Introduction Honoring Émilie du Châtelet: A Mind Ahead of Her Time grew out of my earlier poem, In Celebration of Émilie du Châtelet: A Truly Renaissance Woman. While both poems honor the same remarkable figure, they differ in purpose and tone. The first poem was written with public occasions in…
Articles Posted in David Badertscher
The Art of Living a Meaningful Life
Articles and observations about the art of living a meaningful life included in the July/August 2025 issue of Experience magazine published by the Senior Lawyers Section of the American Bar Association: As we dive into the July/August 2025 issue of Experience, we celebrate the empowering theme at its heart: living with…
Understanding the Changing Landscape of State Courts: Insights from a 2025 Survey
The Staffing, Operations and Technology: 2025 Survey of State Courts, the third annual report by Thomson Reuters Institute with support from the National Center for State Courts AI Policy Consortium, captures insights from 443 judges and court professionals across State, County, and Municipal courts, gathered via an online questionnaire between March 26…
In Celebration of Émilie du Châtelet: A Truly Renaissance Woman
INTRODUCTION. Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749) was a pioneering scientist, philosopher, and translator whose intellect shone brightly in the Age of Enlightenment. Best known for her French translation and commentary on Newton’s Principia Mathematica, still the standard version today, she brought clarity and depth to Newtonian physics while offering original insights…
Dueling Views on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and Its Impact on Social Security
The Social Security Administration (SSA) and legal scholars have offered sharply differing perspectives on the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill. In an official communication, the SSA hails the legislation as a historic victory for seniors, emphasizing tax relief for nearly 90% of Social Security recipients. By contrast, in a…
H.R. 1 (119th Cong.): Summary of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” *
On July 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” enacted as Pub. L. No. 119–21, 139 Stat. ___ (2025). Passed through the budget reconciliation process under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this comprehensive legislation represents a central pillar of…
H.R. 1605 SOPRA
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate July 9, 2025. In the context of the US Congress, SOPRA refers to the Separation of Powers Restoration Act. It’s a legislative proposal aimed at amending the Administrative Procedure Act to change how courts review agency actions. Specifically, SOPRA seeks to eliminate the practice of “Chevron deference,” where courts…
The Golden Rule of Constitutional Interpretation: Lessons from Amer and Brownstein
“Normally we interpret the golden rule as telling us how to act. But in practice its greater role may be psychological, alerting us to everyday self-absorption, and the failure to consider our impacts on others. The rule reminds us also that we are peers to others who deserve comparable consideration.”…
Congress, the Constitution, and Command: Lawmaking and War Powers in a Divided Government
The legislative branch of the United States government (embodied in Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate) is the cornerstone of the federal lawmaking process and a central pillar of the constitutional system of checks and balances. Through its exclusive powers to enact laws, oversee the…
Why State Constitutions Matter More Than You Think: Reflections on “Your State Has a Constitution. Why Not Use It?”
In a timely and thought-provoking piece published in the Criminal Justice Magazine (Spring 2025), Richard Alan Ginkowski, a judge, and legal educator who has contributed to American Bar Association publications, urges legal professionals and advocates to take a closer look at an often-overlooked resource: their own state constitutions. His article,…