a black president bsky.app/profile/kyle...
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Thomas Frampton @tframpton.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
All of this. And Le wasn't the only "volunteer" attorney there. Two of the (illegally held) petitioners are being repped by an attorney who works at Climate Defense Project (which, I'm guessing, doesn't specialize in immigration). Read THEIR remarks at the end of the hearing; far more powerful.
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