#ruleoflaw — Public Fediverse posts

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/11/george-w-bush-torture-9-11-trump. "The #ruleoflaw is important. It is a #value worth upholding even at a price. It is too late to address the Bush-era atrocities, but it is not too late to address Trump’s. He won’t do it, but we should insist that the next #administration does. Meanwhile, #state & #international #prosecutors should start now."

The Curious Case of the Missing Shepherds by Lawson Akhigbe

https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/11/the-curious-case-of-the-missing-shepherds-by-lawson-akhigbe/

The Curious Case of the Missing Shepherds by Lawson Akhigbe

https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/11/the-curious-case-of-the-missing-shepherds-by-lawson-akhigbe/

The Curious Case of the Missing Shepherds by Lawson Akhigbe

https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/11/the-curious-case-of-the-missing-shepherds-by-lawson-akhigbe/

The Curious Case of the Missing Shepherds by Lawson Akhigbe

https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/11/the-curious-case-of-the-missing-shepherds-by-lawson-akhigbe/

The Curious Case of the Missing Shepherds by Lawson Akhigbe

https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/11/the-curious-case-of-the-missing-shepherds-by-lawson-akhigbe/

🌱 Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Head Start is an investment in children, families, communities, and America’s future. Keep Trump’s hands off Head Start.
open.substack.com/pub/peoplepo...

 #ProtectDemocracy #RuleOfLaw

🌱 Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Head Start is an investment in children, families, communities, and America’s future. Keep Trump’s hands off Head Start.
open.substack.com/pub/peoplepo...

 #ProtectDemocracy #RuleOfLaw

🌱 Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Head Start is an investment in children, families, communities, and America’s future. Keep Trump’s hands off Head Start.
open.substack.com/pub/peoplepo...

 #ProtectDemocracy #RuleOfLaw

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1196714/ German MEP Demands EU Funding Freeze if AfD Takes Power in Saxony-Anhalt #AFD #AlternativeFürDeutschland #DanielFreund #EU #EUFunding #Europe #European #EuropeanCommission #Germany #RuleOfLaw #SaxonyAnhalt #UlrichSiegmund

https://www.europesays.com/africa/419031/ Ghana’s Chief Justice Saga Is Over. Judicial Fragility Is Not #AfricanCourt #Ghana #institutions #RuleOfLaw

The Simplest Way for the Supreme Court to Rule in the USPS Mail Ballots Case

Two weeks ago, in Trump v. California, the Supreme Court held that a suit brought by several states to…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #Democracy #Elections #Federalism #litigation #RuleofLaw #UnitedStates #Us #us-postal-service #USA
https://www.newsbeep.com/724741/

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@adfichter/117213972041566671

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@adfichter/117213972041566671

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@adfichter/117213972041566671

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@adfichter/117213972041566671

Rule of law in the United States at the federal level has ceased to exist, because the very branch that enforces the law repeatedly and purposely disregards it.

It won’t make any difference who “wins” the November elections, because the law doesn’t matter to the clowns and criminals who run the federal government, and the courts are disregarded with gusto.

#USpol #RuleOfLaw #Criminals

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-3-2026?r=14j7ia (1/2)

Friday, August 28, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/08/friday-august-28-2026/

Hey lads and lasses and other, quick question, The Epstein Files, does anyone remember them, wot happened and what is going to happen, especially given that Todd Blanche has been emplaced as Attorney General?

No conflict of interest there, amirite, given that he is was Trumps rabidly loyal PERSONAL lawyer and has also refused to pledge to act 'independently' of the administration...?!
#EpsteinFiles #toddblanche #USjustice #landofthefree #sextrafficking #USPolitics
#TrumpIsARapist #ruleoflaw

Anarchism in judicial robes, by Owei Lakemfa

https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/26/anarchism-in-judicial-robes-by-owei-lakemfa/

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/08/wednesday-august-26-2026/

Navigating the Void: Why Nigeria Needs a Corporate Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) Framework

https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/01/navigating-the-void-why-nigeria-needs-a-corporate-deferred-prosecution-agreement-dpa-framework/

Saturday, June 13, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/06/saturday-june-13-2026/

USCIS Makes Major Change Compelling Aliens To Return Home For Proper Processing Of The Adjustment Of Statuses

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally announced a major change that will compel aliens seeking the adjustment of status to return to their respective countries and go through the consular processing via the Department of State. The change marks the USCIS’ return to the law’s original intent to ensure that aliens navigate America’s immigration system properly.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the USCIS’ official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the country.

Officers are directed to consider all relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether an alien warrants this extraordinary form of relief.

“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly. From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances. This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes. When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency,” said USCIS Spokesman Zach Kahler.

“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process. Following the law allows the majority of these cases to be handled by the State Department at U.S. consular offices abroad and frees up limited USCIS resources to focus on processing other cases that fall under its purview, including visas for victims of violent crime and human trafficking, naturalization applications, and other priorities. The law was written this way for a reason, and despite the fact that it has been ignored for years, following it will help make our system fairer and more efficient.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you are an American citizen, do you agree with the USCIS’ change of policy and processes with regards to aliens who are already present in the United States while seeking to adjust their respective statuses? Do you think this latest change will somehow bring down the number of illegal immigrants/aliens present in America? Do you think it makes sense for aliens in America to go back home to their respective countries to apply for change of status at the U.S. consular?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

BREAKING: Congressman Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) is introducing a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for Supreme Court Justices.
The ROBE Act would establish 18-year term limits for justices. #SCROTUS #SCOTUS #TermLimits #RuleOfLaw

RE: https://masto.ai/@Nonilex/116399439602877423

So Trump's just going to keep announcing his intention to breach international law and commit war crimes and the Republicans in Congress are going to continue to allow themselves to be complicit.

We’re going to need a bigger Hague.

#RogueState #Criminals #InternationalLaw #RuleOfLaw #iCJ #ICC #UN #Iran

Orbán’s 16-year rule over Hungary ends in crushing election defeat – POLITICO

Orbán conceded, with tears in his eyes, saying: “However it tur…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #Democracy #DonaldTrump #EU-Russiarelations #Farright #Hungarianelections2026 #Hungarianpolitics #hungary #Immigration #judiciary #Media #PeterMagyar #Populism #RuleofLaw #Russia #Transatlanticrelations #Ukraine #UnitedStates #Us #USA #ViktorOrban #VladimirPutin #VolodymyrZelenskyy #WarinUkraine
https://www.newsbeep.com/481025/

https://www.europesays.com/people/11200/ EU Parliament’s most toxic duo brings trouble for von der Leyen – POLITICO #bridges #Cooperation #Crisis #DacianCioloş #Elections #FarRight #GiorgiaMeloni #governance #Italy #ManfredWeber #ManonAubry #MEPs #Migration #Parliament #PedroSánchez #Rights #RobertaMetsola #RuleOfLaw #Seeds #spain #SpanishPolitics #StateOfTheUnion #TeresaRibera #UrsulaVonDerLeyen #ValérieHayer

EU wants Hungary’s next leader to support Ukraine. It should be so lucky. – POLITICO

On Ukraine, he hasn’t framed Kyiv as an enemy — but has studiously avoided any positive appraisals, knowing…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #Elections #ElectionsinEurope #EU27 #Hungarianelections2026 #Hungarianpolitics #hungary #Kremlin #PeterMagyar #RuleofLaw #Russia #Ukraine #UrsulavonderLeyen #ViktorOrban #VolodymyrZelenskyy #WarinUkraine #World
https://www.newsbeep.com/464524/

According to the V-Dem report, the US is no longer a liberal democracy. A warning sign not just for Americans — but for all of us who believe in democracy. #Democracy #USA #VDem #Politics #RuleOfLaw #Freedom

This call is still urgent and I am still looking for someone respond to this call out for assistance. For someone to enter this scene equipped to engage with the material and facts and laws and evidence to improve my submissions and verify my work. #HelpWanted. #auspol #QCAT #naturallaw #ruleoflaw

Trump Administration's Use of Presidential Pardons Examined

Donald Trump gave many pardons. Some went to friends. This news explains why people are asking questions about it.

#TrumpPardons, #PresidentialPardons, #USPolitics, #Clemency, #RuleOfLaw

https://newsletter.tf/trump-pardons-friends-2023/

Former President Donald Trump gave pardons to many people. Some of these people were his friends or supporters. News reports are looking closely at these decisions and if they were fair.

#TrumpPardons, #PresidentialPardons, #USPolitics, #Clemency, #RuleOfLaw

https://newsletter.tf/trump-pardons-friends-2023/

"Právo je pro lidi nesrozumintelné. Ombudsman kritizuje stát za chaos" -- "často vytváří situace, v nichž se občan v právním systému ztrácí. Dávno tak podle něj už nemůže platit, že neznalost zákonů neomlouvá." -- "diskriminace starých lidí je nejčastějším způsobem diskriminace u nás" -- "největší úspěch v roli ombudsmana, je to posílení role veřejného ochránce práv jako lidskoprávní instituce. 'Podařilo se mi snad přispět k pochopení, že lidská a občanské práva jsou skutečně pro všechny, a nikoliv jen pro ty, kteří se jich hlasitě domáhají. Snad přispět i k tomu, že rozdělování občanů na menšiny k ničemu dobrému nepovede a že potřebujeme nejen rozmanitost" -- " úřad veřejného ochránce práv dokáže účinně korigovat chyby státní správy. „V 97 procentech případů, ve kterých jsme upozornili úřady na jejich chybné jednání, tak svá nesprávná rozhodnutí napravily." -- "největší neúspěch naopak označil nedostatečnou součinnost některých institucí. Zejména tam, kde byla zjištění úřadu politicky či institucionálně nepohodlná"

Česká Justice, https://www.ceska-justice.cz/2026/02/ombudsman-pravo-je-pro-lidi-nesrozumintelne/

#právnístát #ruleoflaw #ombudsman #contempt #opovržení #neférovost #unfairness #kafkaesque #kafkovský #czech #česko #czechia #czechrepublic

"Born to the manor" seems to rub people the wrong way but without people putting a lifetime into developing values around honorable, ethical service then all that remains of democracy is oligarchy and tribalism; all that remains of law is witch trials; all that remains of scientific inquiry is corporate flacks.

#ProfessionalEthics #RuleOfLaw #ScientificInquiry #InstitutionalIntegrity #AntiCorruption #EthicalService #DemocraticNorms #EliteCapture #PublicTrust #InstitutionalIntegrity #Oligarchy #DemocraticNorms #Expertise #InstitutionalFailure #ClimateScience #Lawfare

@sutaio No moje antiteze je,že Tvůj pohled,což je dle mého názoru (DMN) to maoistické "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun (枪杆子里面出政权)", Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power_grows_out_of_the_barrel_of_a_gun ,platí spíš pro takové ty tvrdší diktaturní DMN maoistické režimy jako Čína, Kambodža, Severní Korea apod.

A pro lehčí,DMN semi-maoistické režimy jako např.ČR,EU platí nějaká směs toho co říkáš a právního státu (rule of law).

I když třeba v Kambodži daňová pobočka chtěla abych jim dal 10 otisků prstů (identity theft hazard) a nenapsali to v dopisu (v něm jen "otisk prstu") a vyhledal jsem v khmérsky psaných zákonech (kterým na rozdíl od toho DMN šrotu v České Sbírce většinou rozumím,co přesně znamenají),že na to nemají nárok když to nenapíšou v dopise,tak jsem jin napsal 5-stránkový elaborát v Khmérštině s obrázky,kde jsem argumentoval že se snažím chránit svá citlivá privátní data a že nejsem podle zákona povinen a jestli mi to napíšou dopisem tak jim to dám,a babenki v kanceláři byly najednou zřejmě rády že dostaly něco co můžou archivovat, že je nadřízený nemůže kritizovat že ode mě nevymohly 10 otisků,přestaly po mě chtít i ty jiné byrokratické DMN šikany co po mě chtěly,začly se hihňat a srotily se kolem nějakého Facebooku nebo Tiktoku co tam měla jedna na mobilu,a když jsem jim vnucoval ty zbylé dokumenty co po mě chtěly,tak si je vzaly ale tvářily se jako ať je už neotravujou,že teď mají FB/Tiktok😂. Tak ani ta Kambodža není očividně čistě maoistická.

Fig.1:1.stránka z 5 mého dopisu Generálnímu direktorátu daní(Google Translate app to přeloží i když blbě, např. oslovení není Dear Sirs, ale Dear úřednice a úředníci, takže to DMN sexisticky vycenzuruje ženy z jejich existence).

Ještě jsem si z nich dělal srandu že jsem to napsal přesně stejným fontem a formát. jako zákony v té jejich Sbírce(Královská gazeta).

#maoismus #ruleoflaw #právnístát #arogancemoci #argumentace #elaborát #khmérština #ភាសាខ្មែរ #khmer #cambodia #kambodža #កម្ពុជា #maoism #dictatorship #authoritarianism

In the U.S., meaningful centre and left alternatives to right-wing politics do exist — and they matter. This thread series highlights viable progressive parties and movements, their strengths, weaknesses, and how they could work together through coalitions, endorsements, and shared platforms to strengthen democracy and social justice. 🧵
🗳️🌍#USPolitics #ProgressivePolitics #CenterLeft #LeftPolitics #Democracy #PoliticalParties #CoalitionPolitics #AntiAuthoritarian #RuleOfLaw

@iurecz (Krác. z dův. cenzury Mastodonem)Dle mého náz. (DMN) toto je český🇵🇭*)režím v kostce:

1)Čes.🇵🇭rež. se zde DMN doznal a propis. na papír podepsal doznání,že"Česká republika[...]nadále porušuje ustanovení čl. 15 odst. 1 Směrnice Evropského a Rady 2002/58/ES[...].Tím dochází k neoprávněnému zásahu do Vašich osobnostních práv."
2)Režimní omluva je DMN falešná,prot. se oml. za něco,o čemž se souč.DMN doznává,že dělá dál a že to ještě porušuje platn.práv.normu a neopráv.zasahuje do práv.

Potěšilo mě,že se čes.🇵🇭režim v mých očích takto DMN explic.,do očí bij.způsobem tot. diskreditoval,a ještě se pod to propis.na papír(se zl. hvězdič., konfetami a lentilkami!)podepsal,a tak si již nemusím lámat hl. ani s nejmenšími pochybn.,zda nejsem vůči režimu DMN pohrůžkou násilí ovládajícímu teritorium, na kterém jsem se narodil,nepřiměř. kritický😂

Toto je DMN next level.

Mohl bych býv. důstojníkovi Rudých Khmérů, 40 let působícímu diktátorovi សម្ដេចអគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន អតីត​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីនៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា(samdeč akeamohásenápadejdečó hun sén, adit nijurokmontrej naj prearičináčak kámpučia,Lordovi Nejvyššímu Megavůdci a Vojenskému Vůdci Mocnému Hun Senovi,bývalému Ministerskému Předsedovi Svaté Královské Říše Kambodžské)navrhnout,že se má ještě co učit,že pokud chce opravdu veřejnosti dát facku do oblič. ohledně legitimity státu a práv,tak ať nějaké takové doznání porušování práv. norem režimem napíše na lentilk. konfet. papír a podepíše propis.

*) Je to filipínská vlajka a ne česká🇵🇭.Používám ji místo čes.🇵🇭,protože čes.🇵🇭režim zavedl myšlenkový zločin 352/2001 Sb.§13((2),(1)a)),§1((2),(1)b)), §7(6)https://www.e-sbirka.cz/sb/2001/352/2022-01-01 ohledně čes.🇵🇭vlaj.,takže používám podobně vypadající vlaj.,která prokazat. není čes.🇵🇭vlajkou,aby se čes.🇵🇭režim nemohl mstít za kritiku nebo dissent prostř.lawfare.Cítím za to

e x t r é m n ě s i l n é o p o v r ž e n í

vůči čes.🇵🇭režimu.

#hunsen #cambodia #ruleoflaw #dictatorship #totalitarianism #contempt #czech #czechia #czechrepublic

EU Parliament’s most toxic duo brings trouble for von der Leyen – POLITICO https://www.byteseu.com/1714168/ #Bridges #Cooperation #Crisis #DacianCioloş #Elections #Europe #FarRight #GiorgiaMeloni #Governance #Italy #ManfredWeber #ManonAubry #MEPs #Migration #Parliament #PedroSanchez #Rights #RobertaMetsola #RuleOfLaw #seeds #Spain #SpanishPolitics #StateOfTheUnion #TeresaRibera #UrsulaVonDerLeyen #ValérieHayer

https://www.europesays.com/uk/692507/ EU Parliament’s most toxic duo brings trouble for von der Leyen – POLITICO #Bridges #Cooperation #Crisis #DacianCioloş #Elections #EU #Europe #European #FarRight #GiorgiaMeloni #Governance #Italy #ManfredWeber #ManonAubry #MEPs #Migration #Parliament #PedroSanchez #Rights #RobertaMetsola #RuleOfLaw #seeds #Spain #SpanishPolitics #StateOfTheUnion #TeresaRibera #UrsulaVonDerLeyen #ValérieHayer

2026 - Welcome to a (very) new international order.

Shakespeare: “The world is out of joint"

tags>
#oil #sovereignty #energy #FossilFuels #PetroleumIndustry #TransnationalCorporations #NaturalResources #resources #nomos #GeopoliticalRealignment #interregnum #HegemonicPower #RuleOfLaw #MightMakesRight #relations

Former PM Najib Razak has been sentenced to 15 years in jail and a record RM11.4 billion fine. A massive moment for accountability in Malaysia's 1MDB scandal.

https://1312blogs.org/kalvin0x58c/summary-1mdb-verdict-najib-gets-15-years-jail-plus-rm11-4bil-fine-the-star

#1MDB #NajibRazak #Malaysia #Justice #Corruption #Accountability #Politics #BreakingNews #LegalVerdict #FinancialCrime #Transparency #Reform #KL #MalaysianPolitics #Governance #HumanRights #1312blogs #kalvin0x58c #TheStar #RuleOfLaw

https://www.europesays.com/uk/610829/ Right-wing populists mock EU over corruption scandals – POLITICO #corruption #DanielFreund #Democracy #EU #Europe #European #Extremism #FedericaMogherini #Fraud #Immigration #ManonAubry #MEPs #Migration #NGOs #Qatar #Rights #RuleOfLaw #RyszardLegutko #Security #StefanoSannino #ThierryMariani #UrsulaVonDerLeyen #ViktorOrbán

Autopens, Executive Orders, and the Rule of Law – A DWD Special Report

Autopens, Executive Orders, and the Rule of Law

What really happens when one president tries to erase another’s signature?

Donald Trump has announced that he is cancelling all executive orders and “anything else” from the Biden administration that were signed using an autopen, claiming those documents are invalid and even hinting at perjury charges if Joe Biden says he personally authorized them. The move has thrilled some supporters and outraged critics, but beneath the rhetoric is a basic question of law:

• Are autopen-signed executive orders legally valid?
• Can a sitting president simply declare them void?

On both counts, the short answer from mainstream legal analysis is: autopens are lawful, and Trump’s blanket cancellation theory is on very thin ice.

Editor’s Note: The analysis here is by Perplexity Plus, and my review and edits. Here’s a sample article that announces Trump’s actions. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-cancels-biden-orders-signed-autopen –there are several. So let’s deep dive a bit…

What Trump Is Claiming

In recent statements and social posts, Trump has argued that a huge share of Biden’s executive actions were signed not by Biden’s own hand but by an autopen—essentially a mechanical signature device—and that these are therefore “null and void.” He has suggested that aides, not Biden, made the decisions and that if Biden now claims personal involvement he could face perjury charges.

That claim rests on two big leaps:

1. That the physical act of handwriting the signature is required for legality;
2. That using an autopen inherently proves the president wasn’t really the decision-maker.

Both propositions collide head-on with modern practice and with existing legal opinions from the Justice Department.

What Is an Autopen and Why Has It Been Used?

An autopen is a device that reproduces a person’s signature with real ink. It is not new, and it is not unique to Biden. Presidents from at least George W. Bush onward have authorized autopen signatures on official correspondence, and Barack Obama famously used an autopen to sign a Patriot Act extension while traveling abroad, based on prior legal clearance from the Department of Justice.

The core idea is simple: the decision must be the president’s; the ink stroke can be delegated to a machine, as long as it is done under his direction.

Are Autopen-Signed Orders Legal?

Yes. The key legal backdrop is a 2005 opinion from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). In that memo, OLC concluded that the president may “sign” a bill within the meaning of Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution by directing a subordinate to affix his signature—explicitly including use of an autopen—so long as the president has made the underlying decision and authorized the signature.

That logic carries over to executive orders and other presidential instruments. The law cares about:

• Who made the decision? — The president cannot delegate the actual decision to approve or disapprove.
• How is that decision manifested? — The physical act of writing the name can be delegated or mechanized.

In other words, an autopen signature authorized by the president is treated as the president’s signature. The courts, Congress, and multiple administrations have proceeded on that assumption for nearly two decades. If Trump were to argue that autopen use is categorically invalid, he would be challenging not only Biden’s practice, but settled executive-branch legal interpretation and a bipartisan history of use—including his own administration’s reliance on mechanical signing for lower-stakes documents.

Can a President Revoke a Predecessor’s Executive Orders?

Here Trump’s position is on firmer, but still limited, ground. As a general rule, any sitting president may:

• Amend,
• Rescind, or
• Replace

executive orders issued by a prior administration, so long as he stays within constitutional and statutory limits. Executive orders are internal directives for the executive branch; they are not statutes and do not bind a successor president forever. That’s why one administration can undo or rewrite the regulatory priorities of another.

So, yes: Trump can revoke Biden-era executive orders as a matter of policy choice. We’ve already seen him move to roll back or rewrite specific Biden orders. Future litigation will focus on what he does in the substance of those revocations, not the mere fact that he did them.

What is novel—and shaky—is his attempt to tie the legality of those orders to the method of signature and to retroactively declare large swaths of them void because they were signed by autopen.

The Problem with Retroactive “Autopen” Invalidation

Trump’s announced approach tries to do something different from the normal policy-based revocation of executive orders. Instead of saying “I disagree with these policies and am replacing them,” he suggests:

These orders were never valid in the first place, because they were signed with an autopen, so I am cancelling them as illegal and potentially criminal.

That creates several rule-of-law problems:

1. It contradicts existing legal guidance. OLC’s 2005 opinion and subsequent practices assume autopen signatures are valid when authorized by the president. Calling them inherently “forged” would require either repudiating that legal framework or proving that Biden never authorized the decisions.
2. It is retroactive. For years, agencies, states, and private parties have relied on those Biden orders as valid. Retroactively invalidating them on a technicality invites chaos in programs, contracts, and rights that grew up under those orders.
3. It is categorical, not case-by-case. Instead of alleging specific instances of fraud (“this particular order was not actually authorized by Biden”), the rhetoric paints nearly all autopen-signed actions as suspect. Courts usually prefer tailored remedies, not sweeping retrospective erasures.
4. It looks politically targeted. The move singles out one predecessor, on a theory that—if truly accepted—would raise questions about other administrations’ autopen practices as well. The selectivity underscores the political, rather than legal, impulse.

How Would Courts Look at This?

If lawsuits follow—and they almost certainly would—courts are unlikely to start by deciding whether they like Biden or Trump. They will ask:

• Was the original executive order within the president’s lawful authority?
• Did the president (Biden) actually approve the action?
• Is the current president (Trump) acting within his authority in revoking or refusing to recognize the order?

On the first two questions, the existence of a longstanding OLC opinion and decades of executive practice with autopens will weigh heavily in favor of validity. On the third question, courts generally accept that presidents can revoke prior executive orders—but not that they can rewrite history to say those orders never legally existed if they were properly authorized at the time.

The Supreme Court has also shown institutional concern for stability in government operations. Even justices skeptical of “administrative overreach” have not shown much appetite for retroactively vaporizing large categories of past acts based on novel procedural theories. Doing so here could destabilize not only Biden-era orders but potentially any action signed via autopen going forward.

What About Pardons and Other Acts?

Trump and some allies have also gestured at Biden’s clemency decisions, suggesting that pardons or commutations bearing an autopen signature might be revisited. Here the law is even clearer:

• Once a valid presidential pardon is issued, it is generally understood to be final and irrevocable.
• The method of signature does not change the constitutional nature of the clemency power, so long as the decision was the president’s.

In practice, that means attempts to claw back already-granted pardons on an autopen theory would face extremely stiff resistance in court. Even legal scholars sympathetic to a strong executive are wary of letting a later president un-pardon people based on how the document was signed.

Politics, “Enemies,” and the Rule of Law

From a political perspective, the autopen narrative functions as another tool in a larger project: casting a predecessor as illegitimate or incapacitated and suggesting that their official acts are suspect on that basis. The language of “forgery,” “perjury,” and “null and void” is aimed less at administrative lawyers and more at a political audience already primed to see Biden as unfit.

From a rule-of-law perspective, that is precisely why the theory is dangerous. If every change of administration brought not only policy reversals but retroactive attacks on the very validity of the prior president’s signature, the stability of executive governance would be at risk. Agencies, states, businesses, and ordinary citizens would never know which actions are safe to rely on.

Healthy democratic accountability means we absolutely can argue over policies and revoke prior orders through lawful channels. But turning autograph style into a weapon against a former president’s entire record is a different move—and one that courts, if asked, may well decline to endorse.

Key Takeaways

• Autopens are legally recognized tools for presidential signatures, as long as the president makes and authorizes the underlying decision.
• Any sitting president can revoke prior executive orders as a policy matter, but cannot simply declare them historically void due to autopen use.
• Retroactively invalidating large categories of actions would create legal chaos and undercut reliance interests across government and society.
• Courts are likely to view broad “autopen invalidation” moves as politically motivated and legally weak, compared to ordinary, case-specific challenges.
• The real story is less about pens and more about power: who gets to define which presidential acts “count” when the political winds shift.

Editor’s Note

This essay is researched and sourced, with commentary and analysis, not legal advice. It reflects the public record on autopens, executive orders, and presidential practice as of late 2025, along with mainstream interpretations from constitutional scholars and legal observers, and the analysis and edits by the authors. –DrWeb & Perplexity

Sources & Further Reading (MLA 9)

• Justice Department, Office of Legal Counsel. “Whether the President May Sign a Bill by Directing That His Signature Be Affixed to It.” U.S. Department of Justice, 7 July 2005, https://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/whether-president-may-sign-bill-directing-his-signature-be-affixed-it .
• Congressional Research Service. Executive Orders: An Introduction. 29 Mar. 2021, https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11032 .
• Bomboy, Scott. “Defining the President’s Constitutional Powers to Issue Executive Orders.” National Constitution Center, 29 Jan. 2025, https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/defining-the-presidents-constitutional-powers-to-issue-executive-orders .
• “Executive Orders.” American Bar Association – Public Education, 2021, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/executiveorders/ .
• “Judicial Review of Executive Orders.” Federal Judicial Center, https://www.fjc.gov/history/courts/judicial-review-executive-orders .
• Whelan, M. Edward III, et al. “Whether the President May Sign a Bill by Directing That His Signature Be Affixed to It.” Office of Legal Counsel Opinions, vol. 29, 2005, pp. 97–104. justice.gov .
• “Obama ‘Autopens’ Patriot Act Extension into Law.” CBS News, 27 May 2011, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-autopens-patriot-act-extension-into-law/ .
• Turnipseed, Tony L. “The President and the Autopen.” Journal of Technology Law & Policy, vol. 17, 2012, https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/jtlp/vol17/iss1/4/ .
• Associated Press. “Presidents Have Used Autopens for Decades. Now Trump Is Attacking Biden’s Use.” AP News, 17 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/biden-autopen-trump-executive-orders-00e8e0dfca0284 .
• “What Is an Autopen and Why Can’t Trump Stop Talking About It?” The Guardian, 29 Nov. 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/29/autopen-trump-biden-executive-orders .
• “Trump Says He Is Canceling All Biden Executive Orders Signed With Autopen.” The Wall Street Journal, 28 Nov. 2025, https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-biden-autopen-executive-orders .
• “Trump Threatens Biden with ‘Charges of Perjury.’” New York Post, 28 Nov. 2025, https://nypost.com/2025/11/28/news/trump-threatens-biden-over-autopen/ .
• “Legal Analysts React to Trump’s Plan to Terminate Biden Executive Orders.” Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025, https://www.newsweek.com/trump-biden-autopen-legal-experts-react-1861234 .
• U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The Biden Autopen Presidency: Decline, Delusion, and Deception in the White House. 24 Oct. 2025, https://oversight.house.gov/release/the-biden-autopen-presidency-report .
• “Reviewing Certain Presidential Actions.” The White House, 4 June 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2025/06/04/reviewing-certain-presidential-actions/ .

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Trump Slapped With Emergency Filing #AbregoGarcia #lawyers say #Trump officials—including #PamBondi, #KristiNoem, and Trump himself—are smearing him with false, #inflammatory claims that taint the jury pool and violate court rules. They argue these partisan attacks destroy the presumption of #innocence and threaten his right to a fair trial. Read the motion and memorandum https://substack.com/redirect/de088735-8028-44d2-98b4-7ef516cf91c8?j=eyJ1IjoiMjJ5NTBrIn0.oP2fUcNw-EU7zklYEMRQBh9oi2VHOHvW3ElcPQqG6aE #courts #law #legal #ruleoflaw #dueprocess #democracy #constitution

#VolodomyrZelenskyy has signed a law to sustain #corruption [1] by letting the Prosecutor General interfere in #NABU [2] and #SAPO [3][4], two key #Ukraine -ian anti-corruption institutions.

Ukrainians are angry and are protesting [5].

The Eur. Commission is "concerned" [6].

#DemocracyBacksliding #RuleOfLaw #Bill12414

[1] https://kyivindependent.com/bill-subordinating-top-anti-corruption-agencies-to-prosecutor-generals-office

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anti-Corruption_Bureau_of_Ukraine

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialized_Anti-Corruption_Prosecutor%27s_Office

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleksandr_Klymenko_%28detective%29

[5] https://kyivindependent.com/we-know-how-to-stand-up-for-our-rights-ukrainians-protest-law-threatening-anti-corruption-institutions

[6] https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/22/western-trust-under-threat-as-zelenskyy-nears-signing-controversial-law-that-crashes-ukraines-anti-corruption-system

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Russia increasingly targets Ukraine’s cities with cluster munitions, raising civilian toll — [vlog,video] Failed US peace effort left Ukraine worse off, expert argues — Military aid delays will ‘encourage Russia to continue war — Russia cannot launch 500 drones every day … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/07/thursday-july-3-2025/