05-06-2018, 02:50 PM
T.S. Ellis is a brand of American judicial blowhard of long tradition. He likes to spout and grandstand from the bench, but at the end of his screeds he'll toss in a qualifier like, "I'm not saying that the claim is illegitimate under the law, mind you," which is what he did in this case.
He rails on and on (because he has a literal platform and audience), but when it comes time to write the opinion he will often revert to the legal standard in force. This is because being overturned or dismissed by a higher court hurts your judicial reputation and professional standing. T.S. Ellis was sought as a judge because he would hurt the public case against Mueller, and he might rule unfavorably toward him to the extent legally permissible. He won't do anything that substantively sidelines Mueller because the law is on Mueller's side. But he'll make a stink during the process, because he craves attention.
He rails on and on (because he has a literal platform and audience), but when it comes time to write the opinion he will often revert to the legal standard in force. This is because being overturned or dismissed by a higher court hurts your judicial reputation and professional standing. T.S. Ellis was sought as a judge because he would hurt the public case against Mueller, and he might rule unfavorably toward him to the extent legally permissible. He won't do anything that substantively sidelines Mueller because the law is on Mueller's side. But he'll make a stink during the process, because he craves attention.