When I was in law school at UT Austin, 1975-1978, I had come straight from history graduate school, also at UT, and I found and I have always believed that lawyers can be fine historians, assuming they know and follow the historical method. I recalled recently that I had published an article in the law students' newspaper back then, and with the help of the excellent Reference Desk at today's Jamail Law Library there, I have now a copy of that article, which I happily post here:
Revised title:
“Determining the Historiographical Problem of Municipal Bankruptcy: Enactment and Amendment of Chapter IX, 1933-1979”
available without charge at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5253527
It is not a crime to be present in the USA without immigration documentation in hand. I'll be glad when peace and normalcy return and our citizens and noncitizen residents are safe, and we can all civilly discuss issues and solutions. Meanwhile, here is a good summary of everyone's--regardless of immigration status--rights and recommendations when confronted, from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center:
"1. You have the right to remain silent.
2. Remain calm and do not run away.
3. You have the right to demand a judicial warrant before letting ICE into your home.
4. You have a right to speak with a lawyer if you are arrested.
5. U.S. citizen allies can play a vital role. You have a right under the First Amendment to record or take photos in public view of law enforcement enforcement and ICE so long as you do not interfere with an arrest."
https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/KYR-One-Page.pdf
This morning, another threat against Denmark and Greenland by the President of the USA. This is both absurd and dangerous.
Here are the opening words of the North Atlantic Treaty (creating our defensive alliance with the European nations INCLUDING DENMARK):
Washington DC, 4th April 1949
-The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments.
-They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.
-They seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.
-They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the preservation of peace and security.
-They therefore agree to this North Atlantic Treaty:
ARTICLE 1
The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to REFRAIN IN THEIR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FROM THE THREAT OR USE OF FORCE in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. . . .
FOR MYSELF: I stand with the rule of law, including international law, and our treaty obligations, and therefore I oppose the continuing efforts and statements of President Trump to try to take over Greenland, which is a part of Denmark and our nation's historic ALLY.
https://lnkd.in/gbRcunfF
Substantially revised and improved, I just posted on SSRN my revised history of Chapter IX municipal bankruptcy law:
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5253527
hat's Dallas City Council seems to be moving quickly to a decision to tear down Dallas City Hall, designed by I.M. Pei a half century ago. What is happening is curious if not just wrong on many levels, but here's one looming cost I see that has not be articulated yet: if Dallas City Council approves the razing of Dallas City Hall, the city will lose one of its symbols that is recognized nationally, a major visual element that makes Dallas stand out among its peer cities.
I pulled photos of all the other big-city City Halls, and they are either "ho-hum," such as Atlanta's, or else are entirely, or extremely, "classical" in their architecture. That is great for old cities, for instance, Philadelphia, but Dallas is supposed to be young, energetic, and untethered to old ways of thinking and doing, according to Dallas mythology. So, even though we do not know who all they are, let's ask those movers and shakers who are promoting and maneuvering the tear-down to stop for ten minutes and think very, very hard: "Is this in the city's---and in our own---best interests?"
I may not live within its boundaries, but the ninth-largest city of the USA gives and shares its name "Dallas" with most all of its burbs ("Suburban Dallas"), and I care a lot about the city where I had my career and still have an office.
I submit that tearing down the Pei-designed City Hall will be a setback, diminishing Dallas in the eyes of the nation.
I hold the rank of Eagle earned during my membership in the Boy Scouts of America in the mid-sixties.
Today the organization is called Scouting
According to a press report, the Pentagon has decided the Scouts are “no longer a meritocracy” and do not hold their members to high standards.
That is baloney. I know the organization today. My grandson has been a member for the last four years, and I've seen the program through his experience. It is hardly different from my day, the 1960s. If I were a parent today, I'd want my child to be a Scout. My grandson has learned good lessons, and he will complete the requirements for Eagle soon as he finishes his Eagle project, in the next couple of weeks.
The Pentagon is badly mistaken here. I endorse the statement of Scouting's Chief Executive, Roger Krone:
-Josiah Daniel