Gordon Renneisen

* Even Jonathan Adler, no fan of Obamacare, can’t support the Justice Department’s shift of position in the ongoing Affordable Care Act litigation out of Texas. [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason]

* John Lauro continues to protect the reputation of his client Wendi Adelson, ex-wife of murdered law professor Dan Markel. [2paragraphs]

* Meanwhile, another player in the Dan Markel case — David Oscar Markus, counsel to Charlie Adelson — argues that Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made the right call on obstruction of justice. [The Hill]

* Speaking of the Mueller investigation, Brianne Gorod points out that Congress has the power to ask the district court to release grand jury transcripts and related information from the case. [Take Care]

* Whether or not you agree with Senator Marco Rubio’s proposed constitutional amendment to fix the size of the U.S. Supreme Court at nine justices, it’s not a bad idea to think about possible ways to restructure SCOTUS — as Gordon Renneisen does here. [Law360]

* Meanwhile, as the Court grapples with the cross-shaped war memorial case this Term, Rick Garnett wonders: can a liberal state favor one religion over others? [First Things via PrawfsBlawg]

* Legal tech M&A activity continues apace, with vLex’s acquisition of Justis. [Artificial Lawyer]

* After the D.C. Circuit, which circuit has produced the most justices who have joined the Supreme Court after 1900? The answer might surprise you. [Empirical SCOTUS]

* Here are thoughts on the SCOTUS shortlisters from my colleague Joe Patrice — who explains why it’s unlikely we’ll get another Souter. [The Takeaway / WNYC]

* Here are where the leading Court candidates stand on issues of admin law, courtesy of Chris Walker and company. [Notice & Comment / Yale Journal on Regulation]

* And here’s a response to my argument that liberals shouldn’t panic about SCOTUS, from San Francisco litigator Gordon Renneisen. [Law360]

* Leah Litman believes that the new justice spells trouble for Roe — but the specific reasoning for undermining Roe could take different forms. [Take Care]

* Josh Blackman explains why court packing would be neither feasible nor wise. [National Review]

* Veronica Root uses law clerk hiring as a jumping-off point to explain why diversity and compliance are deeply intertwined. [PrawfsBlawg]

* “Mysterious men and women in wizard-like robes make decisions in private that profoundly shape our lives.” Are we talking about SCOTUS, or… The Incredibles? [Gizmodo]