President Donald Trump's administration filed its response to the lawsuit from California on Wednesday, but the 32-page document contained some notable omissions.
Lawfare's Anna Bower pointed out that there was no table of contents, only a title page saying, "Table of Contents." In another section, the "Table of Authorities" at the top of the page was also blank.
The flubs prompted mockery from other lawyers on Bluesky.
"I do love poetry," mocked civil rights lawyer Josh Erlich.
"OMG I have 40 years experience in litigation and have NEVER filed anything this sloppy," another person remarked.
"That's nothing, the lawyer who hit the button on this filing probably has over 40 WEEKS experience, most of that within the last 90 days (it counts as multiple weeks if you file and lose multiple cases a week, right?) and they make bigger mistakes than this before breakfast," remarked Joe Gordon, another lawyer.
Evolutionary biologist Joshua G. Schraiber responded, "What losing all of your competent career employees does to an mf."
West Virginia University College of Law incoming Professor Jerry Edwards was more empathetic.
"Mistakes happen. I've made some errors in my own filings (always very frustrating), but the Trump admin keeps making super glaring mistakes. 'I didn't bother to look over my documents a final time before I filed them' mistakes. Indicates they lack attorney resources or they're incompetent (or both)," said Edwards.
"Not an auspicious beginning. Bondi Justice Department submits response in Newsom v Trump, responding to California's request for a Temporary Restraining Order, and yes, this is page 3," quipped Just Security's Ryan Goodman about the Table of Contents' absence.
Civil litigator Owen Barcala confessed that he also does the "bracket and highlighting thing," that the filing does on the "Table of Authorities." However, he added, "it's a little ridiculous when it's the only thing on a blank page."
