Cathy Gellis
@cathygellis.bsky.social
Lawyer, writer, all-around-great person
I mostly post about technology, law, and civil liberties (especially free speech), and how they intersect. And mostly at Techdirt: https://www.techdirt.com/user/cathy/
I also post silly things too.
I mostly post about technology, law, and civil liberties (especially free speech), and how they intersect. And mostly at Techdirt: https://www.techdirt.com/user/cathy/
I also post silly things too.
Pinned
Cathy Gellis
@cathygellis.bsky.social
· Jan 3
Oaths Of Office, And How Everyone Not Moving To Impeach Trump Is Violating Their Own
Until very recently the only member of Congress excused from not having moved to impeach Trump was Rep. Grijalva, because until someone swore her in there was nothing she could officially do. But f…
www.techdirt.com
A reminder: any member of Congress not impeaching is violating their own oath of office.
It's not optional.
www.techdirt.com/2025/11/26/o...
It's not optional.
www.techdirt.com/2025/11/26/o...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
AOC on DHS Warehouses: I think every American should be alarmed. They are building—and have built—a black box system that disappears people, both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.
February 10, 2026 at 1:30 AM
AOC on DHS Warehouses: I think every American should be alarmed. They are building—and have built—a black box system that disappears people, both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
In the least shocking news ever, the DOJ illegally redacted Trump's name from manyEpstein files. [And of course that doesn't count the ones they just didn't release because they are about Trump]
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Jamie Raskin accuses DoJ of cover-up after viewing unredacted Epstein files
Ranking member of House judiciary panel said ‘mysterious redactions’ in files obscured names of abusers
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:42 PM
In the least shocking news ever, the DOJ illegally redacted Trump's name from manyEpstein files. [And of course that doesn't count the ones they just didn't release because they are about Trump]
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
A simple proposal for federal judges frustrated that Trump Regime isn’t freeing people in response to habeas corpus orders:
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
February 10, 2026 at 12:17 PM
A simple proposal for federal judges frustrated that Trump Regime isn’t freeing people in response to habeas corpus orders:
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The Trump administration is cracking down on Americans who protest its immigration raids, the government is charging people with assaulting or impeding federal agents at a rate even faster than after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol.
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
February 10, 2026 at 2:14 PM
The Trump administration is cracking down on Americans who protest its immigration raids, the government is charging people with assaulting or impeding federal agents at a rate even faster than after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol.
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
This makes sense if you assume the court is a basketball court and Dems just keep passing the ball to the opposing team
Our DHS reform demands are exceedingly reasonable.
We're asking ICE to do nothing more than follow the standards that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies already follow.
Republicans, the ball is in your court. The clock is ticking.
We're asking ICE to do nothing more than follow the standards that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies already follow.
Republicans, the ball is in your court. The clock is ticking.
February 10, 2026 at 8:22 AM
This makes sense if you assume the court is a basketball court and Dems just keep passing the ball to the opposing team
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The biggest "landslide" over that period was Obama winning by seven points. Every other presidential race since 2000 has been less than four. By both historical US and international standards, it has been and still is a period of remarkably unshifting electoral stasis for any party system.
February 10, 2026 at 6:20 AM
The biggest "landslide" over that period was Obama winning by seven points. Every other presidential race since 2000 has been less than four. By both historical US and international standards, it has been and still is a period of remarkably unshifting electoral stasis for any party system.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
We talk a lot about trends and marginal shifts, this purple state got bluer while that one got a bit redder, but the fundamental political geography and coalitions of the major parties have been locked in for a quarter century. The vast majority of Trump voters are still Bush-McCain-Romney voters.
one thing that will always be a mystery to me is the number of trump voters who basically thought they were electing george bush again reut.rs/3Mc4h4H
As Trump presidency enters second year, his voters share hopes – and concerns
Trump voters urge him to tone down the rhetoric and focus more on domestic issues, especially clearer pathways to legal status for law-abiding immigrants, healthcare reform, curbing waste and fraud, a...
reut.rs
February 10, 2026 at 6:06 AM
We talk a lot about trends and marginal shifts, this purple state got bluer while that one got a bit redder, but the fundamental political geography and coalitions of the major parties have been locked in for a quarter century. The vast majority of Trump voters are still Bush-McCain-Romney voters.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Anyway I don’t believe there will be a moon base in under ten years but I DO believe that there’s a chance that inside ten years Jeff Bezos, Nikki Minaj, and Kyle Rittenhouse will get Titan Submerisbled on the maiden voyage because Musk fired all the “woke” engineers
February 10, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Anyway I don’t believe there will be a moon base in under ten years but I DO believe that there’s a chance that inside ten years Jeff Bezos, Nikki Minaj, and Kyle Rittenhouse will get Titan Submerisbled on the maiden voyage because Musk fired all the “woke” engineers
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Albus's background recently summarized this way in @theatlantic.com :
February 10, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Albus's background recently summarized this way in @theatlantic.com :
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Missouri US Atty Thomas Albus, head of Trump administration's election investigations, formally takes over lead in Fulton County, GA, search warrant litigation.
February 10, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Missouri US Atty Thomas Albus, head of Trump administration's election investigations, formally takes over lead in Fulton County, GA, search warrant litigation.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
It will surprise y’all to hear that there are no “Muslims taking over the state” and there is no “sharia law” in Texas that threatens anyone.
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
February 10, 2026 at 1:09 PM
It will surprise y’all to hear that there are no “Muslims taking over the state” and there is no “sharia law” in Texas that threatens anyone.
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Judge Tunheim (Clinton) declines to dissolve his temporary restraining order blocking Trump policy requiring warrantless detention of 5,600 refugees in MN. Says DHS's new reading would mean govt has been violating the law for past 45 yrs.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Judge Tunheim (Clinton) declines to dissolve his temporary restraining order blocking Trump policy requiring warrantless detention of 5,600 refugees in MN. Says DHS's new reading would mean govt has been violating the law for past 45 yrs.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 11:48 AM
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
7) 'FATIGUED': Judges are increasingly exasperated by what they see as a strategy to make the process — in court and for detainees writ large — as cumberosme and painful as possible, especially when judges have been rejecting their detentions en masse. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:44 AM
7) 'FATIGUED': Judges are increasingly exasperated by what they see as a strategy to make the process — in court and for detainees writ large — as cumberosme and painful as possible, especially when judges have been rejecting their detentions en masse. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
6) ERRORS ABOUND: The crush of habeas cases have led to an epidemic of sloppy filings, incorrect info provided to courts, botched attachments of crucial files, etc. But they're at their most severe when they lead to erroneous deportations. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:41 AM
6) ERRORS ABOUND: The crush of habeas cases have led to an epidemic of sloppy filings, incorrect info provided to courts, botched attachments of crucial files, etc. But they're at their most severe when they lead to erroneous deportations. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
5) DEFICIENT HEARINGS: When judges order detainees to get a chance for bond, they want them to have a fair chance to prove they are not a danger or a flight risk. Increasingly, judges say the bond hearings held by DOJ have fallen short of constitutional standards www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:39 AM
5) DEFICIENT HEARINGS: When judges order detainees to get a chance for bond, they want them to have a fair chance to prove they are not a danger or a flight risk. Increasingly, judges say the bond hearings held by DOJ have fallen short of constitutional standards www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Judge Nelson spent time tracking a UPS shipment to ensure that one man got his documents back. Judge Blackwell emphasized that these transgressiosn were leading judges to issuie more prescriptive orders. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Judge Nelson spent time tracking a UPS shipment to ensure that one man got his documents back. Judge Blackwell emphasized that these transgressiosn were leading judges to issuie more prescriptive orders. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
4) LEFT IN THE COLD -- OR WITHOUT I.D.: With increasing frequency, ICE detainees who win release say they're being let out 1000s of miles from home — and without belongings, like ID, wallets and warm clothes for MN weather
Judges are ordering "humane treatment." www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Judges are ordering "humane treatment." www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:35 AM
4) LEFT IN THE COLD -- OR WITHOUT I.D.: With increasing frequency, ICE detainees who win release say they're being let out 1000s of miles from home — and without belongings, like ID, wallets and warm clothes for MN weather
Judges are ordering "humane treatment." www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Judges are ordering "humane treatment." www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
3) IMPROPER CONDITIONS: When judges order an ICE detainee released, ICE is sometimes requiring them to submit to "conditions" like GPS monitoring, even though they're not criminal defendants. Judges say this is a plain violation of their orders.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:31 AM
3) IMPROPER CONDITIONS: When judges order an ICE detainee released, ICE is sometimes requiring them to submit to "conditions" like GPS monitoring, even though they're not criminal defendants. Judges say this is a plain violation of their orders.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
2) BLOWING OFF DEADLINES: When detainees sue for release, the administration is increasingly blowing off court-ordered deadlines to response. It's become almost routine and has led judges to order release in some cases. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:28 AM
2) BLOWING OFF DEADLINES: When detainees sue for release, the administration is increasingly blowing off court-ordered deadlines to response. It's become almost routine and has led judges to order release in some cases. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
1) WHISKING DETAINEES TO OTHER STATES: ICE has made a practice of pinballing people from where they're arrested to facilities in Texas, New Mexico or elsewhere, and sometimes more than once. It can complicate or defeate challenges to their detention.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 11:22 AM
1) WHISKING DETAINEES TO OTHER STATES: ICE has made a practice of pinballing people from where they're arrested to facilities in Texas, New Mexico or elsewhere, and sometimes more than once. It can complicate or defeate challenges to their detention.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
NEW: Federal judges are increasingly furious at what they see as a pattern / playbook of defiance by the Trump administration to court orders in immigration cases — in Minnesota and around the country.
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
How the Trump administration skirts — and defies — court rulings on ICE detentions
A POLITICO review of hundreds of cases brought by ICE detainees shows a pattern of noncompliance that has frustrated judges across the country.
www.politico.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:15 AM
NEW: Federal judges are increasingly furious at what they see as a pattern / playbook of defiance by the Trump administration to court orders in immigration cases — in Minnesota and around the country.
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Here’s a look at what they’re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Genuinely gives me a lot of hope that the NFL is a cynical, cash-motivated organization and they're betting on this being the future
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Genuinely gives me a lot of hope that the NFL is a cynical, cash-motivated organization and they're betting on this being the future
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
We're asking ICE to do nothing
Our DHS reform demands are exceedingly reasonable.
We're asking ICE to do nothing more than follow the standards that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies already follow.
Republicans, the ball is in your court. The clock is ticking.
We're asking ICE to do nothing more than follow the standards that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies already follow.
Republicans, the ball is in your court. The clock is ticking.
February 10, 2026 at 4:44 AM
We're asking ICE to do nothing
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
February 10, 2026 at 4:44 AM