220 Comments
User's avatar
Kathleen's avatar

WTAF is perhaps the legal term?

Steve Vladeck's avatar

Dang it. I should've done that...

Kathleen's avatar

No, it was appropriate if not perfect - from one lawyer to another

Lisa Kenn's avatar

As a third lawyer on this string, my preference is WTMFAF.

Carol Parsons's avatar

Not a lawyer but spent many years with them in child welfare court, I heartily concur!!

Rearranging Deck Chairs's avatar

It is a great pleasure to see legal minds at work. No, really. In a past life, I had occasion to admire lawyers’ careful use of language. You all just took it a step further.

PipandJoe's avatar

Thank you!

Double-A's avatar

This clear explainer is most appreciated!

Henry Bachofer's avatar

Clear ain't the first word that comes to a non lawyers mind. . tho no shade on attny vladeck. These convolutions of the so-called law are why many of us agree with shakespeare.

Deirdre Toeller's avatar

Although, Shakespeare misinterpreted.....

Henry Bachofer's avatar

true … although I was going with the popular understanding of the line.

Nigel S. Scott's avatar

Even if the procedural 'convolutions' are difficult to follow, Prof. Vladek did a fantastic job in explaining Justice Jackson's rationale for ruling as she did.

Henry Bachofer's avatar

Indeed he did/does.

Kurt Kappes's avatar

Excellent, as usual. Will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next number of days.

Ethan Savka's avatar

It's almost a guarantee that the full court would have granted it. Honestly, I'm surprised it took this long to arrive at the Court. On a separate note, I wonder if this kind of "compromise" approach tells us anything about the recently popularized Kagan-Jackson split?

Barbara Mahany's avatar

thank you for swift analysis, and elucidation. i guess i get it, but bottom line as you suggested, is just plain cruel.

mnakloon's avatar

Much appreciated explanation!

Michael Harmon's avatar

Thank you for so quickly taking the time to explain why Jackson took the action. Thank you , also, for your clearly humanitarian attitude toward the issue.

Ni's avatar

I definitely appreciate your insights!

Peg ODonnell's avatar

Appreciated the clarification!

Kendeth Sissy Young's avatar

This is so discouraging, when a decision is made trump always halts the SNAP funds. It’s not like he has ever had to do without. This boob is partying up with the rich crew while the country can’t get food on the table. The Republicans need to go with the ACA to keep insurance affordable. I also think the minimum wage should be $15.00.

Kendeth Sissy Young's avatar

What do you think the average wage should be now?

Leonard Grossman's avatar

I don't know about “average wage”Based on an inflation rate of over 40% since 2010, if someone were earning $15/hr then, they would need to be earning more than $20 an hour now, just to stay even.

Dissident's avatar

He can find millions to pay for his weekly golf trips to his tacky-ass golf motels. But refuses to feed Americans because he thinks it gives him leverage over democrats in a political catastrophe of his own making. The most loathsome sack of shit humanity has to offer. Deplorable.

A Word, Please, from Adi Weiss's avatar

Thank you for the explanation.

Michael Schilling's avatar

It is comforting to have Justice Jackson exercise her discretion in the manner she did, given the time constraints. What is disturbing is to know that when the Administration is on the losing end of a case, it files for SC relief, asking for an expedited ruling and the SC majority gives relief without a written decision discussing the equities of the relief requested. Doesn’t the lack of an explanation for the SC’s decisions serve to encourage the administration to appeal every time it loses in the DC and COA?

TJTarheel's avatar

I would say yes. I’m still debating if Trump owns a few SC justices. He sure does keep them busy

Joanie's avatar

In my humble and completely non-legal opinion, "Yep".

Harriet James's avatar

as i understood Steve Vladeck’s commentary, he was saying that Jackson actually issued a LONGER, MORE DETAILED directive (the stay) than would normally be issued. these are simple directives — like a traffic cop waving a hand or blowing a whistle at a crowded intersection — simple directives to guide the actions of the parties involved, in a fast-moving situation. these simple directives do not require an explanation of the “reasoning” — just as the traffic cop doesn’t need to explain why they are waving one line of cars to proceed ahead of the other.

all the parties are instructed to wait — or given permission to wait — until the case is reviewed by the appeals court. the appeals court judges are the ones who need to explain their reasoning.

L.'s avatar

I listened to your other post this morning when you said 4 posts this week is quite enough (or something to that effect). And when I saw the SCOTUS stay, I was like OH NO, poor Prof Vladek! and soon enough, got this update in my mailbox that you had written another post.

Steve Vladeck's avatar

I jinxed it. :-(

STUART SCADRON-WATTLES's avatar

“I like th’ unlettered clerk, can only cry ‘Amen.’” Thanks for taking the time so late in the day, to explain the dissonance of the news media on this one.

Heidi M.'s avatar

Thank you for taking time out of your Friday night to explain this to us!

Kathy Boelte's avatar

I hope you get some rest this weekend. It must be exhausting to get out all of these newsletters at every new “ emergency”. Thank you for your efforts.