Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 9mMagistrate Judge Cyrus Chung of Colorado frees a noncitizen who ICE unlawfully arrested without a warrant. Those arrests require probable cause that someone is likely to escape before ICE can get a warrant. But the man was *in jail* and, one would assume, not likely to escape. 011
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 15hLess than one year after stepping down, former Colorado Justice Melissa Hart has died. Decisions aside, she and I talked off the record over the years. She was very willing to put things in context, point me in the right direction, and discuss the law: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/10/01/f...coloradopolitics.comFormer Colorado Justice Melissa Hart diesFormer Colorado Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart died on Thursday. 293
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 16hNEW: Colorado's U.S. District Court abruptly got a new chief judge today. Gina Rodriguez, a Biden appointee, took over for Dan Domenico, who became chief just seven months ago. He is awaiting confirmation to a 10th Circuit judgeship: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/10/01/r...coloradopolitics.comRegina Rodriguez is new chief federal judge for ColoradoRegina M. Rodriguez is the new chief federal judge for Colorado, the U.S. District Court has announced. 142
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 20hA mail truck driver, working for an apparently unauthorized subcontractor for the Postal Service, didn't trigger the federal government's liability for the fatal crash he caused, a federal judge in Colorado decided: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/30/u...coloradopolitics.comUS cannot be liable for fatal crash by mail subcontractor, judge saysThe U.S. government cannot be held liable for a fatal crash caused by a truck driver working as a subcontractor on U.S. Postal Service mail hauls in Colorado, a federal judge decided last month. 000
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 20hTwo sisters who grew up in Colorado Springs may proceed to seek a judicial declaration of their citizenship, after unusual circumstances involving the law's treatment of American Samoans as non-citizens and their father's mistaken birthplace: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/30/c...coloradopolitics.comColorado Springs sisters may seek citizenship ruling, judge saysA federal judge rejected the government’s attempt last month to dismiss a case brought by two sisters who grew up in Colorado Springs and are seeking to declare themselves U.S. citizens based on their... 000
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 20hA former T-Mobile employee in Colorado suing her employer over its COVID-19 vaccine mandate failed to show how its processing and denial of her religious exemption inflicted emotional distress on her, a federal judge decided: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/30/t...coloradopolitics.comT-Mobile COVID vaccine protocol not ‘outrageous,’ federal judge saysA federal judge dismissed a former T-Mobile employee's claim last month alleging the company's handling of her request for a religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine inflicted emotional distress on... 010
Reposted by Michael KarlikBill Childs @billchilds.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Include A Link To The PDF Of The Report You’re Covering Challenge 4588
Reposted by Michael KarlikDaniel Suitor @danielsuitor.com · 01/10/2026I am not trying to be rude to any one person, but it is ridiculous to report on a lawsuit and to not provide the actual complaint or even a case number!!!!! Luckily, it's already up on CourtListener storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... 69022
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026ICE arrested a man in Colorado, then showed him an arrest warrant. His notice to appear had the immigration prison listed as his address. Judge Philip Brimmer noted that a notice to appear must come *before* the warrant--so ICE obviously arrested first, then generated the NTA. Brimmer released him. 1317
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026An interesting pair of orders from 2 federal judges in Colorado yesterday on requests for attorney fees in unlawful immigration detention cases. Gordon Gallagher (Biden) says courts had divided on mandatory detention, so the govt.'s position was justified. William Martínez (Obama) says not a chance. 020
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Two immigration judges found a Mexican man would likely be tortured if deported to Mexico, but a single immigration appeals board member said the evidence was too "generalized." The 10th Circuit rejected that conclusion and ordered further review: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/29/1...coloradopolitics.com10th Circuit IDs erroneous decision to deport after torture findingsThe Denver-based federal appeals court concluded last month that the government’s immigration appellate body was wrong to order a man deported to Mexico after two immigration judges in Colorado conclu... 000
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026GEO Group employees at a residential drug treatment facility allegedly did nothing while observing a woman's signs of overdose, which led to death. A federal judge decided the company could be held liable if policies and failures to train caused her death: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/29/j...coloradopolitics.comJudge declines to dismiss claim against GEO Group for overdose deathA federal judge declined last month to dismiss private prison operator The GEO Group from a lawsuit alleging its failures to train staff or adopt policies for suspected overdoses led to the death of a... 000
Reposted by Michael KarlikCovie @covie93.bsky.social · 30/09/2026trump's big 'constitution' with AI leaders refers to him as 'President of the Unites States' 5335276
Reposted by Michael Karlikpatrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 30/09/2026NEW: A letter I obtained shows that nominee Zach West failed to disclose fellowships at the Claremont Institute, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Heritage Foundation. Plus several other items. He finally disclosed these items the day before his hearing. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/oklahoma-n...nominationnotes.substack.comOklahoma nominee failed to disclose the extent of his conservative ties — and more — to the Judiciary CommitteeZach West wrote to senators the day before his hearing to disclose additional items. 144
Reposted by Michael Karlikheauxmo @copolitics.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Thank god for @michaelkarlik.bsky.social. Colorado is lucky to have him in its journalist corps 121
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 29/09/2026For the first time this year, two federal judges were willing to come to The Gazette's newsroom down the street from the conference and speak with me. First, Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell of Colorado Springs discussed her AI-focused sessions: (1/2) www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQqS...youtube.comTalking tech and AI with a federal judge: InterviewYouTube video by Gazette Visuals 251
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Artificial intelligence was also a bigger focus this year. Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell of Colorado, who's a national expert on AI in the judiciary, led a session, and others touched on the AI theme: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/28/a...coloradopolitics.comAI a focus at Colorado Springs judicial conferenceFederal judges and attorneys heard about developments in artificial intelligence technology across multiple sessions at this year's Colorado Springs conference organized by the Denver-based federal ap... 000
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 29/09/2026At the 10th Circuit's bench-bar conference last week, attendees heard from 2 Western governors, a judicial writing expert, 2 solicitors general, judges with expertise in sovereign citizens and more. Here's my writeup, with some additional Neil Gorsuch detail: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/28/s...coloradopolitics.comSCOTUS, sovereign citizens, ‘disagree better’: 10th Circuit conferenceFederal judges and attorneys from Colorado and beyond heard from governors, experts on the "sovereign citizen” movement, a U.S. Supreme Court justice and others during a legal conference in Colorado S... 210
Reposted by Michael KarlikNed Richardson-Little @historyned.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Remigration in action: 912470
Reposted by Michael Karlikpatrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 29/09/2026There is a hearing tomorrow on more of Trump's judicial nominees. Would love to see Senator @blumenthal.senate.gov confront the nominees with what this official government website says — and see if they'll agree. Let's get this on a large poster in the Judiciary Committee hearing room. 133
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Tonight in Colorado Springs, Justice Neil Gorsuch decried "ruling by emergency edict," after having frequently joined shadow docket orders siding with the Trump administration's executive actions: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/25/g...coloradopolitics.comGorsuch criticizes ‘ruling by emergency edict’ in Colorado appearanceU.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch criticized the notion of a “perpetual emergency” in a Colorado Springs appearance on Friday in reference to certain legislation and executive actions at the ... 123
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Gorsuch doing heavy boosterism for US democracy: "Where else would you rather be? Go take a trip? Pick. I like Portugal. Well, there was a right-wing dictator in my lifetime. And we just go through the list. I don’t mean to disparage. I love Portugal. I love them all, but we’re really good at this." 472
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 26/09/2026I have been at the 10th Circuit’s Bench and Bar Conference in Colorado Springs since yesterday. Tonight, Justice Neil Gorsuch is being interviewed in a Q&A format. I’ll have that story later tonight. 150
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Colorado’s Court of Appeals clarified for the first time how criminal defendants should raise due process claims alleging someone else’s statements, not their own, were the product of police coercion: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/24/a...coloradopolitics.comAppeals court clarifies challenges to alleged witness coercionColorado's second-highest court clarified for the first time on Thursday how criminal defendants may raise a due process violation based not on alleged police coercion of their own statements, but coe... 110
Reposted by Michael KarlikJason "Red5" Lyall @jaylyall.bsky.social · 24/09/20268 Sailors in U.S.S. Lincoln Strike Group Attempted Suicide, Navy Says. The aircraft carrier with its crew of about 5,000 sailors has spent more than 300 days at sea. Rear Adm. Donald J. Guter... described the eight suicide attempts as a “disturbingly high number indicating a serious stress level”nytimes.com8 Sailors in U.S.S. Lincoln Strike Group Attempted Suicide, Navy SaysThe aircraft carrier with its crew of about 5,000 sailors has spent more than 300 days at sea. 19839
Reposted by Michael KarlikTexas Tribune @texastribune.org · 23/09/2026The ICE officer who shot a Venezuelan man in Austin was not using a body camera during the Sunday incident, according to news reports. The officer was issued a body camera, but it is unclear why he was not wearing the device during the shooting.texastribune.orgReports: ICE officer in Austin shooting was not wearing body camThe recent ICE recruit was issued a body camera, reports said. It’s not clear why he was not using the device during the Sunday shooting. 2851402649
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 24/09/2026It's not the usual way people get released, but Judge Gordon Gallagher of Colorado immediately freed a noncitizen after the government failed to provide an immigration judge's decision denying bond as they were ordered to do. 052
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 24/09/2026"And yet again, the cruelty appears to be the point," writes Judge Kato Crews of Colorado. After the government gave a noncitizen a notice to appear with completely incorrect information, an immigration judge dismissed the deportation case. But ICE is still detaining the man. Crews freed him. 363
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 24/09/2026I looked at 2 years of oral arguments in the 10th Circuit to see the average time to decision for each judge who authored the majority opinion. Unsurprisingly, I found some variation. Unexpectedly, there was a huge gap between the slowest and fastest judges: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/24/w...coloradopolitics.com‘Whim of the court’: 10th Circuit judges vary widely in decision-making speedJudges on the Denver-based federal appeals court take substantially different lengths of time to author opinions, with the fastest judge releasing decisions around seven times more quickly on average ... 101
Reposted by Michael KarlikDaniel Suitor @danielsuitor.com · 24/09/2026I don't have time to write more, but ICE is working to remove people to third countries in violation of D.V.D. v. DHS. I've been up since 5:20 A.M. working with two other attorneys to prevent our client from being shipped out. If you rep someone at risk of third country removal, check on them NOW 2722961006
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Magistrate Judge Cyrus Chung of Colorado ordered a new bond hearing before a different immigration judge after an unnamed IJ thought a noncitizen's (dismissed) misdemeanor assault charge was actually a violent felony and used it to deny him bond. 011
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 23/09/2026When the Court of Appeals tells a trial judge to vacate a conviction and adjust the sentencing document accordingly, does that mean the judge gets to resentence the defendant on all remaining convictions? The Colorado Supreme Court seemed lukewarm on that: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/22/c...coloradopolitics.comColorado justices consider judges’ resentencing power after successful appealsAfter a defendant succeeds in getting the Court of Appeals to vacate one of his convictions, can the trial judge impose a new sentence on the remaining convictions? 020
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Prosecutors in a murder trial explained the credibility problems with their witness by eliciting detailed testimony about the defendant's domestic abuse of her. The Colorado Supreme Court is considering whether that was fair game: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/22/c...coloradopolitics.comColorado justices weigh jury’s need to hear about domestic violence between defendant, witnessThe Colorado Supreme Court considered on Tuesday whether it was appropriate for prosecutors to ask a key witness about a defendant's previous acts of violence toward her, in order to explain why the w... 010
Reposted by Michael KarlikEmily Flitter @emilyflitter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026NEW: The Trump administration has been trying to squeeze undocumented people out of the banking system. There are signs that it’s working (gift link) ⬇️ www.bloomberg.com/news/article...bloomberg.comTrump’s Immigration Crackdown Is Changing How Undocumented People BankIn the months since the Trump administration embarked on America’s most sweeping immigration crackdown in decades, the connections between immigrant families and lenders are coming loose, according to... 22217
Reposted by Michael KarlikWhitney Curry Wimbish @whitneycwimbish.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Last month, @gillianbrockell.com reported that not only does ICE abuse immigrants by shackling them for hours on end, they also torment them with mockery and denying bathroom breaks. 8229126
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter gave an update on Colorado's federal district court. It appears on track to hit 6,000 civil filings this year (which is an explosion) and artificial intelligence appears to be fueling cases from self-represented plaintiffs: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/18/e...coloradopolitics.comExploding caseloads, increased AI use affect Colorado’s federal trial courtColorado's federal trial court may reach an unprecedented 6,000 civil case filings this year, and is also experiencing a significant rise in filings from unrepresented litigants, U.S. Magistrate Judge... 011
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 22/09/2026A manufacturer of asbestos-containing products will now likely go out of business due to personal injury litigation after the Colorado Supreme Court said its only remaining insurer doesn't have to cover claims: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/21/c...coloradopolitics.comColorado justices say insurer not obligated to bail out asbestos manufacturerThe Colorado Supreme Court decided on Monday that an insurance policy that reaches beyond the limits and coverage of a company’s other policies is not obligated to step into the shoes of those policie... 010
Reposted by Michael KarlikJonathon Booth @jboothhistory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Worried there might be some tension between “successful” and “immediate” 0112
Reposted by Michael KarlikElon Green @elongreen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Headline is not as strongly worded as the quote. 11096298
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 21/09/2026The taxpayers footed another bill today for $13,924 in Colorado after the government unlawfully detained two noncitizens and was ordered to pay their attorney fees. 0105
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 21/09/2026No surprise (at least to me), but the Colorado Supreme Court will not be reviewing Tina Peters's appeal of her criminal convictions. 030
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 21/09/2026NEW: By 4-3, the Colorado Supreme Court says an injured snowboarder validly released his claims against Vail Resorts by buying a new ski pass. Justice Rich Gabriel warned in dissent that this will lead to "manifest injustice" for patrons: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/21/d...coloradopolitics.comDivided Colorado Supreme Court says injured snowboarder forfeited claims by buying new Vail passThe Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a plaintiff is not entitled to continue his snowboarding injury lawsuit because he purchased another pass in the middle of litigation that released all ... 120
Reposted by Michael KarlikIan Kremer @wolverinebear.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Americans may not get results of Alzheimer’s study due to Trump cuts: Shutdown of study is latest for Trump administration, which has canceled, frozen and otherwise disrupted more than 5,700 medical research grants over two years www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... #Project2025 #science #Bluestheguardian.comHundreds of ageing Americans may not get results of Alzheimer’s study due to Trump cutsShutdown of study is latest for Trump administration, which has canceled, frozen and otherwise disrupted more than 5,700 medical research grants over two years 47412327
Reposted by Michael KarlikJane Espenson @janeespenson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Headline for our times 326088
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter of Colorado ordered a second bond hearing before a new immigration judge. Instead, the same judge--Robyn Ross, former attorney for RFK Jr.--denied bond a second time. Neureiter is now directing her to explain why she violated his order and possibly face sanctions. 120
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Judge Gordon Gallagher of Colorado orders a bond hearing for an Indian man who has been in detention for almost *two years* -- and one year beyond the date that an immigration judge granted him asylum. Gallagher said the lack of action while the govt. appeals is "arbitrary, government-caused delay." 041
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Colorado's Court of Appeals cautioned that jury instructions may not be sufficient to address the harm from jurors hearing about a defendant's prior DUI convictions at trial: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/17/a...coloradopolitics.comAppeals court suggests need for guardrails in felony DUI trials involving prior convictionsColorado’s second-highest court cautioned on Thursday that trial judges must be vigilant in felony drunk driving cases involving a defendant’s prior convictions, as jury instructions may not always be... 001
Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 18/09/2026A 72-year-old former Fountain city employee failed to show she was terminated because of her age, the 10th Circuit decided: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/17/f...coloradopolitics.com10th Circuit says ex-Fountain employee failed to prove age discriminationThe Denver-based federal appeals court concluded earlier this month that a 72-year-old former Fountain city employee had not shown that her termination was a product of age discrimination. 000
Reposted by Michael KarlikAlex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 18/09/2026This guy who assaulted a sitting member of Congress got 28 years and 10 months less jail time than a Texas resident who transported a box of zines that contained constitutionally protected content opposing ICE reason.com/2026/06/25/t...reason.comTexas man gets 30 years in prison for transporting 'anti-government' pamphletsThe case stems from a violent anti-ICE protest, but critics say the government's prosecution threatens First Amendment rights. 4052372447
Reposted by Michael KarlikWill Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 17/09/2026A college administrator calls the cops on a student reporter A college QB laughs at an AI video of his coach slapping a woman journalist The president lunges at a Black woman reporter who dares question him It's past time to fight back against anti-media violence www.inquirer.com/opinion/viol...inquirer.comViolence toward journalists is a symptom of a terminally ill U.S. democracy | Will BunchFrom Trump’s unhinged outbursts to calling the cops on a student journalist, a free press dies in tandem with the American Experiment. 16655235