Balls & Strikes
@ballsandstrikes.org
A nonprofit media outlet for progressive, bullshit-free commentary about courts, judges, and the legal system they uphold. Run by @jaywillis.net.
"Survivors deserve equal access to the courts, regardless of who employed the person who harmed them."
Judges Shouldn’t Give States a Pass On Sexual Abuse
Lawmakers create “revival windows” to hold abusers accountable. But by interpreting these laws narrowly, courts can lock survivors out of court.
ballsandstrikes.org
Stop posting your good story ideas on Bluesky and pitch them to us instead
The Good Stories Are Always Worth It
We’re looking for new contributors to Balls & Strikes. Here’s how to pitch us.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
"Revival windows" are supposed to help survivors hold their abusers accountable. But by reading these laws narrowly, courts deny survivors the chance to seek justice.
Judges Shouldn’t Give States a Pass On Sexual Abuse
Lawmakers create “revival windows” to hold abusers accountable. But by interpreting these laws narrowly, courts can lock survivors out of court.
ballsandstrikes.org
The push to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices is a cynical power grab by anti-abortion Republicans who are angry that both the court and their voters have rejected anti-abortion politics at every turn
The Push to Elect Kansas Supreme Court Justices Is a Cynical Anti-Abortion Power Grab
In 2022, Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected the GOP’s anti-abortion agenda. Four years later, state lawmakers are trying “another path.”
ballsandstrikes.org
Supporters of judicial elections in Kansas say they care about democratic accountability. What they really care about is restricting abortion—and ignoring Kansas voters' desire to protection abortion access.
The Push to Elect Kansas Supreme Court Justices Is a Cynical Anti-Abortion Power Grab
In 2022, Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected the GOP’s anti-abortion agenda. Four years later, state lawmakers are trying “another path.”
ballsandstrikes.org
We're looking for new contributors to Balls & Strikes. Here's how to pitch us.
The Good Stories Are Always Worth It
We’re looking for new contributors to Balls & Strikes. Here’s how to pitch us.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
Kansas Republicans are angry with voters for rejecting their anti-abortion agenda. So they are pivoting to a "new path" toward enacting it.
The Push to Elect Kansas Supreme Court Justices Is a Cynical Anti-Abortion Power Grab
In 2022, Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected the GOP’s anti-abortion agenda. Four years later, state lawmakers are trying “another path.”
ballsandstrikes.org
"That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works!"
District Court Judges Are Unimpressed By the Fifth Circuit’s “Precedential Stay” Stunt
At the White House’s request, America’s Trumpiest appeals court attempts to issue an order that does not exist.
ballsandstrikes.org
As if states needed another reason to move beyond the bar exam
Wi-Fi Fiasco Transforms Washington Bar Exam Into an Even Bigger Waste of Time Than Usual
Yet another reason to move beyond the legal profession’s annual hazing ritual.
ballsandstrikes.org
Todd Blanche needs the support of every Republican senator on the Judiciary Committee. They know it.
Republicans Senators Are Turning Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Fight Into an Anti-Abortion Free-For-All
Blanche needs the support of every Republican senator on the Judiciary Committee. They are taking full advantage.
ballsandstrikes.org
"The specific legal question of whether characterizing FBI Director Kash Patel as a 'googly-eyed Kremlin bitch' is defamatory or mere rhetorical hyperbole protected by the First Amendment remains, for now, unresolved."
Kash Patel’s Ambitious Defamation Lawsuit Foiled By Basic Civil Procedure Doctrine
The litigious FBI director’s case against a blogger who called him a “blatantly incompetent chud” is no match for International Shoe.
ballsandstrikes.org
"At around 11:30 AM, proctors announced that they would try starting the test in waves: Examinees who had managed to get online (and stay online) could begin, and the remaining two-thirds of test-takers would try again in 15 minutes. Examinees rejected this idea with booing and protests."
Wi-Fi Fiasco Transforms Washington Bar Exam Into an Even Bigger Waste of Time Than Usual
Yet another reason to move beyond the legal profession’s annual hazing ritual.
ballsandstrikes.org
If you're a law student and you miss the first Civil Procedure lecture, this is what happens to you years later
Kash Patel’s Ambitious Defamation Lawsuit Foiled By Basic Civil Procedure Doctrine
The litigious FBI director’s case against a blogger who called him a “blatantly incompetent chud” is no match for International Shoe.
ballsandstrikes.org
"Presumably, the administration could also reduce the number of unconstitutional detention lawsuits it has to deal with by reducing the amount of people it unconstitutionally detains, but I digress."
District Court Judges Are Unimpressed By the Fifth Circuit’s “Precedential Stay” Stunt
At the White House’s request, America’s Trumpiest appeals court attempts to issue an order that does not exist.
ballsandstrikes.org
We regret to inform you that the Fifth Circuit is doing Fifth Circuit things again
District Court Judges Are Unimpressed By the Fifth Circuit’s “Precedential Stay” Stunt
At the White House’s request, America’s Trumpiest appeals court attempts to issue an order that does not exist.
ballsandstrikes.org
There is basically no limit to what the Trump White House will do to deny people their legal rights
A Brief Guide to “Mega Master” Hearings, the Engine Powering Trump’s Deportation Machine
The White House keeps finding new ways to push immigrants’ due process rights further out of reach.
ballsandstrikes.org
Todd Blanche keeps saying yes to the anti-abortion demands that Republican senators are making of him
Republicans Senators Are Turning Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Fight Into an Anti-Abortion Free-For-All
Blanche needs the support of every Republican senator on the Judiciary Committee. They are taking full advantage.
ballsandstrikes.org
Senate Republicans know that Todd Blanche needs their votes. They are taking full advantage of the opportunity.
Republicans Senators Are Turning Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Fight Into an Anti-Abortion Free-For-All
Blanche needs the support of every Republican senator on the Judiciary Committee. They are taking full advantage.
ballsandstrikes.org
"Earlier this month, an immigration judge in Seattle held a mega master hearing with the cases of 106 immigrant children on the docket. Several dozen children didn’t show up, and were ordered deported."
A Brief Guide to “Mega Master” Hearings, the Engine Powering Trump’s Deportation Machine
The White House keeps finding new ways to push immigrants’ due process rights further out of reach.
ballsandstrikes.org
Every judgeship matters. These Senate Democrats don't seem to understand that
I Am Begging Senate Democrats to Do Anything Other Than Help Confirm Trump Judges
Four months before the 2026 midterms, three Democratic lawmakers have decided to give a historically unpopular president a little boost.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
The Constitution guarantees due process of law. The Trump administration is holding hearings on 100 immigration cases at a time, often on just a few days' notice
A Brief Guide to “Mega Master” Hearings, the Engine Powering Trump’s Deportation Machine
The White House keeps finding new ways to push immigrants’ due process rights further out of reach.
ballsandstrikes.org
At the federal level, your Miranda rights are getting weaker. But this ruling in Michigan is a reminder that state courts can still protect them.
State Court Judges Can Protect the Rights the Supreme Court Won’t
At the federal level, Miranda rights are weaker than they've been in decades. But state courts have a role to play, too.
ballsandstrikes.org
Behind every horrific news story is a Supreme Court decision that made it possible
Unhoused People Are Paying the Price For the Supreme Court’s Cruelty
The Grants Pass decision allowed more cities and states to impose criminal penalties for the offense of being poor in public.
ballsandstrikes.org
Only Senate Democrats could decide that refusing to help a historically unpopular president who is fighting a failing war is a savvy political choice
I Am Begging Senate Democrats to Do Anything Other Than Help Confirm Trump Judges
Four months before the 2026 midterms, three Democratic lawmakers have decided to give a historically unpopular president a little boost.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
Brett Kavanaugh says that sports are just “different.” The anti-trans activists he’s emboldening do not see things that way.
Anti-Trans Activists Know What the Supreme Court Will Let Them Do Next
Brett Kavanaugh says that sports are just “different.” The anti-trans activists he’s emboldening do not see things that way.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
How the Supreme Court supercharged lawmakers' efforts to make it illegal to be poor in public
Unhoused People Are Paying the Price For the Supreme Court’s Cruelty
The Grants Pass decision allowed more cities and states to impose criminal penalties for the offense of being poor in public.
ballsandstrikes.org
