Michael Karlik
@michaelkarlik.bsky.social
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.
Pinned
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
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
tearitdownpodcast.substack.com
![52. While the ticket was being written by Officer Hanzlicek, Plaintiff told Officer Park
two times that, he “had no fucking balls.” [Ex. G at 00:10:48 & 00:10:57]. Plaintiff does
not remember telling Officer Park that he had “no fucking balls”. Plaintiff admits the
comment was probably fueled by alcohol as he does not normally go up to people on the
street and tell them they have no balls. [Ex. A, 144:21-23, 145:3-6, 11-14]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:63qzp63fz5q45anhnxhoxhl5/bafkreiexraafq4cz2wdmopwhmbcevztzbloeqihfdpnrvoiaaqo4pszcny@jpeg)
Reposted by Michael Karlik
Let's speak plainly.
In a legitimate criminal cases, political appointees don't have to first hollow out U.S. Attorney offices of objecting career prosecutors with integrity; federal judges don't kill the cases at the cradle, and the government doesn't fight tooth and nail to revive them.
In a legitimate criminal cases, political appointees don't have to first hollow out U.S. Attorney offices of objecting career prosecutors with integrity; federal judges don't kill the cases at the cradle, and the government doesn't fight tooth and nail to revive them.
January 30, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Let's speak plainly.
In a legitimate criminal cases, political appointees don't have to first hollow out U.S. Attorney offices of objecting career prosecutors with integrity; federal judges don't kill the cases at the cradle, and the government doesn't fight tooth and nail to revive them.
In a legitimate criminal cases, political appointees don't have to first hollow out U.S. Attorney offices of objecting career prosecutors with integrity; federal judges don't kill the cases at the cradle, and the government doesn't fight tooth and nail to revive them.
A man is serving 96 years under Colorado's "three-strikes" law. The Court of Appeals found he isn't even eligible for three-strikes, but the majority ordered only a sentencing review. Judge Liz Harris said that's not enough, he shouldn't be in this situation: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/a...
January 30, 2026 at 4:57 PM
A man is serving 96 years under Colorado's "three-strikes" law. The Court of Appeals found he isn't even eligible for three-strikes, but the majority ordered only a sentencing review. Judge Liz Harris said that's not enough, he shouldn't be in this situation: www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/a...
A federal judge declined to dismiss the wage theft claims of 39 strike-breaking nurses who allege their employer, a Colorado company that hires health care workers to cross picket lines, didn't fully compensate them:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/f...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/f...
Federal judge declines to dismiss strike-breaking nurses' lawsuit over wage violations
A federal judge last week declined to dismiss 39 nursing employees' claims for compensation against a Greenwood Village-based company for its alleged violations of state and federal law.
www.coloradopolitics.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:47 PM
A federal judge declined to dismiss the wage theft claims of 39 strike-breaking nurses who allege their employer, a Colorado company that hires health care workers to cross picket lines, didn't fully compensate them:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/f...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/f...
Judge Kato Crews of Colorado ordered a man's release from immigration custody. While not his main reason, Crews notes there is "some indication that immigration judges are refusing to conduct bond hearings entirely." This might be the first time I've seen one of our judges acknowledge this reality.
January 30, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Judge Kato Crews of Colorado ordered a man's release from immigration custody. While not his main reason, Crews notes there is "some indication that immigration judges are refusing to conduct bond hearings entirely." This might be the first time I've seen one of our judges acknowledge this reality.
Reposted by Michael Karlik
Journalist Georgia Fort, about to be arrested by ICE for doing journalism, peers out her front door on the left as, on the right a masked, bespectacled ICE agent peers in her window. Is this a scene from Scream? From Brazil? It is, as a former student of mine would say, *dark shit.*
January 30, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Journalist Georgia Fort, about to be arrested by ICE for doing journalism, peers out her front door on the left as, on the right a masked, bespectacled ICE agent peers in her window. Is this a scene from Scream? From Brazil? It is, as a former student of mine would say, *dark shit.*
Reposted by Michael Karlik
The government’s arrests of journalists @donlemonofficial.bsky.social and @bygeorgiafort.bsky.social are attacks on freedom of the press.
Two federal courts flatly rejected prosecuting Lemon, but instead of accepting that humiliating defeat, the government has now doubled down.
Read our statement:
Two federal courts flatly rejected prosecuting Lemon, but instead of accepting that humiliating defeat, the government has now doubled down.
Read our statement:
January 30, 2026 at 3:24 PM
The government’s arrests of journalists @donlemonofficial.bsky.social and @bygeorgiafort.bsky.social are attacks on freedom of the press.
Two federal courts flatly rejected prosecuting Lemon, but instead of accepting that humiliating defeat, the government has now doubled down.
Read our statement:
Two federal courts flatly rejected prosecuting Lemon, but instead of accepting that humiliating defeat, the government has now doubled down.
Read our statement:
Reposted by Michael Karlik
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also arrested by federal agents earlier for reporting on the church protest in Minneapolis. She was live streaming when agents arrived to take her into custody.
January 30, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also arrested by federal agents earlier for reporting on the church protest in Minneapolis. She was live streaming when agents arrived to take her into custody.
Colorado’s Court of Appeals has reversed another set of criminal convictions out of Douglas County because a biased juror served. The trial judge, Patricia Herron, has accumulated a stunning record of reversals for her errors in presiding over criminal cases:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/a...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/a...
January 29, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Colorado’s Court of Appeals has reversed another set of criminal convictions out of Douglas County because a biased juror served. The trial judge, Patricia Herron, has accumulated a stunning record of reversals for her errors in presiding over criminal cases:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/a...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/29/a...
Reposted by Michael Karlik
'Hageman then gathered her folders, waved goodbye to the audience and exited the stage through a side door while people booed and one man shouted “coward” and “chickenshit.”'
GOP Rep. Harriet Hageman - of WYOMING - was booed out of her town hall last night.
wyofile.com/hageman-cuts...
GOP Rep. Harriet Hageman - of WYOMING - was booed out of her town hall last night.
wyofile.com/hageman-cuts...
Hageman cuts short Casper town hall after contentious exchanges over ICE killings - WyoFile
The congresswoman faced questions about the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renée Good, saying she'd have to see a completed investigation, drawing shouts and insults.
wyofile.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:17 PM
'Hageman then gathered her folders, waved goodbye to the audience and exited the stage through a side door while people booed and one man shouted “coward” and “chickenshit.”'
GOP Rep. Harriet Hageman - of WYOMING - was booed out of her town hall last night.
wyofile.com/hageman-cuts...
GOP Rep. Harriet Hageman - of WYOMING - was booed out of her town hall last night.
wyofile.com/hageman-cuts...
There are two days left in January. The federal judiciary has yet to release Civil Justice Reform Act data for the period ending 9/30/25. Normally it takes almost four months (for some reason) for the report to come out. But I've been covering these releases for two years now. The data are late.
January 29, 2026 at 6:39 PM
There are two days left in January. The federal judiciary has yet to release Civil Justice Reform Act data for the period ending 9/30/25. Normally it takes almost four months (for some reason) for the report to come out. But I've been covering these releases for two years now. The data are late.
Colorado's federal judges aren't speaking as explicitly about the government's extreme or unpersuasive views of its immigration authority. But they are beginning to complain in their orders about what they're seeing:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
January 29, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Colorado's federal judges aren't speaking as explicitly about the government's extreme or unpersuasive views of its immigration authority. But they are beginning to complain in their orders about what they're seeing:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
Last week, Colorado lawmakers heard:
-judicial misconduct complaints are at a record high
-there's more forensic analyst misconduct than originally believed
-the vandalized portion of the downtown judicial center will be restored by fall
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/c...
-judicial misconduct complaints are at a record high
-there's more forensic analyst misconduct than originally believed
-the vandalized portion of the downtown judicial center will be restored by fall
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/c...
January 29, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Last week, Colorado lawmakers heard:
-judicial misconduct complaints are at a record high
-there's more forensic analyst misconduct than originally believed
-the vandalized portion of the downtown judicial center will be restored by fall
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/c...
-judicial misconduct complaints are at a record high
-there's more forensic analyst misconduct than originally believed
-the vandalized portion of the downtown judicial center will be restored by fall
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/c...
Reposted by Michael Karlik
NEW: The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a nominations hearing for next Wednesday.
I took a look at new @afj.org resources about some of the nominees, including Anna St. John and Andrew Davis — and their anti-civil rights records are troubling. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
I took a look at new @afj.org resources about some of the nominees, including Anna St. John and Andrew Davis — and their anti-civil rights records are troubling. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
Senate Judiciary Committee to consider anti-civil rights judicial nominees next week
It’s the first nominations hearing of the year. Democrats need to show up.
nominationnotes.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:23 PM
NEW: The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a nominations hearing for next Wednesday.
I took a look at new @afj.org resources about some of the nominees, including Anna St. John and Andrew Davis — and their anti-civil rights records are troubling. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
I took a look at new @afj.org resources about some of the nominees, including Anna St. John and Andrew Davis — and their anti-civil rights records are troubling. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
Here is the story about today's hearing in Colorado, where the USDA tried to impose a massive SNAP "pilot project" on five counties based on concerns about fraud. Asked repeatedly about evidence, the DOJ couldn't provide anything specific to Colorado:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
January 28, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Here is the story about today's hearing in Colorado, where the USDA tried to impose a massive SNAP "pilot project" on five counties based on concerns about fraud. Asked repeatedly about evidence, the DOJ couldn't provide anything specific to Colorado:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/28/f...
BREAKING: Senior Judge Brooke Jackson has blocked the USDA from forcing Colorado into a "pilot program," ostensibly to detect fraud in food assistance across five counties. He'll issue a written order soon, but his questioning of the DOJ lawyer gives you some sense of how Jackson viewed the case:
January 28, 2026 at 6:25 PM
BREAKING: Senior Judge Brooke Jackson has blocked the USDA from forcing Colorado into a "pilot program," ostensibly to detect fraud in food assistance across five counties. He'll issue a written order soon, but his questioning of the DOJ lawyer gives you some sense of how Jackson viewed the case:
The Colorado Supreme Court will decide whether a child witness's improper CCTV testimony affected the defendant's conviction:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/27/c...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/27/c...
January 28, 2026 at 5:20 PM
The Colorado Supreme Court will decide whether a child witness's improper CCTV testimony affected the defendant's conviction:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/27/c...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/27/c...
Reposted by Michael Karlik
NEW: I examined how all 10 @judiciarydems.senate.gov are engaging on judicial nominations.
What happens in the committee sets the tone for full Senate consideration of judicial nominees — and how committee members show up throughout this process matters. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/analysis-h...
What happens in the committee sets the tone for full Senate consideration of judicial nominees — and how committee members show up throughout this process matters. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/analysis-h...
Analysis: How Senate Judiciary Democrats are showing up on judicial nominations
A look at senators’ engagement related to hearings, QFRs, markups, and committee votes.
nominationnotes.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:15 PM
NEW: I examined how all 10 @judiciarydems.senate.gov are engaging on judicial nominations.
What happens in the committee sets the tone for full Senate consideration of judicial nominees — and how committee members show up throughout this process matters. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/analysis-h...
What happens in the committee sets the tone for full Senate consideration of judicial nominees — and how committee members show up throughout this process matters. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/analysis-h...
By 4-2, the Colorado Supreme Court concluded someone who consumes a known intoxicating substance that is laced with something else can't claim that the second, unknown substance triggered their criminal behavior:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/d...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/d...
Divided Colorado Supreme Court curtails use of laced-substances defense
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday walked back the ability of criminal defendants to claim their conduct was the result of consuming an intoxicating substance that secretly contained another behavio...
www.coloradopolitics.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:08 PM
By 4-2, the Colorado Supreme Court concluded someone who consumes a known intoxicating substance that is laced with something else can't claim that the second, unknown substance triggered their criminal behavior:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/d...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/d...
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the public utilities commission couldn't use a rate-setting document to immunize Xcel Energy from liability when its power lines electrocute a non-customer:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/c...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/c...
January 27, 2026 at 5:01 PM
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the public utilities commission couldn't use a rate-setting document to immunize Xcel Energy from liability when its power lines electrocute a non-customer:
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/c...
www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/01/26/c...
Reposted by Michael Karlik
Beyond the obvious politicisation... The deprofessionalisation of journalism should be a subject of discussion and reflection in journalism education programs worldwide right now. Journalism education is struggling students see a pathway to journalism as influencers and training as unnecessary.
Bari Weiss adds new podcasters and writers as CBS contributors www.axios.com/2026/01/27/b...
Bari Weiss adds new podcasters and writers as CBS contributors
Weiss is importing an upstart newsroom model into a legacy media organization, prioritizing independent voices with built-in, loyal followings.
www.axios.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Beyond the obvious politicisation... The deprofessionalisation of journalism should be a subject of discussion and reflection in journalism education programs worldwide right now. Journalism education is struggling students see a pathway to journalism as influencers and training as unnecessary.
Senior Judge Brooke Jackson allows the Colorado Attorney General's Office to exceed the page limits, but not before scolding them for trying to cram too much in there before a hearing on Wednesday.
January 26, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Senior Judge Brooke Jackson allows the Colorado Attorney General's Office to exceed the page limits, but not before scolding them for trying to cram too much in there before a hearing on Wednesday.
And this just in: Judge Charlotte Sweeney of Colorado has now told the federal government she's getting tired of seeing arguments in immigration detention cases that she has repeatedly rejected.
![5 Separately, the Court offers a word of caution: Respondents’ counsel is (or should be) well aware of the
Court’s limited resources—indeed, the District of Colorado has already received over 40 immigrationrelated actions filed since the beginning of the year, many of which require prompt attention. These actions
have a significant impact on the Court’s docket, as it undoubtably has on Respondents’ office which is
called upon to respond to such actions. Respondents’ counsel should take heed that there is no benefit in
re-litigating an argument that this Court has already rejected absent a change in controlling law, and there
is certainly no positive correlation between the length of a brief and the likelihood that Respondents receive
they outcome they seek. Respondents are thus cautioned to avoid raising meritless arguments with the
Court—particularly when the most fundamental right to all, the right to be “[f]ree[] from imprisonment,” is at
stake. Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 687, 690 (2001).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:63qzp63fz5q45anhnxhoxhl5/bafkreignrxtelpalnoeyjhfza22eiwgq3d3o7g55uyiocyiaeohcm4e25e@jpeg)
January 26, 2026 at 9:52 PM
And this just in: Judge Charlotte Sweeney of Colorado has now told the federal government she's getting tired of seeing arguments in immigration detention cases that she has repeatedly rejected.
UPDATE: The court's chief communications officer told me the reassignment happened "for reasons unrelated to Justice Hart’s subsequent leave of absence." Good to know. Still, what was the reason? And why disclose it here?
Something odd happened at the Colorado Supreme Court this morning. In one announced decision, this footnote appeared indicating the majority opinion was handed off to Justice Rich Gabriel in mid-September. 🧵 (1/5)
January 26, 2026 at 9:49 PM
UPDATE: The court's chief communications officer told me the reassignment happened "for reasons unrelated to Justice Hart’s subsequent leave of absence." Good to know. Still, what was the reason? And why disclose it here?
Something odd happened at the Colorado Supreme Court this morning. In one announced decision, this footnote appeared indicating the majority opinion was handed off to Justice Rich Gabriel in mid-September. 🧵 (1/5)
January 26, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Something odd happened at the Colorado Supreme Court this morning. In one announced decision, this footnote appeared indicating the majority opinion was handed off to Justice Rich Gabriel in mid-September. 🧵 (1/5)