Professor, Lewis & Clark Law School. Teach constitutional law and torts, write on religious liberty and equal protection.https://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mvnzi5f3os2eWith today's filing of Petitioners' reply, briefing is now complete in St. Mary v. Roy (oral argument Nov. 3). Notably missing from Petitioners' reply, and from 7-minute video Becket recently released: any mention of the specific conduct Petitioners' claim a right to engage in using state funds. [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Sep 2026 20:53 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnzi5f3os2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mvgljgagr22xAlso notable is Part II of this concurrence. Claims Smith is inconsistent with "original meaning" of FEC and contrary to 14A-era history and tradition, but offers *no* analysis of "shall make no law" language and ignores consistent rejection of exemption rights b/n 1868 and 1963. See 151-69 here: [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Sep 2026 21:55 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvgljgagr22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mv43yvdeb227First seven songs from Philadelphia concert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph7SZcdIK0E09 Sep 2026 17:50 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv43yvdeb227https://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mv43ibhpe226Two add'l notes: 1. RFRAs are designed to restore a constitutional exemption regime created by Justice Brennan in 1963 that was never rooted in history. 2. Impossible to see principled cabining of state RFRA claims & Tandon claims that precludes claims in abortion cases but not vaccine cases. [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Sep 2026 17:41 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv43ibhpe226https://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3muzbloyrmk24A reminder of how a professor at one of those "civic education centers established by Republican state lawmakers" has contributed to civil discourse over the past year. (Yes, this professor is still employed at Ohio State, seven months after the incident.) [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Sep 2026 14:52 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzbloyrmk24https://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mtw5ysfrhs2mMy symposium essay on three recent Supreme Court cases involving the interests of LGBTQ people has been published in final form. Many thanks to @lauraportuondo.bsky.social for the invitation to participate, @profjdnelson.bsky.social for the excellent comments, and the student editors at HJHLP. https://houstonhealthlaw.scholasticahq.com/article/168216-mahmoud-skrmetti-and-303-creative-ignoring-original-meaning-rewriting-precedent-and-discounting-harm-to-lgbtq-people25 Aug 2026 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtw5ysfrhs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mtu6ghngmc2u1/ When religious schools choose to participate in a taxpayer-funded, universal pre-K program, can they be required to comply with the program’s nondiscrimination rule? Or do the schools have a constitutional right to discriminate against preschoolers whose parents are gay? That's the question …24 Aug 2026 20:47 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtu6ghngmc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mtu6ghngmc2u1/ When religious schools choose to participate in a taxpayer-funded, universal pre-K program, can they be required to comply with the program’s nondiscrimination rule? Or do the schools have a constitutional right to discriminate against preschoolers whose parents are gay? That's the question …24 Aug 2026 20:47 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtu6ghngmc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jimoleske.bsky.social/post/3mtpkfhvzfk2cRe-upping in advance of some related posting tomorrow ... [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Aug 2026 00:38 +0000at://did:plc:iv73mapy52ilxfjnetqatnvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtpkfhvzfk2c