It’s another week where the DOGE bros are trying to burn down the government, and another week where the courts are trying to stop it. For our main story, we focus on the Trump administration’s crazy shenanigans at the United States Africa Development Corp. Trump may have tried to fire Senate-confirmed principal officers by email… to an email address that doesn’t exist.

Links:

Perkins Coie Executive Order

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-llp/

Climate United Fund v. Citibank [Docket via CL]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69718818/climate-united-fund-v-citibank-na/

Trump’s false claim that Stacey Abrams headed a group that got $1.9 billion

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/06/trump-stacey-abrams-fact-checker/

US v. Adams docket (SDNY) (charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/

Brehm v. Morocco (DDC) (USADF)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69711562/brehm-v-marocco/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

USADF Act

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/chapter-7/subchapter-XXIII

USADF Bylaws

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278118/gov.uscourts.dcd.278118.7.5.pdf

Show Links:

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BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

Today’s episode is another roundup of how trial judges are playing whack-a-mole with the Trump administration, and how all of it fits in with Trump’s plan to usurp Congress’s power to reshape the country in his image. Plus, we’ve got some crazy stories featuring the Interim US Attorney for DC trying to strongarm Georgetown University, a blast from the past with bigoted Kentucky court clerk Kim Davis, and a subscriber bonus on an obscure Civ Pro rule that Trump plans to use to make terrible losing arguments in court.

Links:

Ermold v. Davis [Sixth Circuit Opinion, Gay Marriage Clerk Case]

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca6.151496/gov.uscourts.ca6.151496.6015541768.2.pdf

AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. Department of State (DC docket)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/

Harris v. Bessent DC Circuit appeal

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69704122/cathy-harris-v-scott-bessent/

Some asshole is signing your name to stupid letters

https://www.loweringthebar.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/browns_letter_1974.pdf

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

The Supreme Court is still sitting on its (tiny) hands, but trial judges are holding strong against the Trump administration’s assault on the rule of law. We’ll talk about the pushback to Trump’s anti-trans executive orders, his assault on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the effort to ensure that the Dear Leader can fire watchdogs at will. Plus subscribers get a deep dive on trial judges attempting to SCOTUS-proof their rulings to protect trans kids.

Links:

Dellinger v. Bessent [District Court Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624836/dellinger-v-bessent

Dellinger v. Bessent [SCOTUS Docket]

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a790.html

National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624423/national-treasury-employees-union-v-vought/

Jones v. Bondi [Docket via Court Listener]

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277335

Washington v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69620657/state-of-washington-v-trump/

PFLAG v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69614668/pflag-inc-v-donald-j-trump/

Seila Law v. CFPB [SCOTUS Opinion]

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-7_new_bq7d.pdf

Corporate Transparency Act, 31 USC § 5336

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5336

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod