Tweeter Laureate of Texas goes silent

commander-in-tweet has shut down and shut up the official Tweeter Laureate of Texas.

Sad. Thanks for nothing, Trump, you grump.

After eight years and just under 26,000 of the more entertaining tweets on the planet, Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett’s Twitter feed ceased and desisted a couple of weeks ago.

Specifically, the de facto restraining order was issued Sept. 28 in a White House news release headlined, “President Donald J. Trump Announces Eighth Wave of Judicial Candidates.” Caught up in that wave was Willett, now awaiting Senate action on his nomination to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Presidential nominees awaiting Senate confirmation are whisked away to an undisclosed location. That’s not true, but they do tend to assume a very low profile as appointed Sherpas slalom them through the confirmation process. Nominees speak to as few people as possible. They’re allowed to talk to their dogs, but only if the dog signs a nondisclosure agreement.

The silence is sad in Willett’s case because what’s elevated him above almost every other robe-wearing jurist in America is his entertaining tweetery. The Washington Post, in recognizing his talent, said Willett tweets about “his young children and family, daily history lessons, law nerd jokes and praise for the U.S. Constitution.”

During the presidential campaign, way back when lots of us thought the Trump candidacy was a joke, Willett lobbed a Twitter jab or two at the then-candidate who’s now enjoying a daily string of last laughs.

“Can’t wait till Trump rips off his face Mission Impossible-style & reveals a laughing Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” Willett tweeted in August 2015 about a man who also has made himself a Twitter legend.

Earlier that year, the Texas House officially designated Willett as the “Tweeter Laureate of #Texas.”

His Twitter profile says “Supreme Court Justice & Tweeter Laureate of Texas. Former rodeo bull rider. Fluent in legalese. Extravagantly blessed husband & cofounder of 3 wee Willetts.”

His most recent (please don’t let it be final) tweet came on the day Trump announced the nomination.

“No words,” Willett tweeted. “I am humbled & honored by @POTUS’s nomination to the 5th circuit. Thank you, Mr. President – also Senators @ JohnCornyn & @tedcruz.”

It didn’t say “over and out,” but since then, silence.