Dr Dean Knight
@drdeanknight.bsky.social
⟦ law + govt ⟧ ⟦ coffee + kai ⟧ ⟦ critic + conscience ⟧ ⟦ rugby + rugby ⟧ ⟦ rainbows + unicorns ⟧ — usual disclaimers apply
December 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
December 24, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
The Supreme Court’s refusal to let the Trump administration deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area was in large part the result of a friend-of-the-court brief written over a weekend and submitted by a Georgetown law professor.
Here's who he is, and why the brief proved so important.
Here's who he is, and why the brief proved so important.
How a Scholar Nudged the Supreme Court Toward Its Troop Deployment Ruling
Accepting an argument from a law professor that no party to the case had made, the Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a stinging loss that could lead to more aggressive tactics.
nyti.ms
December 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The Supreme Court’s refusal to let the Trump administration deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area was in large part the result of a friend-of-the-court brief written over a weekend and submitted by a Georgetown law professor.
Here's who he is, and why the brief proved so important.
Here's who he is, and why the brief proved so important.
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
I’m not certain if there’s a big #nzpol community on here, but if there is:
Last night I finally launched my web tool to track when this Parliament has gone into urgency, and which bills were affected by it.
Takeaways:
Urgency sessions: 19
Bills: 104
See the stats: nzpt.cjs.nz
Last night I finally launched my web tool to track when this Parliament has gone into urgency, and which bills were affected by it.
Takeaways:
Urgency sessions: 19
Bills: 104
See the stats: nzpt.cjs.nz
How long has the New Zealand Government spend in Urgency?
The NZ Govt has passed 104 bills under urgency! See all the stats for free!
nzpt.cjs.nz
December 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I’m not certain if there’s a big #nzpol community on here, but if there is:
Last night I finally launched my web tool to track when this Parliament has gone into urgency, and which bills were affected by it.
Takeaways:
Urgency sessions: 19
Bills: 104
See the stats: nzpt.cjs.nz
Last night I finally launched my web tool to track when this Parliament has gone into urgency, and which bills were affected by it.
Takeaways:
Urgency sessions: 19
Bills: 104
See the stats: nzpt.cjs.nz
When I mentioned the out-of-office was on, there were still a couple of rats-and-mice left... sigh.
December 23, 2025 at 9:56 PM
When I mentioned the out-of-office was on, there were still a couple of rats-and-mice left... sigh.
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
Comment: What worries me the most with Bishop's RMA reform is the loss of significant features of the environment being sacrificed on the altar of development, writes Geoffrey Palmer.
Geoffrey Palmer: The vaulting ambition of Chris Bishop
newsroom.co.nz
December 23, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Comment: What worries me the most with Bishop's RMA reform is the loss of significant features of the environment being sacrificed on the altar of development, writes Geoffrey Palmer.
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
December 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
A wise friend in the law suggested some must reads…
#holidaytreats
#holidaytreats
December 19, 2025 at 4:40 AM
A wise friend in the law suggested some must reads…
#holidaytreats
#holidaytreats
Last chance to reply to some 2025 (and earlier) emails… 😬
December 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Last chance to reply to some 2025 (and earlier) emails… 😬
December 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
🙌🏼
John Campbell announced as new co-host of Morning Report
John Campbell announced as new co-host of Morning Report
He'll join Ingrid Hipkiss on the flagship news programme from Easter next year.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 18, 2025 at 7:02 AM
🙌🏼
Wow. 🍿
![[101] I agree with the applicant that the declaration sought here would serve a real purpose in ensuring that future recommendations for the position of human rights commissioners proceed lawfully. When potential appointees for such positions occupy an important public office intended to help ensure the human rights of New Zealander’s are upheld and promoted, there is a clear and substantial public interest in having errors in their appointment publicly declared. Conclusion [102] The judicial review application is granted. [103] I make the declaration that the Decision was unlawful because: (a) (b) the Minister applied the incorrect legal test; and the Minister failed to take into account relevant considerations. [104] The issue of costs is reserved. I encourage the parties to agree on any issue of costs that might arise. If that is not possible, the applicant is to file a memorandum on costs no longer than five pages within 30 working days of the date of this judgment, with the respondent to file a memorandum in response within a further 10 working days of receipt of the applicant’s costs memorandum. The Court will then decide the costs issues.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:b7y7isv72z6ku7rtpu7zvfzy/bafkreiejxsssvwd7e3gbtjsrqinyh63jrn75ppz7t6cvqpxddb65nucel4@jpeg)
December 17, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Wow. 🍿
Phew.
BREAKING: The High Court of New Zealand has granted PATHA’s application for interim relief, declaring that the Crown should not take any steps to enforce the incoming ban on new prescriptions of puberty blockers to transgender children and young people. More to come:
www.courtsofnz.govt.nz
December 16, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Phew.
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.
December 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
Ōtara-Papatoetoe election re-do a 'nail in the coffin' for postal voting - law professor
Ōtara-Papatoetoe election re-do a 'nail in the coffin' for postal voting - law professor
A judge has ordered a new election to take place for seats an Auckland board over manipulation of voting papers.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Ōtara-Papatoetoe election re-do a 'nail in the coffin' for postal voting - law professor
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
So, will be interested to see how the judge worked around that (given the winning margin was 1200 votes).
Also - note that this decision is final and can't be appealed/challenged in the High Court ... so, even if "wrong", it gets to stand.
Also - note that this decision is final and can't be appealed/challenged in the High Court ... so, even if "wrong", it gets to stand.
December 16, 2025 at 3:00 AM
So, will be interested to see how the judge worked around that (given the winning margin was 1200 votes).
Also - note that this decision is final and can't be appealed/challenged in the High Court ... so, even if "wrong", it gets to stand.
Also - note that this decision is final and can't be appealed/challenged in the High Court ... so, even if "wrong", it gets to stand.
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
FWIIW, I'm glad the decision came out this way as it sure looked like something very fishy had taken place. I was worried that previous precedent holding that you had to prove enough tainted votes were cast to change the result might mean the judge felt he couldn't intervene ...
December 16, 2025 at 3:00 AM
FWIIW, I'm glad the decision came out this way as it sure looked like something very fishy had taken place. I was worried that previous precedent holding that you had to prove enough tainted votes were cast to change the result might mean the judge felt he couldn't intervene ...
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
🍿 (as @drdeanknight.bsky.social would put it)
Judge orders rare by-election in Auckland local body election
Judge orders rare by-election in Auckland local body election
A Manukau District Court judge has ruled that voting irregularities materially affected the result, declaring the election of local board members for the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board to be void.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 16, 2025 at 2:52 AM
🍿 (as @drdeanknight.bsky.social would put it)
Reposted by Dr Dean Knight
When us process-heads warn about the importance of following systems and giving due weight to the how alongside the what, we have things like this in mind …
December 12, 2025 at 5:44 AM
When us process-heads warn about the importance of following systems and giving due weight to the how alongside the what, we have things like this in mind …