I’ve been reading Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim and it’s really good. One of the cooler sci-fi concepts I’ve run across in a while.
Alex Klein
@alexklein.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Law at W&L Law. Death Penalty, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure. RPCV Moldova 🇲🇩2008-2010. She/Her. All views my own. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2642510
The Supreme Court just took up a case (Jouppi v. Alaska) that asks whether prosecutors violated the 8th Amendment's bar against excessive fines when they confiscated a pilot's private plane (worth $95,000) after he unknowingly flew a passenger's beer into a dry town. ij.org/case/alaska-...
Jouppi v. Alaska - Institute for Justice
Ken Jouppi, a longtime Alaska bush pilot, is fighting the forfeiture of his plane over a six-pack of beer.
ij.org
Klein on the Dirty Work of Executioners Alexandra L. Klein (Washington and Lee University School of Law) has posted The Dirty Work of Executioners…...
Klein on the Dirty Work of Executioners
Alexandra L. Klein (Washington and Lee University School of Law) has posted The Dirty Work of Executioners (17 U.C. Irvine L. Rev. (forthcoming 2027)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The Supreme Court has insisted that, because the death penalty is constitutional, there must be a way to carry it out. For the death penalty to function, there must be executioners.
legaltheoryblog.com
Death by firing squad - forensic experts say it can be ‘excruciating’ amid allegations it has been intentionally botched. #EndTheDeathPenalty @theguardian.com @edpilkington.bsky.social
Death by firing squad: archaic method on the rise in US as Idaho opens new execution chamber
Supporters of the method say it’s foolproof – but forensic experts say it can be ‘excruciating’ amid allegations it has been intentionally botched
theguardian.com
I've been tracking the DOJ's death penalty authorizations since Trump retook office. There are more than people might realize. (How many actually lead to new death sentences is too soon to say.) New from me @theintercept.com
Trump Has Already Launched More Death Penalty Prosecutions Than in His Entire First Term
Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche have pushed hard for new death sentences, including in states that have abolished executions.
theintercept.com
Every day is like “this company is trying to build a gateway to hell” yet we are all supposed to pretend like everything is fine.
This startup wants to turn the world into a searchable video feed, starting in San Francisco
Orchestra has installed more than 100 cameras in San Francisco. Next up: 900 more, then the rest of the world.
businessinsider.com
About Trump v. Barbara: Do not give the Court and the CJ credit for reading and upholding the Constitution. It's a travesty that this is not a unanimous decision... it's also a travesty that the Court let this question percolate for a year, giving credence to a crank theory of citizenship.
Nearly 200 pages to answer what amounts to a "True or False" question about constitutional law.
The Supreme Court strikes down Trump's attack on birthright citizenship. By a 5–4 vote, it holds that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to children born of unauthorized and temporary immigrants. Roberts and Barrett join the three liberals. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
New from me: Tennessee’s new lethal injection protocol adopted in 2025 reduced training in IV placement, the same part of the process prison staff failed to complete last month before aborting the execution of Tony Carruthers. nashvillebanner.com/2026/06/30/t...
Lethal injection protocol likely led to botched execution - Nashville Banner
Tennessee's current lethal injection protocol includes reduced training on IV placement, an issue that caused the state to halt Tony Carruthers' execution.
nashvillebanner.com
For my latest, I reported from Florida, where more death-row prisoners have been executed since 2025 than all other states combined. I looked at how this accelerated pace is affecting people on the ground, beginning with a priest who ministers to men on death row. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/m...
Capital Punishment Is on the Decline. Except in Ron DeSantis’s Florida.
nytimes.com
NEW: Louisiana Supreme Court Frees Death Row Prisoner, Calling Evidence Against Him “Scientifically Indefensible” @richardawebster.bsky.social @veritenews.org
Louisiana Supreme Court Frees Death Row Prisoner, Calling Evidence Against Him “Scientifically Indefensible”
The decision affirms a lower court’s ruling nullifying Jimmie “Chris” Duncan’s 1998 first-degree murder conviction. Duncan was convicted based in part on forensic evidence that is now widely regarded ...
propublica.org
Second (but *not* last) #SCOTUS ruling is in Chatire (the geofence warrants case). For a 6-3 majority (with Thomas, Alito, and Barrett dissenting), Justice Kagan holds that a geofence warrant *is* a Fourth Amendment search, but the Court remands to see if the Fourth Amendment was actually violated:
supremecourt.gov
I planted mint and predictably, it has taken off. (It is in a separate planter because while I’m new to gardening, I do know that much.) I made this last night & spun it today. Definitely worth the effort.
The Best Mint Chip Ice Cream Recipe
No mint leaves can match the charged blast of a slug of mint extract, but fresh mint ice cream has an unbeatable roundness of flavor you just can't find in a bottle. Add in lacy straciatella swirls th...
seriouseats.com
Tonight’s dinner: sourdough, goat cheese, tomato, and a little salt and pepper.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: “I no longer believe the death penalty is a deterrent to murder. […] I believe Ohio should abolish the death penalty.”
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio should abolish the death penalty, saying it is not a deterrent
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine says he believes Ohio should abolish the death penalty. The term-limited governor, who has repeatedly postponing scheduled executions, said Tuesday that data shows the deat...
apnews.com
Idaho's going to use volunteer police officers as firing squad executioners. I've written about this practice in Utah, which appeared to be a continuation of historic execution practices. Idaho appears to have justified this on the belief that police are better suited to firing squads than COs.
Idaho will soon turn to firing squad executions. Police will pull the triggers
The Idaho Department of Correction is ready to carry out the death penalty by shooting prisoners starting in July, an agency official said.
idahostatesman.com
I was indeed shocked and I’m glad to be. Amazing work by Mr. Lee’s legal team.
Alex Klein@alexklein.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe 11th Circuit just affirmed the district court in a 2-1 decision. I’ll be shocked if SCOTUS doesn’t come up with some reason to reverse.
BREAKING: SCOTUS denies Alabama's request to let it proceed with the nitrogen gas execution of Jeffery Lee that was scheduled for tonight. Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch note their dissent. Jeffery Lee will not be killed tonight. Background: www.lawdork.com/p/alabama-ni...
Chris Geidner@chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: Alabama has gone to SCOTUS seeking an order that would allow it to kill Jeffery Lee with nitrogen gas today. The docket will be 25A1381.
We still have heard nothing from SCOTUS. In this instance, because the state is seeking a stay, the execution cannot proceed unless SCOTUS issues a stay. That stay would be extreme because it would, in effect, be overturning a final judgment blocking the nitrogen gas execution.
Chris Geidner@chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: Alabama has gone to SCOTUS seeking an order that would allow it to kill Jeffery Lee with nitrogen gas today. The docket will be 25A1381.
The 11th Circuit just affirmed the district court in a 2-1 decision. I’ll be shocked if SCOTUS doesn’t come up with some reason to reverse.
Alex Klein@alexklein.bsky.social · 2mo agoLee actually won a method of execution challenge on nitrogen gas in district court in Alabama after remand from the 11th Circuit & showed the firing squad is a readily available alternative & Alabama has no legitimate penological reason not to use it.
Lee actually won a method of execution challenge on nitrogen gas in district court in Alabama after remand from the 11th Circuit & showed the firing squad is a readily available alternative & Alabama has no legitimate penological reason not to use it.
Know a junior scholar who would benefit from the Junior Faculty Forum on Law and STEM at @law.stanford.edu this fall (cosponsored with @penncareylaw.bsky.social and Northwestern Law)? Please encourage them to submit by June 15! conferences.law.stanford.edu/stanford_jff...
Call for Papers - Ninth Junior Faculty Forum on Law and STEM
Call for Papers The Northwestern, Penn, and Stanford law schools are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for the Ninth Junior Faculty Forum on Law and STEM, which will be held at Stanford on Novembe...
conferences.law.stanford.edu
NEW: Federal judge blocks Trump admin's effort to move 14 trans women to men's prisons. "[I]t is fundamentally unreasonable for prison officials to respond to serious risks ... by intentionally creating those risks and offering to treat them after they predictably occur." Today, at Law Dork:
Federal judge blocks Trump admin's effort to move 14 trans women to men's prisons
"[I]t is fundamentally unreasonable for prison officials to respond to serious risks ... by intentionally creating those risks and offering to treat them after they predictably occur."
lawdork.com
My kid asked me a question about self defense today. Me: Well, you know my answer. Kid: I know, it depends.
After Bruen established 2nd Amendment limits on criminal laws on gun possession, police observing a person in possession of a gun do not automatically have reasonable suspicion to stop them for illegal gun possession, Appellate Court of Maryland rules. mdcourts.gov/data/opinion...
SSRN responded to Bainbridge’s complaints with some “clarifications” (or changes, I don’t know which) and they are all good news. The part I cared about — the license— is much better now
SSRN Responds to My Complaints With Changes and/or Clarifications
Looks like the sky will not fall, after all
open.substack.com
Many folks rightly up in arms over the news that SSRN is discontinuing its research paper series, that published works won't be eligible for posting, and that pre-prints will require authors to license away their work for commercial reuse, likely by AI www.stephenbainbridge.com/p/the-social...
The Social Science Research Network Has Jumped the Shark
Significant and unwelcome changes to what had been legal academia's major open source scholarly repository and notice system
stephenbainbridge.com
