Ilya Somin

n this post, I summarize key points from the Federal Circuit ruling against Trump's massive IEEPA tariffs, in our case against them: reason.com/volokh/2025/...

We just prevailed in our case against Trump's massive IEEPA tariffs, in the Federal Circuit! All challenged IEEPA tariffs ruled illegal, but scope of injunction TBD. Will have more to say later. Here is a link to the ruling (7-4 decision by en banc court): www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-ord...

In the words of Lando Calrissian, “this deal is getting worse all the time.” On the plus side, there is no “Gulf Coast Council.” Either Vance doesn’t know what he’s talking about or he means the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Trump is increasing American algae production so as to cut the algae trade deficit. No longer will nefarious foreign algae take jobs away from hard-working American algae! www.politico.com/news/2026/06...

Trump's unconstitutional war has resulted in a bad deal. In this post I explain why the illegality was a major contributing factor to the bad result: reason.com/volokh/2026/...

The @volokhc.bsky.social blog and I are pleased to present this guest post by @petereharrell.bsky.social , which is the most thorough and insightful explanation, to date, of why Trump's proposed Section 301 tariffs are illegal and should be struck down by courts: reason.com/volokh/2026/...

While most Americans pay little attention, 2 Canadian provinces - Alberta and Quebec - may well have secession referenda soon. In this post, I discuss these two very different secession movements, and the broader issues they raise about morality/justice of secession: reason.com/volokh/2026/...

Naming things after the leader currently in power is a practice of authoritarian regimes. Gerald Ford understood that and vetoed bill to name federal building after himself. We should follow his example, not Trump’s.

This post assesses common non-packing rationales for increasing the size of the Supreme Court. These arguments are relatively weak. But to the extent they are valid, I outline ways to expand without changing ideological balance/creating dangerous packing slippery slope: reason.com/volokh/2026/...

I don't defend J. Ross, who obviously went too far. But appropriate level of delegation to clerks varies a lot, depending on the judge, the clerk, and the case. Hard to find clear general rule. I saw this when I was a federal judicial law clerk myself.

Maybe also in such a way that you don't feel the need to plaster your name everywhere in the first place.

My critique of today's flawed Federal Circuit decision staying enforcement of trial court decision against Trump's massive Section 122 tariffs. It repeats errors of stay of ruling against IEEPA tariffs eventually struck down by Supreme Court: reason.com/volokh/2026/...