Chris Hampson
Law Professor at the University of Florida (Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Jubilee). Husband, father, cat person, puns.
- Bankruptcy professor here. Today the federal government starts collecting delinquent student loans again. If you are a borrower and aren’t sure whether you are behind or not, go to studentaid.gov. DO NOT IGNORE THE PROBLEM! The federal government can garnish tax returns and social security payments.
- @msmith750's "Missouri's Law of Constitutional Interpretation" is now out in the @UMKCLawReview. I like state constitutions -- that's where we banned debtors' prisons! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
- Great new piece by Kate Elengold in the Minnesota Law Review, "Debt, Work, and the State." Pushing back on yet another harsh way we treat debtors, strange in light of Americans' constitutional prohibitions on imprisonment for debt and punishment for poverty. minnesotalawreview.org/article/debt...
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- My first time in Ann Arbor, for the Junior Scholars Conference at the University of Michigan. I met amazing people, got great feedback on my Jubilee essay, and found some windows with little depictions of Bankruptcy and Contracts!
- Reposted by Chris HampsonI'm listening in on the Perkins Coie hearing in DDC. (I made it onto the call!) Judge Howell is just recapping where everything is at - 3 pending motions, she hasn't ruled on sections 2 and 4 previously, so she's going to focus on that.
- The idea that under-enforcement of immigration law justifies Trump violating due process is so bizarre. You know what else is under-enforced? Wage theft, tax avoidance & insider trading. No one thinks a Prez can just go around skimming $$$ from bank accounts with no due process.
- Trump now (lawlessly) threatening to revoke Harvard’s nonprofit tax status. #Harvard fighting back. Very proud of my alma mater. #GoCrimson!
- Reposted by Chris HampsonEnsign mentions potential appeal. Xinis: the Supreme Court has spoken, there is in my view nothing to appeal....So in my view, Xinis says, we do discovery. Now, do you wish to be heard on scope of discovery?
- Reposted by Chris HampsonHAPPENING NOW: At the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland, Judge Paula Xinis is set to begin a hearing on the government’s efforts – or lack thereof – to “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was wrongly removed to El Salvador. Follow along for updates ⬇️
- As a bankruptcy scholar, I know a little bit about contempt of court. In a case called United States v. Thompson, an oceanographer was ordered to "assist" in returning 500 gold coins from a trust in Belize [1/5]
- More from me on the BigLaw defense against Trump's Executive Orders: www.linkedin.com/posts/chrish...
- Normally, when BigLaw files a complaint, the attorneys are told not to comment and to let designated partners speak for the firm. That’s usually what you tell clients too. Don’t say anything; let us speak for you in court. Not today. WH and Jenner lawyers are proudly sharing the complaints.
- Three cheers for the law firms standing up for the Republic AND the law firms representing them in court. The growing coalition includes: Perkins Coie, Williams & Connolly, Jenner & Block, Cooley, WilmerHale, and Clement & Murphy.
- UPDATE: My old firm, WilmerHale, just filed an 11-count, 63-page complaint against 52 defendants: the Executive Office of the President, the DOJ, a host of federal agencies, and cabinet-level officials (everyone but Trump and Vance).
- Reposted by Chris HampsonReasonable to ask if we are now oppressing the Russian opposition at Putin’s behest. theins.press/en/news/280037
- Trump just targeted my old firm in his latest EO. I was a WilmerHale lawyer for 5 years & clocked 100s of hours of pro bono work for veterans, refugees & families. I expect WH will handle this EO with the same zeal, courage, and grit that we gave our clients.
- Really enjoyed this challenge from @rlopez.bsky.social, especially in these times. Worth a read!
- Woah.
- @elisebmaizel.bsky.social and I wrote a piece last summer on the private lawsuits against law firms over DEI. Now that the EEOC is moving against DEI, it’s even more relevant.
- Now that we’re seeing attacks on higher ed from the federal government, might be time to reshare my 2023 essay in the Florida Law Review Forum explaining what critical theory is and how I use it to teach commercial law. I focused on Florida law, but this is all now relevant across the nation.
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- Here's a synopsis of my recent article on defamation, bankruptcy, and free speech. Sadly, I think those three themes are probably getting more important rather than less so!
- Trump and Musk have fired Tara Twomey, the ED of the U.S. Trustee's Office, which serves as bankruptcy's "watchdog." You don't have to agree with every position that the Office took to be alarmed at the politicization of the Executive Branch. Here's a write-up by my colleague Bob Lawless:
- Woah, I made the Top 3000 Law authors on SSRN by new downloads. Thank you, dear readers! hq.ssrn.com/rankings/Ran...
- Incredibly concerning policy from the Alachua County school system. Releasing children to a government agency without a warrant or parental notice? Based on … what, suspicion? www.alligator.org/article/2025...
- New ethics ruling. Judge Bradley rules that a chapter 11 debtor-in-possession can retain debtor's counsel without meeting the heightened requirements for trustee's (or DIP's counsel) in the Code, so long as the representation is not adverse to the interests of the bankruptcy estate [1/1]
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- Thrilled to announce that I got an exploding offer for "The Spirit of Jubilee" from the Sigma Law Review, formerly known as the Journal of Legal Kids. EICs Olivia and Jonathan gave me 1 second to respond.
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- Modern example of a state trying to implement Jubilee. (Not saying South Africa hit the right balance.) www.bbc.com/news/article...
- I double checked and Musk really tweeted this. Gravely concerning for democracy.
- It's submission season! This Essay is out looking for a good home in a law review. papers.ssrn.com/abstract=510...
- Reposted by Chris HampsonReceived a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner and Chair of the FEC. There's a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn't it. I've been so fortunate to serve the American people and stir up some good trouble along the way. That's not changing anytime soon.
- Judge Marbley agreed that the incarceration for contempt has been extinguished. Thompson now begins serving his 2-year criminal sentence. Lea Krivinskas Shepard and I sought leave to file an amicus brief advocating (in part) for this outcome. apnews.com/article/tomm...
- Commercial law prof here. Let’s put together the two sides of the financial statements, shall we? If the President controls income via tariffs and expenses via funding freezes, then the President controls everything. Thank you for coming to my talk.
- Scott Bessent is Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary, confirmed by the Senate 68-29. Bessent needs to explain whether Musk’s DOGE agents are being given access to treasury systems and why. If Trump wanted to make Musk Treasury Secretary, he could have done so. Bessent is in charge.
- I’d like to remind everyone that Christians are being persecuted for their faith in America. And yes, it’s part of the Christian faith to care for migrants and refugees, and no, it’s not illegal to help them. I will share the Texas SC ruling when it comes down. www.ncronline.org/news/texas-s...
- Enjoyed chatting about the Alex Jones case for this Sidebar -- a good 30-minute diversion from, er ... bigger news.
- Welcome to all my new followers! I research, teach, and write about bankruptcy, insolvency & jubilee. @ the University of Florida - Go Gators! You can download my newest Essay here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
