Elie Mystal

Justice Correspondent & Columnist

@ElieNYC

Elie Mystal is The Nation’s justice correspondent and the host of its legal podcast, Contempt of Court. He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center. His first book is the New York Times bestseller Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, published by The New Press. Elie can be followed @ElieNYC.

Former Baltimore state attorney Marilyn Mosby answers questions at a press conference about the arrests of police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray on May 1, 2015.

Joe Biden Should Pardon Marilyn Mosby Joe Biden Should Pardon Marilyn Mosby

While the power of the pardon is fundamentally undemocratic, the president should use it to do some good while he can.

May 14, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (C) talks to reporters with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (2nd L), both active members of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

Meet RAGA—One of the Scariest GOP Groups You’ve Never Heard Of Meet RAGA—One of the Scariest GOP Groups You’ve Never Heard Of

The Republican Attorney Generals Association is waging a legal war to overturn reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and climate regulations, one state at a time.

May 13, 2024 / Column / Elie Mystal

A woman sits in her car, which police had seized for a crime she did not commit.

The Supreme Court Rules That Cops Can Steal Your Stuff—as They Always Have The Supreme Court Rules That Cops Can Steal Your Stuff—as They Always Have

By a 6-3 vote, the conservative justices decided that there is no need for the state to provide a preliminary hearing in civil forfeiture cases.

May 10, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, appears on

The GOP Campaign to Sow Chaos at the Ballot Box Has Already Begun The GOP Campaign to Sow Chaos at the Ballot Box Has Already Begun

A new lawsuit filed against the state of Nevada by the Trump team and its friends in the RNC says a lot about how they plan to suppress the vote in November.

May 9, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Justices of the US Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court Bulding in Washington, D.C., on October 7, 2022.

The Media’s Coverage of Trump’s Immunity Case Has Been Appalling The Media’s Coverage of Trump’s Immunity Case Has Been Appalling

By covering the Supreme Court’s hearing of Trump’s immunity claim as if the court were impartial and nonpartisan, the media has done the American people a serious disservice.

Apr 30, 2024 / Elie Mystal

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is GettyImages-2149547437.jpg Protesters demonstrate outside the US Supreme Court Building as the justices prepares to hear arguments on the immunity of former US president Donald Trump.

The Supreme Court’s 5 Male Justices Are Fully in the Tank for Trump The Supreme Court’s 5 Male Justices Are Fully in the Tank for Trump

During the former president’s immunity hearing, Roberts & Co. made clear that they’re going to do everything they can to delay Trump’s criminal reckoning.

Apr 25, 2024 / Elie Mystal

US Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

Samuel Alito Can’t Tell the Difference Between Sex Discrimination and Peanut Butter Samuel Alito Can’t Tell the Difference Between Sex Discrimination and Peanut Butter

A unanimous Supreme Court ruling on sex discrimination hides serious ideological differences, beginning with Alito’s long-standing hostility to women’s rights.

Apr 18, 2024 / Elie Mystal

BLM activist DeRay McKesson is arrested during a protest after the murder of Alton Sterling by two white Baton Rouge police officers.

The Supreme Court Has Ruled to Let Louisiana Keep Hunting DeRay McKesson The Supreme Court Has Ruled to Let Louisiana Keep Hunting DeRay McKesson

The court has decided to let the BLM activist be held liable for organizing a protest in 2016, endangering the right to dissent in three Southern states.

Apr 16, 2024 / Elie Mystal

No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend

No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend

Society / April 5, 2024 No, Stephen Breyer, the Supreme Court Is Not Our Friend The former justice is calling on Americans to emulate the civility of Supreme Court justices, ne…

Apr 5, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Matthew Kacsmaryk listens during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on December 13, 2017.

A Texas Court Has Decided to Let the Scariest Judge in Texas Keep Being Scary A Texas Court Has Decided to Let the Scariest Judge in Texas Keep Being Scary

The Northern District of Texas has refused to adopt a policy reining in “judge shopping” and, with it, the power of “Mifepristone” Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk.

Apr 3, 2024 / Elie Mystal

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