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Steve Leben

@steveleben.bsky.social
200 followers 79 following 95 posts

Law professor at UMKC Law School in Kansas City, writing about procedural justice. Former Kansas state trial and appellate judge.

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Reposted by Steve Leben
Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Every single word of this @joshtpm.bsky.social piece: talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-s... (I "grew up" as a lawyer in the Obamacare litigation, clerking on 2 courts, including SCOTUS, that heard the initial challenges. It forever shaped my perspective on courts, the law, & right-wing movements.)
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
This week, I presented an educational program to the Kansas Court of Appeals on how to use AI to get better written decisions and meet procedural-justice principles. I also got to enjoy being back with the court and its staff and the great view. #kscourts #ksleg #UMKCLaw
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
What I learned today: while having ChatGPT calculate readability scores on the opinions I wrote in 13 years as an appellate judge, I learned that . . . I wrote 1.88 million words. Now I’m tired.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
I was thinking today about what makes a slogan memorable, and I was struck by my recollection of “Zenith: the quality goes in before the name goes on.” I first heard it in the ‘60s (though it predates that). If the brand were still around, I’d probably still buy one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhZ1...
youtube.com
Zenith Television 1970 TV commercial
YouTube video by robatsea2009
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
“What is to stop Trump from making comparably inflated claims about the situations on the ground in other American cities as a pretextual basis for deploying troops? And what’s to stop him from making those claims not tomorrow, but next November—on the eve of the midterms?” Me, via “One First”:
stevevladeck.com
184. The Massive Stakes of Trump v. Illinois
The Trump administration's 29th emergency application—to let it deploy federalized National Guard troops in Chicago on a profoundly dubious factual predicate—is a make-or-break moment for the Court.
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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification. I glanced down at the message. “Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began. So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
"Anna, Lindsey Halligan Here."
Anna Bower
Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:40 PM
Share On: f X inK My Signal exchange with the interim U.S. attorney about
the Letitia James grand jury.
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Noah Rosenblum @narosenblum.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
This is an infuriating and shameful scandal. The Roberts Court is condoning Trump’s law breaking, again, pure and simple. There is no serious path forward for democratic government without Supreme Court reform.
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Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Sheena is the must-follow to understand what Kennedy et al are doing to US vaccines (and other medicines)
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Last week, I was on a Missouri Bar conference panel to talk about current threats to the rule of law. Under FCC licensing threats, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel the night before the presentation. It was a perfect (and transparent) example of a wider playbook. missouriindependent.com/2025/09/25/t...
missouriindependent.com
The Trump administration’s playbook of coercing speech comes into focus • Missouri Independent
By threatening ABC over a comedian’s on-air comments, FCC chairman Brendan Carr violated core First Amendment limits on the government.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Last week, I was on a Missouri Bar conference panel to talk about current threats to the rule of law. Under FCC licensing threats, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel the night before the presentation. It was a perfect (and transparent) example of a wider playbook. missouriindependent.com/2025/09/25/t...
missouriindependent.com
The Trump administration’s playbook of coercing speech comes into focus • Missouri Independent
By threatening ABC over a comedian’s on-air comments, FCC chairman Brendan Carr violated core First Amendment limits on the government.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
Today’s message of hope comes from a 1922 editorial by Pulitzer-Prize-winning Kansas newspaperman William Allen White. Still worth reading a century later.
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
In the NIH funding case, Justice Gorsuch (joined by Justice Kavanaugh) claimed that this was the third time in recent weeks that lower courts had "defied" a #SCOTUS ruling. As today's "One First" explains, that claim is not only nonsense; it's enabling a dangerous anti-court narrative on the right:
stevevladeck.com
174. Justice Gorsuch's Attack on Lower Courts
Just like the earlier rulings that Justice Gorsuch claims lower courts are defying, his concurrence in the NIH grant cutoffs case would be a lot more convincing if it showed more of its work.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Congratulations to Larkin Walsh, an excellent choice for the Kansas Supreme Court, chosen through merit selection. kansasreflector.com/2025/08/07/g...
kansasreflector.com
Gov. Laura Kelly selects Leawood attorney to fill vacancy on Kansas Supreme Court • Kansas Reflector
Gov. Laura Kelly picks an attorney in private practice to serve on Kansas Supreme Court, bypassing two district court judges also nominated for the post.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Congratulations to my colleague, Allen Rostron, on being named the Edward A. Smith/Missouri Chair in Law, the Constitution and Society at ⁦‪@UMKCLaw‬⁩. He is a great teacher and scholar—and so easy to work with. Congrats, Allen! www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2...
umkc.edu
Allen Rostron Named Edward A. Smith/Missouri Chair in Law, the Constitution and Society
School of Law professor honored for commitment to students and community
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Anne Joseph O’Connell @ajosephoconnell.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Since @orinkerr.bsky.social asked, a thread, from limited information reported online, about how I see the US attorney mess in DNJ. 1. Trump picked Habba as interim US Attorney under 28 USC 546. Technically, the AG is supposed to pick, but whatever. She gets 120 days to serve.
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Orin Kerr @orinkerr.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Have you read a law review article recently that you thought was particularly great and deserving of a wider readership? If so, leave a link to it as a reply, together with a quick take on what made it great.
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Anne Joseph O’Connell @ajosephoconnell.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Contra NY Times, there is not even an official acting FEMA head. Cameron Hamilton (pushed out) & now David Richardson don't qualify under the Vacancies Act, "leading" the agency through delegation as the "Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator." www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/c...
nytimes.com
In Flooded Texas, Questions About FEMA’s Role and Fate
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Joshua Clark Davis @joshuaclarkdavis.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Jeff Bezos: "We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets." Today's Washington Post opinion page:
Kristi L. Noem
Harvard flouted the rules. Now, it’s getting a hard lesson.
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
October 2024 Term #SCOTUS rulings to date from which all three Democratic appointees dissented: On the merits docket: 3 On emergency applications: 9 That tells you quite a lot about where the most important action is...
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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
"SCOTUS allows Trump admin to deport people to random countries with no notice" Honestly still can't believe that I wrote this headline today, let alone that the U.S. Supreme Court's majority did so.
lawdork.com
SCOTUS allows Trump admin to deport people to random countries with no notice
Justice Sotomayor called the order a "gross ... abuse" of the court's authority. Also: Law Dork in the media.
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Today’s unsigned, unexplained #SCOTUS ruling clearing the way for removals of migrants to third countries without any additional process is a disaster—not just on the merits, but because of the government misbehavior that it not only refuses to punish, but effectively rewards. Me, via “One First”:
stevevladeck.com
161. The Court's Disastrous Ruling in the Third-Country Removal Case
The majority did not just greenlight an especially odious immigration policy without any explanation; it did so in a case in which the government defied the district court—twice—with no consequence.
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Crooked Media @crooked.com · 24/06/2025
The “Third Country Removal Case” means thousands of people will be deported to extremely dangerous countries they’re not from with no due process.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
This decision represents something that should never happen in a justice system: the nation’s highest court has ruled on an issue affecting millions—without explanation. Courts don’t have absolute power; they should be following rules. Without an explanation, who knows?
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
RFK Jr. says his new vaccine panel has a GW University professor. The school says he doesn't work there www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/r...
nbcwashington.com
RFK Jr. says his new vaccine panel has a GW University professor. The school says he doesn't work there
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said one of his picks for a crucial vaccine advisory panel is a professor at George Washington University. But News4 found the doctor hasn’t w...
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
#SCOTUS has recently issued a slew of unanimous (or near-unanimous) rulings in argued cases. Today’s “One First” identifies at least four respects in which this is a mirage—and how one need look no further than the Trump emergency applications to see just how ideologically divided the justices are:
stevevladeck.com
158. The Court's Unanimity is Greatly Exaggerated
It's time for the annual influx of superficial (or otherwise overstated) claims about the justices' lack of division. There are at least four different reasons why such accounts fail to persuade.
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
I know there's a lot going on, but the Secretary of Homeland Security declaring that federal troops are in California and Los Angeles to "liberate" the state and city from its duly-elected leaders really is a fourteen-alarm fire.
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
With the tragic assassination of a Minnesota Democratic leader, I’m going to underline this point again.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
After you watch Michigan Law Prof. @leahlitman.bsky.social in this video explaining some of what has gone wrong with the US Supreme Court, get her book, Lawless, to read more.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
The next Kansas Supreme Court Justice will be Larkin Walsh, Chris Jayaram, or Amy Hanley. Jayaram and Hanley have been trial judges since 2016 and 2021 respectively. Walsh is a former Kansas Supreme Court law clerk who has practiced law since 2004. 1/
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Roger Parloff @rparloff.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Explainer on the govt's stated basis for sending National Guard troops to L.A. by Prof. Chris Mirasola, formerly an atty in DOD general counsel's office, in @lawfaremedia.org www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
This is a question I would not have thought would become a common one (certainly not uncommon) here in the United States.
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Someone really ought to take a longer view of the evolution and devolution of how #SCOTUS handles emergency applications. It might even merit a book-length treatment...
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
I have trouble imagining the work of a politician today. They must raise unbelievable amounts of money and face merciless attacks, but always seem happy and positive. They also need to stand for something. For those who do it well, like Mikie Sherrill, I have great admiration.
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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Would the Supreme Court fail to stand up for constitutional liberties when faced with government claims of public safety and necessity? @rachelbarkow.bsky.social, author of the new book Justice Abandoned, says it’s done so multiple times in the past.
blog.dividedargument.com
Guest Post: Rachel Barkow, "The Allure of Cutting Constitutional Corners"
Lessons for today from Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration
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Barb McQuade @barbmcquade.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Great to see LAWLESS by @leahlitman.bsky.social make the NYT bestseller list in its debut week! It is a great read!
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Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
So fun to join The Weekend @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.social with Eugene Daniels @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social Jonathan Capehart @jonathancapehart.bsky.social & Maria Teresa Kumar @mariateresakumar.bsky.social! And to share LAWLESS on set too :) If you want a copy too... ! bookshop.org/p/books/lawl...
Maria Teresa Kumar, me, Eugene Daniels, Jonathan Capehart around table; the weekend on background - LAWLESS copies on table.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Proud to join @americanbar.org President Bill Bay today to discuss challenges to the rule of law. We were part of the program for Lathrop GPM’s annual State of Litigation program in KC. One of Bill’s points: if lawyers stand firmly behind core values, this can be “our finest hour as a profession.”
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Jon Favreau @jonfavs.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Leah is a genius who makes law highly accessible and entertaining AND is a Swiftie - all reasons to buy this book immediately
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Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
She’s in her AUTHOR ERA! It’s publication day for LAWLESS: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, & Bad Vibes! As a forever book nerd, I had so much fun writing this-I hope you have fun reading it! Get it at your local bookstore today!! bookshop.org/p/books/lawl...
Posing with LAWLESS!
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Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
If only he had an opportunity to say nobody is above the law in a formal opinion “for the ages.”https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/12/chief-justice-roberts-speech-georgetown-00343406
politico.com
Rule of law is ‘endangered,’ chief justice says
Speaking at Georgetown Law, Chief Justice John Roberts denounced “ad hominem” criticism of the justices.
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Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
I have an essay up at Ink! It's about how, as the Court is poised to hear the birthright citizenship argument, we should remember how SCOTUS has enabled Trump & Trumpism, even on the Fourteenth Amendment. the.ink/p/is-the-sup...
the.ink
Is the Supreme Court really independent?
If the President ignores the Constitution and the Supreme Court enables him, where does that leave us?
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Reuters Legal @legal.reuters.com · 07/05/2025
The American Bar Association is set to extend the suspension of its law school diversity and inclusion rule through August 2026 as the organization faces mounting pressure from the Trump administration to abandon it diversity efforts reut.rs/44UCWuE
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Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
NEW YORK (AP) — Ann Telnaes, who quit The Washington Post in protest, wins the 2025 Pulitzer for Illustrated Reporting and Commentary.
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Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
ICYMI - There's a bunch of events where I'll be discussing LAWLESS (with awesome people like @stevevladeck.bsky.social & @raskin.house.gov & @barbmcquade.bsky.social , or signing books (like the @strictscrutiny.bsky.social shows)! So come say hi! (We're also adding a few more!)
May 14 - literati @ 6:30
May 15 - UM club DC
May 16 - Politics & Prose DC
May 20 - virtual commonwealth club
May 31 - Strict SCrutiny Live
June 12 - Strict Scrutiny Live
June 17 -Hudson Library
Oct 4 - Strict Scrutiny Live
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
It’s Law Day; I get to speak to the Douglas County Bar Association at a lunch meeting in Lawrence. I’ll be talking about what makes a good judge and how we can best factor that into how we select judges. If you’re a lawyer in Douglas County, I’m looking forward to the discussion.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Two weeks to go. If you haven’t preordered this book, it’s time to get it done!
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George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
“I could … but we have lawyers who don’t want to do that.” This means nothing less than the Trump Administration is in open defiance of the Supreme Court of the United States.
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Steve Leben @steveleben.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Is there a demographic group that has a positive view of @schumer.senate.gov? 🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m trying to figure out who this video is targeting.
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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Also if you’re someone who has additional information, documents, or emails about DOGE or its agents have *directing* agency actions, please get in touch (on a non-government issued computer or phone)! Signal: annabower.24 Email: anna.bower@lawfaremedia.org
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