Rule 28(j) or Political Theater? DOJ’s Tariff Letter in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump

In this episode of Unwritten Law, hosts Mark Chenoweth and John Vecchione dissect DOJ’s unusual Rule 28(j) filing in the Federal Circuit tariff appeal, V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump. They explain what 28(j) is actually for (post-argument new legal authority), why citing news reports and seeking a broad stay misses the mark, and how using IEEPA as a tariff statute raises serious constitutional concerns. The discussion walks through stay standards (likelihood of success, irreparable harm, public interest), the administration’s “agreement” claims, and the practical stakes for importers, small businesses, and constitutional trade authority.