Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Karlik

@michaelkarlik.bsky.social

1K followers 460 following 610 posts

Judicial reporter at coloradopolitics.com and gazette.com. Shining a light on the work of our state and federal judges. Plus, full-time bird caretaker.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · Feb 2

During the first Trump term, I released an 8-episode podcast chronicling a small Ohio city where a group of political dissidents took control of the council, drove out the longtime Democratic mayor, and governed chaotically. This seems like a good time to resurface it:
tearitdownpodcast.substack.com

Tear It Down | Substack

A small group of outsiders wanted to change their city for the better. So they got elected. And then the revenge began. Listen on iTunes: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&...

tearitdownpodcast.substack.com

3 8

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 10h

"Bad faith conduct. "Retaliation." Senior Judge William Martínez, an Obama appointee in Colorado, slammed the federal government today for scheduling a detainee's potential removal hearing one day after he filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his immigration detention.

As an initial matter, the Court notes that it is very troubled by the fact that
Morales Lopez’s Individual Hearing was set so quickly after he initiated this habeas
action. Indeed, Morales Lopez received notice of the October 15, 2025 hearing on
October 2, 2025—a single day after he filed his petition in this Court. (Id. at 11.) The
abrupt timing of this scheduling strongly suggests to the Court that it was taken by
Respondents in retaliation of Morales Lopez pursuing a judicial proceeding. See
Aguilera v. 1205 Kirkpatrick, 241 F.3d 1286, 1292 (10th Cir. 2001) (“When facing
deportation . . . aliens are entitled to procedural due process, which provides an
opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.”). This type
of bad faith conduct is inimical to our system of justice, and is conduct this Court will
generally not abide.

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 19h

The Colorado Supreme Court’s civil rules committee is considering a proposal that would make it easier for tenants to respond to/learn about an eviction complaint filed by a landlord. Critics worry about increasing costs and overstepping the judiciary’s role:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/13/c...

Colorado Supreme Court committee debates tenant-friendly eviction proposal

Members of the Colorado Supreme Court's civil rules committee vigorously debated a proposed rule change last month that would make it easier for tenants facing eviction to respond to and learn about t...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Joe 👻 BOO! 👻 dek @joedudekjd.bsky.social · 1d

Precisely the person Justice Kavanaugh said would not be inconvenienced.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 1d

The entire incident is infuriating and terrifying. She’s a Latina woman who was working a service job. On her way home late at night, with her headphones in, she was detained for an hour by masked federal agents who wouldn’t give her their names.

Maria Greeley, 44, had just finished working a double shift at the Beach Bar on Ohio Street
earlier this month when she said she was surrounded by three federal agents who grabbed her, forced her hands behind her back and zip tied her.
Headphones in, Greeley had been focused on getting home to her two dogs for a walk.
Instead, she said she was detained by masked agents who did not answer when she asked for names. They questioned her for an hour, she said.

46 660 2.5K

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 1d

An Arapahoe County prosecutor argued to jurors that a defendant only used the phrase “self-defense” at trial, even though the defendant repeatedly described his actions as basically self-defense. The Court of Appeals ordered a new trial:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/10/a...

Appeals court overturns assault conviction due to Arapahoe County prosecutor's misconduct

Colorado's second-highest court ordered a new trial on Thursday after concluding an Arapahoe County prosecutor's improper commentary about a defendant’s constitutional right to silence undermined the ...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 1d

A federal judge dismissed a plaintiff’s claims that a Boulder prosecutor “emboldened” an alleged sex assault victim to falsify testimony for a grand jury. There were no specifics about what the prosecutor allegedly said or did:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/10/f...

Federal judge dismisses claims that Boulder prosecutor 'emboldened' false testimony

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a man's claims that a former Boulder County prosecutor "emboldened" an alleged sexual assault victim to alter her story after the original charges were dismissed f...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 1d

The Colorado Supreme Court has concluded that the state’s pre-2025 law did not criminalize AI-generated child porn, as evidenced by the fact that legislators amended the law this year:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/13/c...

Colorado justices decide pre-2025 law did not criminalize AI-generated child porn

Justices: Colorado law prior 2025 doesn't criminalize, as sexual exploiting a child, use of AI generate nude images depicting real children

www.coloradopolitics.com

Reposted by Michael Karlik

U.S. Press Freedom Tracker @pressfreedomtracker.us · 4d

Freelance reporter @leighgiangreco.bsky.social was on assignment for @blockclubchi.bsky.social, covering Sept. 19 protests outside the ICE facility in Broadview, IL, when federal officers shot her with pepper balls.

The newsroom has since filed suit and won a temporary restraining order.

Freelancer struck by projectiles at Illinois anti-deportation protest

Freelance reporter Leigh Giangreco was shot with multiple pepper balls by federal officers while covering protests outside a U.S. Immigration …

pressfreedomtracker.us

1 70 170

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 2d

Today’s “One First” looks at how #SCOTUS and its defenders have responded to criticisms of the Court’s behavior in Trump cases either by knocking down straw men or by attacking the critics—without meaningfully defending what the Court is actually *doing*:

www.stevevladeck.com/p/183-the-mi...

After all, maybe one can defend the Court granting emergency relief more often than ever before and in cases with far greater real-world (and structural) impacts. And maybe one can defend the Court altering (if not completely scrapping) the traditional balance of the equities in these cases. But does that defense extend to the Court doing so especially in cases in which President Trump is a party—and no others? And does it extend to the Court doing all of this without usually providing written explanations of what it is doing—or why? And even if the answer is somehow “yes,” does it also extend to the Court doing all of this, not usually explaining what it’s doing or why, and nevertheless accusing lower courts who fail to read the justices’ minds of “defying” the Court?

I have a very hard time believing that anyone can genuinely make it through even three of those sentences with a coherent defense of what the Supreme Court has done over the past seven months—let alone all five of them. I’d love to see such an argument, if it exists, but I haven’t been—and won’t be—holding my breath.

21 190 580

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 4d

Colorado's district court has appointed Peter McNeilly as U.S. attorney. AG Pam Bondi originally appointed McNeilly this summer for a 120-day window, but the judicial appointment means he'll serve until the president nominates and Senate confirms someone:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/09/c...

Colorado's district court appoints Peter McNeilly as US attorney

Colorado's federal trial court took the unusual step last week of appointing Peter McNeilly as the state's top federal prosecutor, who may hold that position until a presidentially nominated and U.S. ...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 4d

A federal judge decided a man can't sue the Olympic Center for SafeSport for unilaterally placing misconduct-related restrictions on him, as the law doesn't allow for such lawsuits:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/09/f...

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against Olympic SafeSport over misconduct-related restrictions

A federal judge last month dismissed a lawsuit against the Colorado-based U.S. Center for SafeSport, brought by a Florida businessman who disputed the center's ability to impose misconduct-related res...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Jim Daley @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social · 4d

I'm at the scene where ICE abducted multiple people from Lincoln and Foster this morning.

A WGN producer was among the people taken, allegedly because she was among a group of bystanders who tried to intervene. ICE agents hit this car while making their getaway.

2.9K 5.6K

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Dan Izzo @izzos.us · 6d

This is wrong. "Due Process" is not specific set of things that applies in criminal prosecutions .

It is just "what is the process the govt is required to go through to be able take a certain action against a person."

So yes, criminal due process is different from deportation due process.

Carceral Urbanist @chinationalist.bsky.social · 6d

Due process right only apply to noncitizens in criminal prosecutions, and illegal alien removal is not a criminal proceeding (Fong Yue Ting v. US; Padilla v. US)

1 1 17

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 5d

A fire district employee got upset about a new hire's faith-based request to not have a flag on his safety gear (which didn't have a flag to begin with). The employee was fired for insubordination. A federal judge found his termination violated due process:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/08/f...

Federal judge finds fire chief violated due process rights of ex-employee in Boulder-Weld district

A federal judge concluded last week that the chief of a fire protection district spanning Boulder and Weld counties violated the constitutional rights of an employee by terminating him through a proce...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 6d

Colorado's Federalist Society chapter is hosting John Eastman next week, who was the legal achitect of the plan to reject the 2020 election results and, so far as I know, isn't allowed to practice in Colorado's federal court (www.coloradopolitics.com/2024/04/29/f...). The event is closed to media.

2 6 4

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 6d

Judge Gordon Gallagher told the DOJ last week he wouldn’t extend the deadline to respond to a noncitizen’s challenge to his immigration detention due to the govt. shutdown.

“The Government is constitutionally obligated to provide due process,” he wrote.
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/08/f...

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 6d

A federal judge ruled that until Colorado's "supermax" prison installs an upward water stream in the cell of a Muslim man who is a double amputee and needs to clean himself before praying, it is a violation of his right to religious exercise:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/07/f...

Federal judge advances religious freedom claims of incarcerated amputee

A federal judge concluded last month that a Muslim man serving a life sentence at Colorado's "supermax" prison may proceed with his claims that the government is violating his right to religious exerc...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Matthew Segal @segalmr.bsky.social · 6d

an amicus brief asking SCOTUS to reconsider its Bivens jurisprudence, and the brief is just this video

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 7d

Here’s video of the incident

1 11 34

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 7d

It seemed like there was some interest in remanding for CA10 to apply strict scrutiny. Is there a chance that happens and the panel (2D-1R) finds Colorado’s law satisfies the test?

1 1

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 7d

A win for transparency, as Colorado's justices concluded organizations are entitled to recover the costs of pursuing an open meetings violation just as individuals are. The chief justice dissented for the *sixth time* since *last month*:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/07/c...

Colorado justices deliver favorable ruling for organizations raising open meetings violations

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that organizations are entitled to the same recovery of their costs as individuals when they successfully pursue a public entity's violation of the state's ...

www.coloradopolitics.com

1 3

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 7d

Two of Colorado's judges who have become experts on AI spoke recently about the need for lawyers to practice using AI in low-stakes scenarios, and about where things are heading -- e.g. using AI to determine which jurors to dismiss from trial:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/07/a...

An obligation to use AI? Federal judge addresses lawyers on responsible technology use

U.S. Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell addressed a group of Colorado attorneys on Friday with the message that they should be practicing and understanding how to use artificial intelligence ...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 7d

State and federal judges from Colorado spoke with attorneys on Friday about various ethical scenarios, including what to do if opposing counsel misgenders a litigant, uses fake AI citations, or neglects to acknowledge precedent that cuts against them:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/06/c...

Colorado judges explore professionalism, ethics, AI in discussions with lawyers

Members of Colorado's state and federal judiciary held a series of discussions with lawyers on Friday that touched upon attorneys' ethical obligations, the responsible use of artificial intelligence a...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 10d

I visited the apartment building ICE raided on Tuesday today. Story to come, but you can walk right in. Half of the apartments have no doors on them. Children's stuff abandoned in some flats. *Citizen* residents told me they were arrested and held for hours in zipties. This is America

470 7.5K 18K

Michael Karlik @michaelkarlik.bsky.social · 8d

A federal judge will allow a jury to decide whether the former Rio Grande County sheriff's allegedly racist comments and the alleged discriminatory policies against female staff rose to the level of a hostile work environment:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/10/03/f...

Federal judge green-lights trial for ex-Rio Grande County sheriff employee's hostile work environment claims

A federal judge on Monday found a former Rio Grande County sheriff's dispatcher had not shown she was subjected to disability discrimination or was retaliated against, but that a jury would need to de...

www.coloradopolitics.com

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 10d

“Laurie Eckman, 84, said she and her husband Richard Eckman, also 84 and a Vietnam war veteran, were rushed by federal officers “for no apparent reason.” She said her husband was leaning on his walker and wearing his Vietnam veterans cap as he was pushed to the ground.”

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 10d

An 84-year-old said she sustained a concussion and was hit with a projectile after she and her husband, a Vietnam vet, were knocked down by federal officers.

Federal agents knock down elderly couple during Portland protest

An 84-year-old said she sustained a concussion and was hit with a projectile after she and her husband, a Vietnam vet, were knocked down by federal officers.

www.oregonlive.com

1 21 25

Reposted by Michael Karlik

Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 9d

Video taken one hour ago outside the Portland ICE facility of the violent insurrectionists in question

400 2.8K 8.3K