Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner

In a dark day for the rule of law and for the voters of Georgia, a newly assigned prosecutor in the Georgia state RICO case against Donald Trump and more than a dozing indicted co-conspirators has decided to dismiss the case against all defendants. Glenn reviews this new, unfortunate legal development.Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Military law requires military members to disobey unlawful orders. Indeed, If a soldier obeys an unlawful order he/she could be court-martialed. Yet Trump has set the Pentagon and the FBI on the six members of Congress who made a video stating, accurately and truthfully, that military members have a duty to disobey unlawful orders. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a huge blow to Donald Trump's attempt to seek revenge on people he perceives as his enemies, a federal judge has dismissed the criminal prosecutions Trump's Department of Justice brought against former FBI Director James Comey and current New York Attorney General Letitia James. Judge Currie ruled that Trump flunky Lindsey Halligan was illegally appointed as interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney's Office, and thus the indictments she obtained for Comey and James are null and void. Glenn discusses Judge Currie's new ruling and where these cases may go from here. To follow Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donald Trump's pardons endanger all Americans. He pardons crypto currency crooks who endanger our national security, he pardons convicted felons who possess firearms, he pardons business executives who defraud nursing homes. After pardoning more that 1500 of the "boots" of the insurrection - the angry mob he set on the US Capitol on January 6 - Trump has now pardoned 77 of the "suits" of the insurrection - the attorneys and other white collar criminals who were part of Trump's corrupt scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Glenn sat down with Liz Oyer, former Pardon Attorney for the United States, to discuss these and other pardon-related topics. Link for Liz on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/lizoyer...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

By using the United States military in patently unlawful ways, Donald Trump is creating a military that is at war with itself, figuratively speaking.Military members have a duty to obey lawful orders but an equally important duty to disobey patently unlawful orders.Glenn spoke with law professor and military law expert Dan Maurer to discuss his important new piece titled:"Fighting on Three Fronts: the U.S. Military's War with Itself."Link to Dan's piece: https://open.substack.com/pub/dmaurer...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During the vindictive prosecution court hearing in the James Comey case, the judge told Lindsey Halligan (who had yet to speak in any court proceeding) to approach the podium. He then insisted she explain what she did with the grand jury indictment. What became clear is that Halligan violated grand jury procedures, mistakes that are likely to invalidate the Comey indictment.Glenn provides a first-hand account from inside the Comey courtroom. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For months, Donald Trump has been whining and complaining about people paying attention to the Epstein files, and urging Congress not to release them.He then directed his Department of Justice to investigate the Epstein case, but only with respect to Democrats who may be implicated (an obviously vindictive and selective approach to an investigation). And now, Donald Trump is telling members of Congress to vote IN FAVOR OF releasing the Epstein files.This is obviously a reaction to learning that his own party has decided to break from him, with the House of Representatives voting in favor of releasing the Epstein files, even though Trump all along has been telling them not to. Glenn does a deep dive of Trump's ever-changing position regarding the Epstein files. Find Glenn on Substack: https://substack.com/@glennkirschner?...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a blockbuster revelation in court at the hearing in the James Comey and Letitia James vindictive prosecution cases, the presiding judge indicated that she didn't believe the prosecutors had given her all of the tapes from the grand jury proceedings in which Lindsey Halligan indicted Comey. As part of Glenn's recurring series, "The Prosecutors' Verdict", he discusses this dramatic development with his fellow former career federal prosecutor Kevin Flynn.Find Kevin on Substack: https://substack.com/@kevinflynn1?r=5...Find Glenn on Substack: https://substack.com/@glennkirschner?...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's no secret that Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have been doing everything they can to damage and degrade the Department of Justice, and to destroy the DOJ's legitimacy in the eyes of the American people. Even beyond that, the Trump administration has been determined to put federal employees "in trauma." Indeed, those are the words of the person Trump picked to be his OMB Director, Russell Vought. Fortunately, there is an organization fighting against the destruction of the Department of Justice and the mistreatment of DOJ employees. That organization is Justice Connection.The Mission of Justice Connection:"Justice Connection is a network of DOJ alumni who are standing up for the rule of law and protecting our former colleagues who’ve been targeted by this administration.We’re providing current and recent DOJ employees with direct and free support, including:Legal representation through the Justice Connection Legal NetworkMental health assistanceWhistleblowing supportMedia training and other help for alumni who want to join us in speaking out Justice Connection has also become the leading voice delivering the message that the assault on the DOJ makes Americans more vulnerable to violent crime, corruption, climate change, civil rights violations, and terrorism – while eroding the foundation of our democracy."Glenn sat down with the founder of Justice Connection, Stacey Young, for a deep-dive discussion about the vitally important and timely work of her organization. Find Justice Connection at: https://www.thejusticeconnection.org/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are always plenty of bad news stories given the lawlessness of the Trump administration. But there are times when the media seems to focus on the bad and give short shrift to the good news stories, the positive legal developments, the points of light. Here is one point of light regarding a federal judge in Chicago pushing back against the lawless aspects of the Trump Administration's abuses of immigrants AND US citizens during "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago. As The Guardian reported: "Judge orders release of hundreds arrested during Chicago immigration raids."Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Glenn attended the court hearing in the vindictive prosecutions of James Comey and Letitia James. Comey and James are asking the judge to throw out their cases based on the allegedly illegal appointment of Lindsey Halligan as interim US Attorney for the eastern district of Virginia. Glenn explains what happened in court at this hearing, including a stunning revelation by the presiding judge about missing grand jury recordings. Join Glenn on Substack at: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a surprise move, the Supreme Court decided to leave the constitutional right to gay marriage in tact by refusing to accept for a review a case that could have been used to revoke that right. Glenn spoke about this and other legal developments with law professor and constitutional scholar Kim Wehle. Find Kim on Substack: kimwehle.substack.comFind Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After pardoning the 1500 people who committed crimes at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, Trump has now pardoned 77 others - including lawyers like Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro and others who tried to help Trump retain the presidency despite losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden. What message is Trump sending to those he pardoned? Might he be using it as a recruiting tool for what he'd like to see happen in upcoming elections? Glenn sat down with his friend and fellow legal analyst Dave Aronberg to discuss the nature and implications of Trump's new Jan. 6th pardons. Find Dave on Substack at: davearonberg.substack.com Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donald Trump just issued 77 pardons, including for six individuals who were unindicted co-conspirators in Trump's federal criminal indictment for his efforts to steal the 2020 presidential election. Trump has now pardoned Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark, Kenneth Chesebro, Boris Epstein, Jenna Ellis, Mark Meadows and many others. This feels like a recruiting effort by Trump. He seems to be calling all insurrectionists to join him in future efforts to interfere in America's elections, sending the signal that he will pardon them if they join his criminal conspiracy. Glenn says: I hope you'll visit my Substack page at: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In recent days we've seen several points of lights piercing through the Trump-induced darkness. First, a Trump-appointed judge, Karin Immergut, has issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Trump from deploying National Guard troops to the streets of Portland. Second, in a clear repudiation of prosecutorial overreach and abuse by Attorney General Pam Bondi and DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a DC jury has now acquitted - found not guilty - the man who threw a Subway sandwich at a federal officer.Glenn discusses the implications of these two new legal developments. Follow Glenn on Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term, his administration stopped having American Sign Language interpreters translate at White House press briefings for the deaf and hard of hearing communities. A federal judge has ruled that this violated federal law, and ordered the White House to reinstate sign language interpreters so the deaf and hard of hearing communities would have access to the information being put out by the federal government during White House press briefings.Glenn discusses this new federal court ruling designed to prevent the White House from keeping the deaf community in the dark about what the federal government is up to. Follow Glenn on Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A federal judge seems exasperated with Trump flunky Lindsey Halligan, who vindictively indicted former FBI Director James Comey at the insistence of Donald Trump. U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie who is litigating the legality of the Comey indictment - specifically Halligan's involvement in obtaining the indictment - previously ordered DOJ/Halligan to turn over all evidence from the grand jury proceedings. But Halligan failed to do so, only turning over the testimony of one witness who appeared before the grand jury. Accordingly, the judge has now issued an order directing Halligan "to submit, no later than Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 5 pm . . . a complete transcript and/or recording of all statements made by the indictment signer (Halligan) to the grand jury . . .." Glenn describes the usual process for presentations to the grand jury and why Halligan's failure to provide everything the judge ordered previously smacks of an attempted coverup. Follow Glenn on Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Politico reported: "More than 100 judges have ruled against the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy."The reporting also notes that those 100 judges "have now ruled at least 200 times that the Trump administration's effort to systematically detain immigrants facing possible deportation appeared to violate their rights or was flatly illegal". Glenn discusses why this massive legal rebuke matters.Follow Glenn on Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are always asking ourselves, asking others, or others are asking us: what can I do to fight FOR democracy and fight AGAINST Trump's autocracy, dictatorship, and authoritarianism? Glenn sat down with Miles Taylor to discuss a new approach: DEFIANCE.org. Miles has set the standard for standing up to Trump's lawlessness, his threats, and his despicable and insatiable appetite for revenge. Miles decided to create DEFIANCE.org, described as follows: “WHAT CAN I DO?”"We built a club to answer that question. Each month, we give you options to fight back — peacefully, lawfully, and defiantly — against Trump’s authoritarian takeover. You choose what missions to support. Then we take action together."DEFIANCE.org is described as: "A CLUB FOR COURAGEOUS AMERICANS"Link to website: https://www.defiance.org/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Trump ordering unlawful military strikes on boats in international waters - murdering dozens of human beings, to Trump saying he can order soldiers into the street of US cities and even the courts can't stop him, Trump behavior vis-a-vis the military is getting more dangerous and lawless by the day. Two members of the Illinois National Guard have spoke out publicly, announcing that they would not obey unlawful order from Trump to deploy to the streets to Chicago. Glenn discusses these and other military-related developments with law professor and military law expert Dan Maurer. Follow Dan on Substack: https://dmaurer.substack.com/Follow Glenn on Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.comHow this content was madeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.