Amaresh Srikanthan
@amareshsrikanthan.bsky.social
public defender & trial lawyer in the Midwest. NYU Law alum. Southerner. opinions my own.
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
New: the govt has moved to dismiss its assault case against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, two people accused of "box[ing] in" a Border Patrol vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 4.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
this is a wrong take. the jurors were sending back questions regarding definitions of terms in the jury instructions. They clearly didn't think the government had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. They especially had a hard time with the element involving "bodily harm."
straight-up jury nullification. this guy did it, confessed to it, and the jury instructions explicitly said that if he did it intentionally, it was assault.
BREAKING: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EATS A LOSS IN 'SANDWICH GUY' CASE AS JURORS FIND DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
this is a wrong take. the jurors were sending back questions regarding definitions of terms in the jury instructions. They clearly didn't think the government had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. They especially had a hard time with the element involving "bodily harm."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Sandwich man leaving court
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Sandwich man leaving court
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Judge Ellis says the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their claim that the Trump administration "put substantial pressure on religious practitioners to modify their behavior and violate their beliefs."
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Judge Ellis says the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their claim that the Trump administration "put substantial pressure on religious practitioners to modify their behavior and violate their beliefs."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis again insists that the Trump administration's arguments "lack credibility."
November 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Ellis again insists that the Trump administration's arguments "lack credibility."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Judge Ellis finds that the Trump administration has placed "content-based restrictions" on protesters.
"Tellingly, she says, "defendants do not deny that they would treat pro-ICE demonstrators more favorably."
"Tellingly, she says, "defendants do not deny that they would treat pro-ICE demonstrators more favorably."
November 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Judge Ellis finds that the Trump administration has placed "content-based restrictions" on protesters.
"Tellingly, she says, "defendants do not deny that they would treat pro-ICE demonstrators more favorably."
"Tellingly, she says, "defendants do not deny that they would treat pro-ICE demonstrators more favorably."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis: "The unlawful activity by a few protesters does not transform a peaceful assembly into an unlawful assembly."
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Ellis: "The unlawful activity by a few protesters does not transform a peaceful assembly into an unlawful assembly."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis notes that the feds argue "plaintiffs have not been engaged in First Amendment protected activity" because they've "intermingled themselves with rioters."
"But as I've previously stated," Ellis says, "I don't find defendants' version of events credible."
"But as I've previously stated," Ellis says, "I don't find defendants' version of events credible."
November 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Ellis notes that the feds argue "plaintiffs have not been engaged in First Amendment protected activity" because they've "intermingled themselves with rioters."
"But as I've previously stated," Ellis says, "I don't find defendants' version of events credible."
"But as I've previously stated," Ellis says, "I don't find defendants' version of events credible."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis notes people being tear gassed, staring down the barrel of a gun and being "slammed to the ground with their head bashed into the street."
"All of that would cause a reasonable person to think twice about exercising their fundamental constitutional rights."
"All of that would cause a reasonable person to think twice about exercising their fundamental constitutional rights."
November 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Ellis notes people being tear gassed, staring down the barrel of a gun and being "slammed to the ground with their head bashed into the street."
"All of that would cause a reasonable person to think twice about exercising their fundamental constitutional rights."
"All of that would cause a reasonable person to think twice about exercising their fundamental constitutional rights."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis: "It doesn't matter that someone continues to go protest, or continues to be courageous. That is irrelevant as to whether there was a chilling effect."
November 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Ellis: "It doesn't matter that someone continues to go protest, or continues to be courageous. That is irrelevant as to whether there was a chilling effect."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
After going through several incidents since the start of Operation Midway Blitz — like the ones above — Judge Ellis says, "those are the factual findings that I'm making to support this preliminary injunction."
November 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
After going through several incidents since the start of Operation Midway Blitz — like the ones above — Judge Ellis says, "those are the factual findings that I'm making to support this preliminary injunction."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis on the Oct. 24 incident in Lake View: "When an agent deployed gas, he stated, 'Have fun.' And then, two additional tear gas canisters were deployed."
November 6, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Ellis on the Oct. 24 incident in Lake View: "When an agent deployed gas, he stated, 'Have fun.' And then, two additional tear gas canisters were deployed."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis on the Oct. 14 incident on the Southeast side: "Agents pushed, shoved, tackled protesters, pointed guns at them, threw tear gas and deployed smoke canisters. Everyone that agents detained were released by the FBI, and none of them are currently charged with assault."
November 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Ellis on the Oct. 14 incident on the Southeast side: "Agents pushed, shoved, tackled protesters, pointed guns at them, threw tear gas and deployed smoke canisters. Everyone that agents detained were released by the FBI, and none of them are currently charged with assault."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis is walking through the testimony heard yesterday. She said Oak Park Township Trustee Juan Munoz's arrest made him a "prop" for DHS videos. Ald. Julia Ramirez "ran away from tear gas while eight-and-a-half months pregnant."
November 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Ellis is walking through the testimony heard yesterday. She said Oak Park Township Trustee Juan Munoz's arrest made him a "prop" for DHS videos. Ald. Julia Ramirez "ran away from tear gas while eight-and-a-half months pregnant."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis points to this testimony from CBP agent Kristopher Hewson.
"Clearly, what he said was 'hit them,'" Ellis says.
bsky.app/profile/jons...
"Clearly, what he said was 'hit them,'" Ellis says.
bsky.app/profile/jons...
Hewson can be heard saying something on the video.
Loevy: "It sure sounds like 'hit 'em'."
Hewson: "No, I was saying 'get 'em'."
Loevy: "It sure sounds like 'hit 'em'."
Hewson: "No, I was saying 'get 'em'."
November 6, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Ellis points to this testimony from CBP agent Kristopher Hewson.
"Clearly, what he said was 'hit them,'" Ellis says.
bsky.app/profile/jons...
"Clearly, what he said was 'hit them,'" Ellis says.
bsky.app/profile/jons...
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis: [Bovino] admitted that he lied about whether a rock hit him before he deployed tear gas in Little Village."
November 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Ellis: [Bovino] admitted that he lied about whether a rock hit him before he deployed tear gas in Little Village."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis turns to the testimony of U.S. Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino. How he denied using force against a man he tackled and said he didn't see the Rev. David Black hit by pepperballs.
"More telling," she says, "defendant Bovino admitted that he lied."
"More telling," she says, "defendant Bovino admitted that he lied."
November 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Ellis turns to the testimony of U.S. Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino. How he denied using force against a man he tackled and said he didn't see the Rev. David Black hit by pepperballs.
"More telling," she says, "defendant Bovino admitted that he lied."
"More telling," she says, "defendant Bovino admitted that he lied."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis: "The government would have people believe, instead, that the Chicagoland area is in a vice hold of violence, ransacked by rioters and attacked by agitators. That simply is untrue. And the government's own evidence in this case belies that assertion."
November 6, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Ellis: "The government would have people believe, instead, that the Chicagoland area is in a vice hold of violence, ransacked by rioters and attacked by agitators. That simply is untrue. And the government's own evidence in this case belies that assertion."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Ellis: "This is the Chicagoland I see. From Aurora to Cicero, and Chicago to Evanston to Waukegan. This is a vibrant place, brimming with vitality and hope. Striving to move forward from its complicated history."
November 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Ellis: "This is the Chicagoland I see. From Aurora to Cicero, and Chicago to Evanston to Waukegan. This is a vibrant place, brimming with vitality and hope. Striving to move forward from its complicated history."
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
BREAKING: Former FTC chair Lina Khan to serve as co-chair of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral transition team.
November 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
BREAKING: Former FTC chair Lina Khan to serve as co-chair of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral transition team.
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
Boy Mamdani's race is really a vivid reminder that anti-Islamic bigotry is 100% accepted in US public discourse. People don't even bother dog whistling, it's just right out in the open.
November 4, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Boy Mamdani's race is really a vivid reminder that anti-Islamic bigotry is 100% accepted in US public discourse. People don't even bother dog whistling, it's just right out in the open.
Reposted by Amaresh Srikanthan
oh just straight up gutter racism!
So here's Andrew Cuomo reacting to Maria Bartiromo wondering if Mamdani will "change the look of New York" and have Muslim women "completely covered up," telling her that Mamdani "doesn't understand New York culture" because he has "dual citizenship" and "he's a citizen of Uganda."
October 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
oh just straight up gutter racism!