dag

Writer on law and lore.

Website: https://davidallengreen.com/
VERIFIED BY PRESSCHECK.ORG: https://presscheck.org/journalists/david-allen-green

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Last Notes

2026-04-30 11:39:21 UTC

A Trumped-up case of the president suing his own government?
A federal court queries whether there is really a dispute to settle when a party controls both sides
My latest, for Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/73169/trump-president-suing-own-government
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/116/493/459/072/085/598/original/4d4cffbce49e8927.png

2026-04-27 06:08:46 UTC

“The stately pleasure-dome is essential for the safety and security of the Kubla Khan and his family. When the stately pleasure-dome is complete, Kubla Khan and his successors will no longer need to venture beyond the safety of pleasure-dome perimeter," commented a person on business from Porlock yesterday.

2026-04-23 11:04:36 UTC

Starmer told the civil service to 'deliver' what he wanted
Yet he has sacked the civil servant who 'delivered' the appointment of Lord Mandelson
New by me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/73105/starmer-told-the-civil-service-to-delivernot-blockwhat-he-wanted
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/116/453/687/873/524/437/original/bca5f1c9bc55d514.png

2026-04-16 11:50:32 UTC

NEW
What the Chagos deal reversal tells us about the UK’s diplomatic weakness
Why British government has no alternative but to accept President Trump’s change of mind
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/73040/trump-chagos-deal-reversal-uk-diplomatic-weakness

2026-04-13 10:15:51 UTC

"How can we get rid of you?"
The immense significance of the defeat of Orbán's illiberal political machine and methodology
By me at the Empty City blog
https://theemptycity.com/blog/2026/04/how-can-we-get-rid-of-you/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/116/396/873/565/141/676/original/bf674e71f5f03afd.png

2026-04-11 16:39:26 UTC

People sneer at Trump and Vance, but look how quickly they have moved to negotiating with Iran the conditions for Iran's unconditional surrender.

2026-04-10 18:33:35 UTC

Whenever one writes on what Trump does, someone comments that it is just a "distraction".
Sometimes [A] is said to be a distraction from [B], which is a distraction from [C], and so on.
But no need to posit such a conspiracy.
The Trump administration is capable of being crap at everything at once.

2026-04-10 17:10:14 UTC

- reply

Thank you Christopher.

2026-04-09 10:34:10 UTC

Why President Trump’s threat of genocide matters
He may avoid immediate constitutional and legal sanctions, but this threat should not be forgotten
New by me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/72980/iran-why-trump-genocide-threat-matters

2026-04-03 12:46:08 UTC

NEW
In a meaningful way, Meta had already legally lost the social media anxiety case before the jury trial even began
By me at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology/internet/72920/kaley-gm-trial-meta-google-serious-problem
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/116/340/840/821/438/036/original/ea58c5911af1751d.png

2026-04-02 07:06:24 UTC

A failed military police investigation?
The Afghan war crimes inquiry continues to throw light on alleged crimes by UK special forces and their possible cover-up
By me at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/72897/uk-afghan-war-crimes-inquiry-failed-military-police-investigation
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/116/333/838/853/677/075/original/b34df4a82ecfa052.png

2026-01-25 22:22:04 UTC

Dear USA
Policing and law enforcement losing the confidence of the community does not end well.
Yours,
Great Britain and Northern Ireland

2026-01-23 12:43:25 UTC

NEW
Why the Hillsborough law campaigners are right to be resolute
The attempts to water down the duty of candour should be resisted
Me at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/72203/why-the-hillsborough-law-campaigners-are-right-to-be-resolute
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/944/469/096/182/825/original/f631930e8e3ff679.png

2026-01-20 09:40:02 UTC

NEW
“…neither rhyme nor reason.”
We are currently in a situation where precedents and norms and laws and rules and theories offer no assistance.
By me.
Substack: https://emptycity.substack.com/p/neither-rhyme-nor-reason
Personal blog: https://davidallengreen.com/2026/01/neither-rhyme-nor-reason-how-are-currently-in-a-situation-where-precedents-and-norms-and-and-laws-and-rules-and-theories-offer-no-assistance/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/926/757/612/409/157/original/361cdb81dc80da58.png

2026-01-19 12:23:32 UTC

NEW
The new ICE Age
Me at Prospect on the implications of the transition to lawlessness as general policy
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/72155/trump-new-ice-age
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/921/740/571/725/187/original/bcdad3bdc90a25c9.png

2026-01-15 20:55:35 UTC

Then: constitutional law should be boring, not exciting.
Now: constitutional law should be boring, not terrifying.

2026-01-12 10:43:05 UTC

Notes on gangster states
Why legitimacy matters when the state has a monopoly on coercive and lethal force
New, by me
Substack
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/notes-on-gangster-states
Personal blog
https://davidallengreen.com/2026/01/notes-on-gangster-states-why-legitimacy-matters-when-the-state-has-a-monopoly-on-coercive-and-lethal-force/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/881/710/337/431/706/original/ecfc91c7e3f4909f.png

2026-01-07 09:56:38 UTC

Great.
Now someone is going to blow Boudica's trumpet, and who knows what will then happen.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr7jvj8d39eo

2026-01-06 11:03:19 UTC

NEW
But what about international law?
What happens to an international legal order when a superpower goes rogue
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/but-what-about-international-law
Personal Blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2026/01/but-what-about-international-law/

2026-01-02 11:58:48 UTC

NEW
Why can a politician remove citizenship with little or no judicial consideration?
The home secretary has brutal, wide-ranging powers to deprive British citizens of this most basic of rights
By me at Prospect, on Begum and Abd el-Fattah
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/72006/a-politician-can-remove-citizenship-with-little-judicial-consideration
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/825/384/875/166/936/original/2d60b80e939696c3.png

2026-01-01 17:38:43 UTC

Ordered my first new book via Bookstore and not Amazon and thereby started to fulfil one new year's resolution. Yes, slower and P&P but independent local bookshops are a public good.

2025-12-31 13:33:47 UTC

NEW
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at New Statesman
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/society/2025/12/when-should-social-media-posts-have-legal-consequences
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/814/433/130/786/332/original/1f587f6dfdde9e48.png

2025-12-19 12:24:54 UTC

NEW
Donald Trump v the British Broadcasting Corporation: the battle begins
The president filed a claim this week more about exerting leverage than legal niceties
By me, at Prospect Magazine
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/71916/donald-trump-v-bbc-battle-begins

2025-12-12 12:37:59 UTC

NEW
The good, the bad and the ugly of ‘rebalancing’ the ECHR
Human rights law should be kept under review, but that does not mean it should be weakened
My latest post for Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/71813/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-rebalancing-the-echr
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/706/628/219/375/572/original/c0929541d5dfd571.png

2025-12-01 19:36:07 UTC

- reply

Generally: being opposed to proscription would not constitute an offence under the Terrorism Act.

2025-12-01 19:33:48 UTC

Given there is an entire information-economy between politicians, advisers, officials and the media of intentional pre-Budget leaks, it is telling about our political culture that the only resignation is when someone leaks it unintentionally.

2025-11-30 12:55:18 UTC

Emeritus Prof Christopher May - @npub12pw…zvxn - is one of the best follows on here and adorns any timeline - lots of useful stuff about policy and idiosyncratic stuff about music.
He needs a few more followers to achieve some Mastodon goal.
If you like my stuff, follow him.

2025-11-22 14:55:12 UTC

Trump v the BBC cont'd: an odd and desperate letter from the US media regulator
Or: why you should have your evidence in place before you threaten a law suit
A new post by me:
Substack
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/trump-v-the-bbc-contd-an-odd-and
Personal blog
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/11/trump-v-the-bbc-contd-an-odd-and-desperate-letter-from-the-us-media-regulator/

2025-11-21 12:24:47 UTC

Tinkering with ECHR definitions will not help the government
The proposed changes to Articles 3 and 8 in asylum cases will achieve little or nothing
By me, at New Statesman
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/11/tinkering-with-echr-definitions-will-not-help-the-government

2025-11-14 17:39:00 UTC

NEW BY ME
Why the BBC is right not to pay damages to Trump
By apologising, the broadcaster has taken the sting out of Trump’s excessive attack
At New Statesman
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/11/the-bbc-is-right-not-to-pay-damages-to-trump

2025-11-13 10:06:04 UTC

NEW
Performative Litigation Letters
How certain lawyer letters are intended for news and social media consumption
By me, on the legal threats of Truss and now Trump
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/performative-litigation-letters
Non-Substack link to follow later

2025-11-11 14:20:37 UTC

- reply

Thank you, as always.

2025-11-11 13:25:32 UTC

NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
(Substack)
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-look-at-trumps-1-billion
(Personal blog)
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/11/a-close-look-at-trumps-1-billion-claim-against-the-bbc/

2025-10-28 15:56:52 UTC

- reply

You did not read the post you are commenting on? It was a good film *because* of its ending.

2025-10-23 05:34:58 UTC

One observation on the Louvre robbery, having been there a couple of time recently.
There is immense 'security theatre' for visitors waiting to get in.
And what has happened affirms the general rule: the greater the 'security theatre' the weaker the actual security.

2025-10-22 21:13:10 UTC

In the United States the President is deliberately dismantling the White House, while in the United Kingdom we are doing nothing to stop the Palace of Westminster from falling apart.
Much the same can be said of our respective constitutions.

2025-10-22 17:55:54 UTC

If Orwell's works had not already been over-plundered to metaphorical death, it would be nice to call the increasing diversionary blame being put on Antifa as the Snowball Effect.

2025-10-22 17:25:32 UTC

- reply

2025-10-22 17:24:47 UTC

- reply

Still 651 is still a good rule-of-thumb active following and makes posting here worthwhile.
I like Mastodon and I would like to carryon being active here.
Many thanks to all those who Liked - including those who felt the need to explain things to me (I know).
/ends

2025-10-22 17:23:02 UTC

- reply

Of course this experiment has limitations.
Some could not help themselves pointing these limitations out (I know).
Others pointed out that boosts would increase coverage (I know), that the Likes total may not be accurate because of the nature of the Fediverse (I know), and that response would be affected by other factors (I know).
This being Mastodon, such unsolicited earnest advice is freely given, even when it should be obvious the OP already knows!
Mastodon, never change.

2025-10-22 17:20:16 UTC

2025-10-22 17:16:51 UTC

A couple of days ago I did an experiment on here.
I asked that if anyone saw my post they would Like it. No boosts.
I came over here in one of the Twitter exoduses and I have a high following from other Twitter refugees. I wanted to see how many still engage.
Here is the result.
Of 40k nominal followers on Mastodon, the post was Liked 651 times.
651/40000
Or by 1.6% of my nominal following.
>
(Please read thread before replying.)

2025-10-20 14:28:06 UTC

- reply

Mastodon, never change :-)

2025-10-20 13:54:41 UTC

- reply

Loving the Mastodon-style "let me explain" responses.

2025-10-20 13:03:48 UTC

Help please.
I am trying to see how far my posts on this platform go.
If you see this post can you please like it.
Please do NOT boost it, as I want to see its natural coverage.
I am thinking of posting more often on here and I am just wanting to see what the current reach is like.

2025-10-18 12:03:28 UTC

One problem in current politics is not being able to tell the difference between a cultural death-knell and a cultural birth-pang.
Are these the features of an old order collapsing or a new (lack of) order beginning?

2025-10-09 11:12:36 UTC

NEW
Law versus politics
Both the UK and the US face a choice between unchecked executive power or a balanced constitution
By me at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/71289/law-versus-politics
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/343/906/973/483/177/original/7200f0cee7389c46.png

2025-10-07 12:34:43 UTC

NEW
Freedom is just another word for "a gap in the law"
The Home Secretary wants to ban more things
By me
Substack
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/freedom-is-just-another-word-for
Personal blog
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/10/freedom-is-just-another-word-for-a-gap-in-the-law/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/332/904/410/134/341/original/d6d3aaac3590a13b.png

2025-10-03 11:46:16 UTC

NEW
Why the government was right to take PPE Medpro to court
The state should enforce its contractual rights against suppliers more often
By me at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/71218/why-the-government-was-right-to-take-ppe-medpro-to-court
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/310/065/322/526/542/original/dd493ca7734a0d16.png

2025-09-29 09:01:58 UTC

NEW
The Kneecap prosecution collapsed because police and prosecutors did not take terrorism law seriously
Where "a technicality" hides a fundamental error
By me
Substack: https://emptycity.substack.com/p/the-kneecap-prosecution-collapsed
Personal blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/09/the-kneecap-prosecution-collapsed-because-police-and-prosecutors-did-not-take-terrorism-law-seriously/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/286/769/993/756/410/original/245ac923dbb0182b.png

2025-09-25 08:54:04 UTC

- reply

In essence: few will be genuinely surprised that the High Court was misled - these things happen - but for the court to reject the assurances about why it was misled?
That is spicy.

2025-09-25 08:45:54 UTC

NEW
The Prime Minister’s extraordinary and significant statement on MI5 misleading the High Court
A practical example of the judiciary and executive holding the security service to account
By me
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/the-prime-ministers-extraordinary
Personal blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/09/the-prime-ministers-extraordinary-and-significant-statement-on-mi5-misleading-the-high-court/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/264/055/673/988/844/original/d1503809969ac3aa.png

2025-09-22 17:14:02 UTC

- reply

Pretty much my position. I will RT things other say which I think are spot on, but I am not going to use my following to amplify the noise.
My focus is on government policy, and on the weaknesses of our constitutional system. My followers are more than capable of working out for themselves what misuses an incoming illiberal government can fo when in power.

2025-09-21 10:44:19 UTC

- reply

"looks likely to be struck down in full or perhaps in part"
I don't think that is likely, as the courts are generally deferent to the executive on matters of national security. That said, the challenge is not hopeless.
The government is worried that it may lose the case - yes, but that is because the government usually has a slam-dunk in such cases.

2025-09-21 08:59:55 UTC

NEW
The proscription of Palestine Action as a case study of terrorism law
Why is the general criminal law not sufficient to deal with direct action groups?
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/the-proscription-of-palestine-action
Personal blog: https://davidallengreen.com/2025/09/the-proscription-of-palestine-action-as-a-case-study-of-terrorism-law/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/241/463/498/873/766/original/4f1877b9ba05346d.png

2025-09-19 11:00:42 UTC

NEW
Has the government overreached in using terrorism law against Palestine Action?
A disclosed MI5 document indicates that the basis for proscription may be weak
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/71099/uk-government-terrorism-law-palestine-action
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/230/613/843/561/990/original/b59d6e2173cab150.png

2025-09-12 12:11:23 UTC

NEW
What the Palestine Action proscription tells us about UK terrorism law
On the difficulties of prohibiting and policing ‘expressions of opinion and belief’
By me at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/71048/palestine-action-proscription-uk-terrorism-law

2025-09-10 06:28:35 UTC

“NEW
Yield, man!”
Another dark moment in United States law and policy
By me
Substack: https://emptycity.substack.com/p/yield-man
Personal blog: https://davidallengreen.com/2025/09/yield-man-another-dark-moment-in-united-states-law-and-policy/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/178/582/540/377/024/original/8762ff9b651632bc.png

2025-09-05 11:04:25 UTC

- reply

And she has gone, regarding a point of law which few lawyers would know the answer to.
But she should have got specialist advice.

2025-09-04 14:35:29 UTC

- reply

I just know that tax law makes my brain fuzz, trust law involving those without own capacity makes my brain fuzzier, and my basic knowledge of deeming provisions would not save me.
I would want to stick pencils up my nose and go 'wibble' if I were faced with this.
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/146/522/983/333/248/original/d6f3725f31985600.jpeg

2025-09-04 14:24:47 UTC

On Angela Rayner and tax law
- a brief post by me
Substack - https://emptycity.substack.com/p/on-angela-rayner-and-tax-law
Own blog: https://davidallengreen.com/2025/09/on-angela-rayner-and-tax-law/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/146/481/803/257/853/original/88a1461120248423.png

2025-08-28 11:51:38 UTC

NEW
The UK constitution is even more vulnerable than the US constitution
In the face of an illiberal radical assault, what has happened politically in America could easily happen in the UK
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/70928/the-uk-constitution-is-more-vulnerable-than-the-us-constitution
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/115/106/243/120/584/650/original/83af970cac9f1c70.jpeg

2025-08-28 07:36:00 UTC

- reply

Thats seems a fair point

2025-08-27 09:46:20 UTC

NEW
Yes, an incoming illiberal and radical UK government would have absolute constitutional power
By me
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/yes-an-incoming-illiberal-and-radical
Personal blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/08/yes-an-incoming-illiberal-and-radical-uk-government-would-have-absolute-constitutional-power/

2025-08-19 09:14:53 UTC

The recognition of Palestine - a footnote to yesterday's post
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/the-recognition-of-palestine-a-footnote
Personal blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/08/the-recognition-of-palestine-a-footnote-to-yesterdays-post/

2025-08-18 18:52:48 UTC

On the recognition of Palestine
A close look at an unconvincing letter from "distinguished" UK lawyers
By me
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/on-the-recognition-of-palestine
Personal blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/08/on-the-recognition-of-palestine-a-close-look-at-an-unconvincing-letter-from-distinguished-uk-lawyers/

2025-08-13 17:08:32 UTC

This is a good post on a disputed topic.
Am thinking of writing on the topic this week at Prospect.
https://www.ejiltalk.org/no-recognizing-palestine-would-not-be-contrary-to-international-law/

2025-08-08 11:28:01 UTC

NEW
What makes a legal person?
If invisible corporations and inanimate objects can be legal persons, so can rivers and animals
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/70796/what-makes-a-legal-person

2025-08-08 07:28:17 UTC

This is a horrific possibility.
But, if true, neither the IT fail nor the cover-up would surprise anybody with regular dealings with the court system.
Indeed, it is hardly now a 'system' - just constant improvisations in an under-funded process, not fit for purpose.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwye2q00k51o

2025-08-06 18:12:58 UTC

Help please!
It is soon time for my annual lecture on legal blogging and social media.
Can you please offer any links or examples of legal commentary on a blog or social media account which you have found especially useful.
In particular, anything which has changed your mind on something?

2025-08-05 09:27:39 UTC

Prohibitions are not spells.
Law is not magic.
When you prohibit a thing, all that means is the thing may be attended by different legal consequences than before.
The thing is not extinguished by a mere prohibition: it can continue but in a different way with different (and unforeseen) effects.

2025-07-17 08:18:44 UTC

NEW
Why have the terms of the now-discharged Afghan super-injunction not been published?
There can be no good reason for the substantial terms of the court order to be hidden
By me
Substack: https://emptycity.substack.com/p/why-have-the-terms-of-the-now-discharged
Personal blog: https://davidallengreen.com/2025/07/why-have-the-terms-of-the-now-discharged-afghan-super-injunction-not-been-published/

2025-07-10 08:01:58 UTC

When telephone boxes were installed on our streets, some perhaps feared that this new-fangled technology would replace post boxes.
And yet the post boxes remain, and the telephone boxes do not.

2025-07-09 07:31:19 UTC

“Jury-free trials proposed to save criminal justice system from collapse” is the judicial policy equivalent of destroying a village so as to save it.
Juries are less important for the powers they have, but for the powers they prevent others from having.

2025-07-08 05:38:03 UTC

Somewhat depressing being a law and policy commentator at the moment.
And for these four articles there could have been dozens of others similarly downbeat.
But the illiberals won’t always win.
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/815/991/477/904/017/original/52fd231690d16af3.jpg

2025-07-01 21:38:29 UTC

No idea if the US will fall further into Fascism.
But it certainly will not be for the want of trying.
Extraordinary sight over the Atlantic of a polity voluntarily self-sabotaging.

2025-07-01 10:41:04 UTC

- reply

Part 2
What Justice Barrett said - on a curiously unconvincing exercise in judicial reasoning
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/the-us-supreme-court-judgment-on
Personal Blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/07/the-us-supreme-court-judgment-on-injunctions-what-justice-barrett-said/

2025-07-01 10:40:06 UTC

NEW
On the face of it, the US Supreme Court judgment on universal injunctions is huge.
So, in a return to 'old school' blogging, I am working through the judgment in a sequence of posts.
(I much prefer such 'old school' blogging to social media 'hot takes' - and am frankly better at it.)
Part 1
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/the-significant-supreme-court-judgment
Personal Blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/06/the-significant-supreme-court-judgment-on-universal-injunctions/

2025-06-29 08:06:50 UTC

While onlookers were misdirected into worries about what happens if the Trump administration ignores court orders...
...the conservative majority on the US Supreme Court, with more subtlety, has now robbed federal judges from making the most unwelcome court orders in first place.

2025-06-27 11:23:13 UTC

NEW
If international law suddenly did not exist, what difference would it make?
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/70318/international-law-is-at-a-postwar-low-trump-iran

2025-06-24 11:36:30 UTC

Who would have guessed that someone for whom all business and legal negotiation is based on bluff and bluster would have had nothing other than bluff and bluster in international affairs.

2025-06-24 07:18:49 UTC

One of the great contests in world affairs is now between the attention span of the US president and the attention span of those following the news.

2025-06-20 10:41:30 UTC

NEW
The law is powerless against stochastic political violence
The misuse of media power to promote harm needs a cultural, not a legal, solution
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/70248/the-law-is-powerless-against-stochastic-political-violence

2025-06-18 19:20:40 UTC

Feeling sorry for any future history students who have to set out the origins of the Third World War in a sequence of ordered paragraphs.
(‘If there is a future,’ types a reply-guy.)

2025-06-16 07:06:13 UTC

NEW
On "No Kings"
How Trump sees no limits to what he wants to do
By me
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/on-no-kings
Personal blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/06/on-no-kings/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/691/771/174/873/176/original/7896c1c2c1ce0557.png

2025-06-15 15:34:51 UTC

My Prospect column from earlier this year on Trump “joking” about being a king.
He means it, on a legal-constitutional analysis of his actions.
He really believes all power flows from him.
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/69322/trump-the-president-who-jokes-about-being-a-king
#NoKings

2025-06-13 12:21:00 UTC

NEW
Trump is mobilising federal troops against US citizens with no clear legal basis
Yet the president’s latest constitutional outrage barely registers on the news
By me, at Prospect
(With added Wodehouse.)
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/70190/trump-is-mobilising-federal-troops-with-no-clear-legal-basis
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/676/020/513/935/225/original/a196ff4ca0af99da.png
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/676/022/689/785/594/original/34b0337c7f22c570.png

2025-06-09 20:39:42 UTC

Dear USA
Deploying troops against civilians will not go well.
Yours
Great Britain and Northern Ireland

2025-06-06 06:40:59 UTC

Other than scale, the Musk-Trump fall-out is pretty indistinguishable from two start-up egotists falling out when their boastful business plan flops in reality.

2025-06-05 06:09:14 UTC

Another ‘review’. To go with the various HRA Bill of Rights reviews and working parties over last 20 years.
It is almost as if the Tories want to do something they know they cannot do.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgj8p2pv117o
Badenoch launches review into possible ECHR exit - BBC News

2025-05-30 12:17:12 UTC

NEW
Donald Trump now has his own ‘forever war’—against the judiciary
What began as the administration’s ‘move fast and break things’ initiatives are getting bogged down in the US courts
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/70038/donald-trump-now-has-his-own-forever-waragainst-the-judiciary
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/596/732/422/836/827/original/e2c67ed9d7dba9d0.png

2025-05-29 05:19:57 UTC

My explainer from a few weeks ago at Prospect on how Trump was (mis)using emergency legislation for his tariff antics.
Overnight this (mis)use of such legislation was ruled unlawful.
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/69703/how-trump-used-emergency-legislation-for-his-tariffs-policy

2025-05-27 09:38:17 UTC

NEW
Explaining a 31-month sentence for a tweet
How a mixture of court process, law and sentencing policy led to the lengthy imprisonment of Lucy Connolly
By me
Substack: https://emptycity.substack.com/p/explaining-a-31-month-sentence-for
Personal blog: https://davidallengreen.com/2025/05/explaining-a-31-month-sentence-for-a-tweet/

2025-05-22 06:57:09 UTC

The irony of prisons policy is that so many in politics and media are prisoners of "tough on crime" rhetoric, and they cannot get released.

2025-05-19 16:48:27 UTC

“Brexit means we can make our own agreements with the EU, as we pick and choose!”
- UK chooses to make agreement with EU on a handful of issues.
“Brexit Betrayed!”

2025-05-12 06:14:52 UTC

At least this is true: it is a very transparent deal.
Everyone can see straight through it.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/11/trump-accept-luxury-plane-gift-qatar
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/493/390/077/318/746/original/7f820ce99b2f304c.png

2025-05-09 13:34:15 UTC

NEW
A close reading of the "AI" fake cases judgment
Why it is the very plausibility of AI-generated case law that should put lawyers on their guard
By me
Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-reading-of-the-ai-fake-cases
Personal blog
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/05/a-close-reading-of-the-ai-fake-cases-judgment/
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/478/129/790/487/916/original/c68ba8ee734350a0.png
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/478/130/476/355/119/original/888bcabda41621a3.png
https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/114/478/130/917/737/022/original/88907bc3a9ba3a79.png

2025-05-08 11:18:26 UTC

NEW
The use of artificial intelligence in courts: a warning
A judge deployed an onerous sanction when lawyers seemed to use fake, AI-generated case law
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/69890/artificial-intelligence-in-courts-a-warning

2025-05-05 06:21:44 UTC

This week, boys and girls, we are going to find out all about why tariffs are not normally applied to service industries.

2025-04-25 12:16:41 UTC

NEW
Uncovering the secrets of ARIA
How an ‘advanced’ scientific body was reduced to claiming environmental information was not ‘environmental information’
By me, at Prospect
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/69798/uncovering-the-secrets-of-aria