Cheryl Saunders | Lightnews

Tom Ashbyトム ∙ アシュビー @tomaashby.bsky.social · 8d

"The evolution of the White House into a palace, and of court politics at the heart of a modern mass-media democracy, is of enormous interest to the historian, not least because it illustrates the only facet of early-modern politics not understood by the Founding Fathers."- forthcoming J.G.A. Pocock

Daniel James @mrdtjames.bsky.social · 15d

It’s a little bit late in the day, but today of all days, you might want to read Truth Be Told. Yoorrook Justice Commission’s report, which includes the history of colonial Victoria from a First Nations perspective for the very first time. www.yoorrook.org.au/reports-and-...

Yoorrook Truth be Told - Official Public Record | Yoorrook Justice Commission

www.yoorrook.org.au

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · 16d

Importantly, also, it is not constituted, empowered or conceived to deliver peace in Gaza and the West Bank, or anywhere else. Performative and self-indulgent.

Kevin Jon Heller @kevinjonheller.bsky.social · 18d

This is a very important thread. The whole "it's a new UN" narrative is profoundly flawed. The Board of Peace has no actual power beyond the power of its individual members. So at most it is a new type of alliance between some of the worst human beings on earth -- deeply problematic but nothing new.

Patrick Butchard @patrickbutchard.bsky.social · 21d

Reports suggest the UN will be rivalled by a "Board of Peace". But it's important to consider what this all means.

The UN, and the UN Charter, are referenced and reinforced by thousands, if not tens of thousands, of multilateral and bilateral treaties between states.

So...

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · 19d

Checks and balances of some kind are common, whether so described or not. The claims for ‘exceptionalism’ may be an even more productive subject of historical inquiry.

Jaakko Husa @husajaakko.bsky.social · 19d

Do you still remember checks and balances, the key principle of the US system designed to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch?

It will be of great interest to legal historians.

Jaakko Husa @husajaakko.bsky.social · 19d

Do you still remember checks and balances, the key principle of the US system designed to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch?

It will be of great interest to legal historians.

Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 20d

Well done to @amyremeikis.bsky.social being the only live blog still going when the laws were passed.

It is worth a read for those wondering what happened in the Senate last night

live.thepoint.com.au#b1d36e9e3b

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · 20d

A new(?) type of threat to judicial independence, becoming increasingly common and blatant.

Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 20d

This attempt by the Trump administration to interfere in the trial of Marine Le Pen last year is shocking.

Antonio Bruno @antoniobruno.bsky.social · 20d

Amazing moment on French TV. A French judge explains how Trump sent people from the US Embassy basically trying to intimidate her during Le Pen's trial for embezzlement - something they've done to other judges around the world.

Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 20d

This attempt by the Trump administration to interfere in the trial of Marine Le Pen last year is shocking.

Antonio Bruno @antoniobruno.bsky.social · 20d

Amazing moment on French TV. A French judge explains how Trump sent people from the US Embassy basically trying to intimidate her during Le Pen's trial for embezzlement - something they've done to other judges around the world.

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 20d

Mark Carney's speech really is terrific: full text is here and very much worth your time.

The Carney doctrine

Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech

paulwells.substack.com

Patrick Butchard @patrickbutchard.bsky.social · 21d

Reports suggest the UN will be rivalled by a "Board of Peace". But it's important to consider what this all means.

The UN, and the UN Charter, are referenced and reinforced by thousands, if not tens of thousands, of multilateral and bilateral treaties between states.

So...

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · 28d

Looks like a worthy tribute! Is there a list of authors?

Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 28d

The book is dedicated to the memory of the late Peter H. Russell, the godfather of Canada's law and politics subfield, and features a Foreword by Supreme Court Justice the Honourable Malcolm Rowe.

Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 28d

The book is dedicated to the memory of the late Peter H. Russell, the godfather of Canada's law and politics subfield, and features a Foreword by Supreme Court Justice the Honourable Malcolm Rowe.

Giuseppe Martinico @martinicogi.bsky.social · 29d

I’m co-organising Workshop #63, Constructing and Reimagining Constitutional Narratives through Pop Culture, at the iacl World Congress 2026 (Bogotá), with Jonathan Hafetz and Mara Malagodi. CFP deadline: 23 Jan @cccwarwick.bsky.social @maramalagodi.bsky.social wccl2026.com/en/call-for-...

Call for Abstracts - WCCL 2026

World Congress of Constitutional Law. 2026. Colombia.

wccl2026.com

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · Jan 8

Yes. Although what was the US impact in/on the Venice Commission in any event?

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · Jan 8

Out-of-control Trump regime has withdrawn inter alia from the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, confirming their contempt for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, not that any confirmation was needed

www.coe.int/en/web/venic...

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · Jan 8

Out-of-control Trump regime has withdrawn inter alia from the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, confirming their contempt for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, not that any confirmation was needed

www.coe.int/en/web/venic...

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · Jan 8

Brown v Tasmania is a decision about protest in the context of the environment. If she joined with Justices Kiefel and Keane in her reasons, they would have been very much mainstream.

Daniel Hurst @danielhurst.bsky.social · Jan 8

Intriguing reporting from Nine here - the objection to former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead the royal commission apparently relates to a previous decision where she upheld the democratic right to protest www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Virginia Bell’s role in protest laws under scrutiny as Albanese weighs royal commission

Judgments handed down by former high court judge Virginia Bell and another contender, former Federal Court of Australia chief justice James Allsop, are under scrutiny as the government decides on a ro...

www.smh.com.au

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · Jan 8

Also with experience conducting challenging and sensitive inquiries. Her inquiry into the Morrison Multiple Ministries affair was impressively impartial, temperate, and useful.

Van Badham @vanbadham.bsky.social · Jan 8

Wherever you student on a royal commission, Virginia Bell is an extraordinary jurist with a reputation above question. #auspol

Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · Jan 8

If you're going to do it, this is a good appointment
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Breaking: Former High Court justice to lead Bondi royal commission

A national royal commission into the Bondi terror attack is expected to be called by Anthony Albanese after weeks of pressure to establish the inquiry.

www.abc.net.au

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · Jan 8

Included on this long list- International IDEA and the Venice Commission. US only a bit player in both, at best, but indicative of one aspect of the mindset.

Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · Jan 8

Here‘s the full list of organisations Trump is withdrawing from. Just to highlight one: Trump is withdrawing from the ILC, showing the US disengagement from international law www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United

www.whitehouse.gov

Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · Jan 8

Here‘s the full list of organisations Trump is withdrawing from. Just to highlight one: Trump is withdrawing from the ILC, showing the US disengagement from international law www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United

www.whitehouse.gov

Daniel Hurst @danielhurst.bsky.social · Jan 8

Intriguing reporting from Nine here - the objection to former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead the royal commission apparently relates to a previous decision where she upheld the democratic right to protest www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Virginia Bell’s role in protest laws under scrutiny as Albanese weighs royal commission

Judgments handed down by former high court judge Virginia Bell and another contender, former Federal Court of Australia chief justice James Allsop, are under scrutiny as the government decides on a ro...

www.smh.com.au

Van Badham @vanbadham.bsky.social · Jan 8

Wherever you student on a royal commission, Virginia Bell is an extraordinary jurist with a reputation above question. #auspol

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · Jan 2

There are a lot of people who don’t think a Royal Commission is a good idea, btw. They are just not writing (or signing!) letters about it.

Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · Jan 2

So the Australian Banking Association and the Insurance Council of Australia want a Royal Commission do they?

Interesting.

Open letter from Australian business groups
Groups including the Australian Banking Association, Master Builders Australia and the Insurance Council of Australia have backed calls for a royal commission.

This article is more than 4 years old
'Worse than ever': Australian bank culture has not improved since royal commission, staff say
This article is more than 4 years old
Workers insist pay is still linked to hitting sales benchmarks and leaderboards to track sales are rife

Concerns over royal commission outcomes
By Paul McNamara - Source: Asia Insurance Review | Apr 2020

As the representative body of the general insurance industry in Australia, the Insurance Council of Australia has found itself busy with the additional burden that the royal commission has put on its members. We spoke to the council’s Campbell Fuller to understand the breadth of the impending changes.
By Paul McNamara in Melbourne

Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · Jan 2

So the Australian Banking Association and the Insurance Council of Australia want a Royal Commission do they?

Interesting.

Cheryl Saunders @cherylas1.bsky.social · Jan 1

A very thought- provoking book. Highly recommended for those interested in the practical and doctrinal ambiguities associated with acquisition of statehood.

Alex Green (文浩航) @glexareen.bsky.social · Jan 1

Really great to see another review of my @cambup-law.cambridge.org monograph, Statehood as Political Community, this time in Constitutional Studies. Thanks very much to @cherylas1.bsky.social for such close engagement with my arguments there!
constitutionalstudies-ojs-utexas.tdl.org/cs/issue/vie...

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2025): Constitutionalism in the Age of Extremes | Constitutional Studies

constitutionalstudies-ojs-utexas.tdl.org

Alex Green (文浩航) @glexareen.bsky.social · Jan 1

Really great to see another review of my @cambup-law.cambridge.org monograph, Statehood as Political Community, this time in Constitutional Studies. Thanks very much to @cherylas1.bsky.social for such close engagement with my arguments there!
constitutionalstudies-ojs-utexas.tdl.org/cs/issue/vie...

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2025): Constitutionalism in the Age of Extremes | Constitutional Studies

constitutionalstudies-ojs-utexas.tdl.org