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spartankitty.bsky.social
@spartankitty.bsky.social
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spartankitty.bsky.social
I like to think the family I'm estranged from is sitting at home reading the news and thinking, "oh f*** we voted wrong", but I know in reality they don't read the news at all and are just going about their lives very normally.
September 18, 2025 at 5:08 PM
spartankitty.bsky.social
July 30, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted
apnews.com
BREAKING: Appeals court panel finds President Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship unconstitutional and upholds the block.
Appeals court finds Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship unconstitutional, upholds block
A federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump’s order seeking to end birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, affirming a lower-court decision that blocked its enforcement nationwide.
bit.ly
July 24, 2025 at 12:23 AM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
Big one-two development here!
annabower.bsky.social Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · Jul 23
MORE: Judge Paula Xinis, who presides over Abrego’s civil case in Maryland, bars the government from taking Abrego into ICE custody in Tennessee following his release from criminal custody.

He must be returned to Maryland on an order of supervision.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
July 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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thetnholler.bsky.social
Reminder: They’re afraid of Zohran because he’s better at this than they are. He is putting the people first, and it reminds them of their own failings.
June 29, 2025 at 3:06 AM
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aclu.org
BREAKING: In a unanimous decision, a federal court of appeals has ruled that Louisiana's law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public school classrooms is unconstitutional.

We’ll keep saying it: Public schools are not Sunday schools.
June 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
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50501newyork.bsky.social
A judge has ordered the release of NY resident, Mahmoud Khalil.

He’s been illegally detained by ICE in Louisiana for over 3 months. During that time, he missed the birth of his son.

This regime is playing with people’s lives to test the courts. This is not justice, but it is a step towards it.
Judge orders Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil freed from detention
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to free former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil from immigration detention.
apnews.com
June 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
BREAKING: Federal judge blocks Rubio's anti-trans, anti-nonbinary passport policy for all.

Judge Julia Kobick granted a classwide preliminary injunction that applies to all trans and nonbinary people on Tuesday.

New, at Law Dork: www.lawdork.com/p/breaking-f...
Breaking: Federal judge blocks Rubio's anti-trans, anti-nonbinary passport policy for all
Judge Julia Kobick granted a classwide preliminary injunction that applies to all trans and nonbinary people on Tuesday.
www.lawdork.com
June 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
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altnps.bsky.social
A win! A federal judge has ordered the government to restore hundreds of NIH grants slashed by the Trump administration, ruling the cuts were discriminatory against minorities and LGBTQ individuals. The judge said he’d have to be “blind” not to see the discrimination and declared the cuts illegal.
June 16, 2025 at 8:32 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
BREAKING: Supreme Court sidesteps religious charter school question for now with 4-4 vote, creating no national precedent and letting the Oklahoma Supreme Court decision — which does not allow the religious charter school — stand. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES Nos. 24–394 and 24–396 OKLAHOMA STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD, ET AL., PETITIONERS 24–394 v. GENTNER DRUMMOND, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA, EX REL. OKLAHOMA ST. ISIDORE OF SEVILLE CATHOLIC VIRTUAL SCHOOL, PETITIONER 24–396 v. GENTNER DRUMMOND, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA, EX REL. OKLAHOMA ON WRITS OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF OKLAHOMA [May 22, 2025] PER CURIAM. The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court. JUSTICE BARRETT took no part in the consideration or decision of these cases.
May 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
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anneapplebaum.bsky.social
The candidate who actually cares about Romanian security and prosperity won

Now the far-right tries to construct an alternative reality and contest the results.
May 18, 2025 at 9:06 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
My Thursday report at Law Dork from SCOTUS:
www.lawdork.com/p/birthright...
Ultimately, the "nationwide injunction" arguments were about the birthright citizenship order
Although justices might be skeptical of nationwide injunctions, the problems with Trump's birthright citizenship executive order loomed larger at SCOTUS on Thursday.
www.lawdork.com
May 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
BREAKING: DC Circuit holds that DOGE must turn over records to CREW.

The court rejected DOJ's request for an order stopping a district court's order that DOGE turn over records under FOIA. (Panel: Henderson (GHWB), Wilkins (Obama), Childs (Biden).) storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
United States Court of Appeals FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT September Term, 2024 1:25-Cv-00511-CRC Filed On: May 14, 2025 In re: U.S. DOGE Service, et al., Petitioners BEFORE: Henderson, Wilkins, and Childs, Circuit Judges ORDER Upon consideration of the petition for a writ of mandamus, the opposition thereto, and the reply; and the motion for stay, the opposition thereto, and the reply, it is ORDERED, on the court's own motion, that the administrative stay entered on April 18, 2025, be dissolved. For the reasons stated in the memorandum accompanying this order, it is FURTHER ORDERED that the petition be denied. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the stay motion be dismissed as moot. Pursuant to D.C. Circuit Rule 36, this disposition will not be published. Per Curiam On the merits, the government has also not shown that it has no other adequate means of relief. The government rests most of its argument on Cheney's holding that line-by-line assertions of executive privilege were not an adequate alternative means of relief in that case. But Cheney is distinguishable in numerous respects. Even in the circumstances of Cheney, the Supreme Court declined to issue a writ because it was "not a case where, after having considered the issues, [this court] abused its discretion by failing to" do so. 542 U.S. at 391. More importantly, unlike in Cheney, where the Vice President himself was subject to a wide-ranging third-party subpoena and the asserted intrusion implicated the mental processes of the President's advisers, see id. at 381-82, the discovery here is modest in scope and does not target the President or any close adviser personally. The government retains every conventional tool to raise privilege objections on the limited question-by-question basis foreseen here on a narrow and discrete ground. Although the government protests that any such assertion of privilege would be burdensome, the only identified burdens are limited both by time and reach, covering as they do records within USDS's control generated since January 20. It does not provide any specific details as to why accessing its own records or submitting to two depositions would pose an unbearable burden. That is a far cry from the sweeping discovery at issue in Cheney. See id. at 387 (describing the discovery requests as asking "for everything under the sky"). Moreover, unlike Cheney, the information sought here does not provide CREW "all the disclosure to which [it] would be entitled" if it prevails on the merits. Id. at 388. Nor has the government asserted a clear and indisputable right. Petitioner can carry that burden if the challenged order constitutes a "clear abuse of discretion." Id. at 380 (quoting Bankers Life & Cas. Co. v. Holland, 346 U.S. 379, 383 (1953)). Petitioner must "point to 'cases in which a federal court has held that' relief is warranted 'in a matter involving like issues and comparable circumstances.'" In re Al Baluchi, 952 F.3d 363, 369 (D.C. Cir. 2020) (quoting Doe v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 473 F.3d 345, 355 (D.C. Cir. 2007)). "Accordingly, we will deny mandamus even if a petitioner's argument, though "pack[ing] substantial force,' is not clearly mandated by statutory authority or case law." Id. (quoting In re Khadr, 823 F.3d 92, 99-100 (D.C. Cir. 2016)). Open legal questions do not present a clear and indisputable right to mandamus relief. See In re Al-Nashiri, 791 F.3d 71, 85-86 (D.C. Cir. 2015). We have previously endorsed limited discovery to determine agency status under FOIA. See Armstrong, 90 F.3d at 560-61; CREW, 566 F.3d at 224- 26. And that limited discovery can be used to follow up on factual questions put at issue by the government's declarations. See In re Cheney, 544 F.3d 311, 312 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (under the Presidential Records Act). Even the government concedes, as it must, that such discovery is sometimes appropriate. Pet. 22-23. In light of the government's failure to make a persuasive showing on either of the first two elements of the analysis, there is also no reason, in considering the totality of the circumstances, to issue the writ. See Cheney, 542 U.S. at 381. Accordingly, the petition for a writ of mandamus is denied.
May 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
BREAKING: Federal judge in Vermont orders that Rumeysa Ozturk be released from detention "immediately" and on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions.

More to come at Law Dork: www.lawdork.com
Law Dork | Chris Geidner | Substack
The Supreme Court, law, politics, and more. Click to read Law Dork, by Chris Geidner, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
www.lawdork.com
May 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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democracydocket.com
BREAKING: In a victory for voters, a three-judge panel with two Trump appointees rules that Alabama’s 2023 congressional map is unconstitutional and violates the VRA, calling it “an intentional effort to dilute Black Alabamians’ voting strength.”

From: @jenrice.bsky.social
Trump Judges Strike Down Alabama Congressional Map as Racially Discriminatory
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
May 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
NEWS: Federal judge continues blocking Alien Enemies Act removals or transfers from S.D.N.Y. — ruling that the notice being given is constitutionally insufficient *and* that Trump's AEA proclamation does not describe an "invasion" or "predatory incursion."

The judge had previously issued a TRO.
The Presidential Proclamation, in order to empower the Executive beyond the provisions of the AEA, subtly changes the clause "shall be liable to be ... removed" in the AEA, 50 U.S.C. § 21, to "shall be subject to immediate... removal," in the Presidential Proclamation, 90 Fed. Reg. at 13,034. This change is ultra vires; the Proclamation gives the President no more authority than the act of Congress prescribes. See Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579, 637 (1952) (Jackson, J., concurring). If the President wishes to bypass the INA and use 14 Case 1:25-cv-02886-AKH Document 84 Filed 05/06/25 Page 15 of 22 the AEA, he must do so according to the requirements of the AEA and Constitutional due process. Accordingly, I hold that the predicates for the Presidential Proclamation, that TdA has engaged in either a "war," "invasion" or a "predatory incursion" of the United States, do not exist. Others courts have resolved this issue similarly. See, e.g., J.G.G. v. Trump, No. 25-5068, 2025 WL 914682, at *8-10 (D.C. Cir. Mar. 26, 2025) (Henderson, J., concurring); J.A.V. v. Trump, 25 Civ. 72, 2025 WL 1257450, at *12-18 (S.D. Tex. May 1, 2025); D.B. U. v. Trump, 25 Civ. 1163, 2025 WL 1163530, at *9-11 (D. Col. Apr. 22, 2025). There is nothing in the AEA that justifies a finding that refugees migrating from Venezuela, or TdA gangsters who infiltrate the migrants, are engaged in an "invasion" or "predatory incursion." They do not seek to occupy territory, to oust American jurisdiction from any territory, or to ravage territory. TdA may well be engaged in narcotics trafficking, but that is a criminal matter, not an invasion or predatory incursion.
May 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
BREAKING: In a challenge to Trump's effort to end refugee resettlement, federal judge issues an order (after DOJ appealed the prelim injunction to the Ninth Circuit, now it's back) that the Trump admin must restart processes for those refugees OK'ed & set to come as of Jan. 20 "immediately."
3. SCOPE OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT'S CLARIFICATION ORDER A threshold question before this Court is the scope of the Ninth Circuit's April 21 clarification order-specifically, which refugees remain protected by this Court's preliminary injunction ("Injunction-Protected Refugees"). It is surprising that there could be any disagreement about the meaning of a judicial order that articulates three specific criteria in plain, straightforward language. The parties agree on the application of the first criterion (approved refugee application) and the COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK ORDER - 3 Case 2:25-cv-00255-JNW Document 119 Filed 05/05/25 Page 4 of 14 second criterion (clearance by USCIS for travel). ' But they present different interpretations of the third criterion: "arranged and confirmable travel plans to the United States." See Pacito et al. v. Trump et al., No. 25-1313, Dkt. No. 46. Plaintiffs advocate a plain-meaning interpretation of this phrase, under which "arranged and confirmable travel plans" refers, simply, to arranged and confirmable travel plans. The Government, however, would have the Court believe that when the Ninth Circuit used this phrase, it secretly embedded a qualifier requiring that travel must have been scheduled to occur within two weeks of January 20, 2025. The Government finds support for this reading in the Ninth Circuit's language suggesting that its partial denial of a stay was not meant to apply to "tens of thousands of individuals." See Pacito et al. v. Trump et al., No. 25-1313, Dkt. No. 46 at 3. According to the Government, the denial must apply only to those refugee cases furthest along, like Plaintiff Pacito's. This reading would reduce the number of Injunction-Protected Refugees from about 12,000 individuals-those who held plane tickets as of January 20-to about 160 individuals-those whose planes were set to depart by February 3. The Government's interpretation is, to put it mildly, "interpretive jiggery-pokery of the highest order. See King v. Burwell, 576 U.S. 473, 506 (2015) (Scalia, J., dissenting). It requires not just reading between the lines, but hallucinating new text that simply is not there. The third criterion requires that the individual "had 2 arranged and confirmable travel plans to the United States" as of January 20, 2025. 3 Not "had arranged and confirmable travel plans with a departure window within 4 two weeks of January 20, 2025." Not "had imminent travel plans." Not "had travel 5 plans like Plaintiff Pacito's." Just, "had arranged and confirmable travel plans." 6 Had the Ninth Circuit intended to impose a two-week limitation- one that would 7 reduce the protected population from about 12,000 to 160 individuals-it would 8 have done so explicitly. The Ninth Circuit is capable of imposing temporal 9 limitations when it intends to do so. That it did not do so here must be construed as 10 deliberate. And it goes without saying that 12,000 is not the "tens of thousands of 11 individuals" the Ninth Circuit implied to be problematic. This Court will not entertain the Government's result-oriented rewriting of a 4 judicial order that clearly says what it says. The Government is free, of course, to 5 seek further clarification from the Ninth Circuit. But the Government is not free to 6 disobey statutory and constitutional law-and the direct orders of this Court and 7 the Ninth Circuit-while it seeks such clarification. The Government's obligation to 8 process, admit, and provide statutorily mandated resettlement support services to 9 the Injunction-Protected Refugees is immediate. Likewise, the Government's 10 obligation to restore funding, information, and operational support to its USRAP 11 partners as necessary to process, admit, and provide resettlement services to these 12 individuals is also immediate.
May 6, 2025 at 1:51 AM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
What happened in the Perkins Coie lawsuit on Friday? Judge Beryl Howell declared Trump’s executive order against the law firm “null and void.”

In doing so, though, she did so much more. Read about it at Law Dork:
The ruling against Trump's law firm order shows how to respond in this moment
Judge Howell's decision striking down the order targeting Perkins Coie can serve as a framework for addressing Trump. And, for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs.
www.lawdork.com
May 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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thetnholler.bsky.social
Remember when Maine’s Governor Janet Mills told Trump she’d “see him in court”?

Well, she did. apnews.com/article/trum...
May 3, 2025 at 8:12 PM
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apnews.com
BREAKING: A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans from South Texas under an 18th-century wartime law.
Judge bars deportations of Venezuelans from South Texas under 18th-century wartime law
A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans from South Texas under an 18th-century wartime law. U.S.
bit.ly
May 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM
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50501movement.bsky.social
🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Mohsen Mahdawi was released on bail! Judge Crawford ordered the release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi this morning. Watch a video of Mahdawi speaking outside of the courthouse after his release BELOW 👇 #50501Movement #DefendDissent #MohsenMahdawi
A man, Mohsen Mahdawi with glasses and a scarf speaks into a microphone. The text overlay reads: "BREAKING NEWS MOHSEN MAHDAWI HAS BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL. Judge Crawford ordered the release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi this morning. Mohsen Mahdawi was released on bail around noon and spoke outside of the courthouse. Swipe to watch the video!" Image Source: AP. A black background with white text discusses the conditions of Mohsen Mahdawi's release. The text reads: "CONDITIONS OF RELEASE. Judge Geoffrey Crawford cited the harm caused by Mahdawi’s two-week detention without any criminal charges. Mahdawi, who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp, stated “And I am saying it, clear and loud, to President Trump and his cabinet, I’m not afraid of you.” His release is conditional, requiring him to stay in Vermont, except for school and attorney meetings in New York City. Mahdawi has been a legal permanent resident for 10 years. He gained attention for his role in organizing the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and for speaking out against the war in Gaza." Source: NPR. A photo of Mohsen Mahdawi raises his hands in a peace sign outside a building. The text overlay reads: "FOLLOW US TO STAY UPDATED ON MAHDAWI'S CASE. The case of Mohsen Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident, highlights a disturbing trend. Mahdawi's detention suggests this administration isn't truly concerned with criminality. Instead, it appears focused on targeting individuals, immigrant or not, deemed 'undesirable' based on their views or background."
April 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
I know others have gone into detail throughout the day, but I just want to make sure I highlight how important Judge Paula Xinis's order from today in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case is.

It is about discovery — the evidence the gov't is to turn over — but her points are sharp and the context is key.
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND KILMAR ARMANDO ABREGO GARCIA, et al., * Plaintiffs, * Civil Action No. 8:25-cv-00951-PX v. * KRISTI NOEM, Secretary, * United States Department * of Homeland Security, et al., * Defendants. * *** ORDER Pursuant to this Court’s Letter Order Regarding the Filing of Discovery Motions (ECF No. 80), Plaintiffs have notified the Court of seemingly intractable discovery disputes that require immediate attention to remain on the expedited discovery schedule. ECF Nos. 79 & 98. To facilitate the just and expeditious production of discovery, the Court rules on Defendants’ stated objections included within their answers to Interrogatories and responses to Requests for Production of Documents (“RPDs”). 1
April 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
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hcrichardson.bsky.social
April 20, 2025
April 20, 2025
Yesterday, on the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Americans across the country protested against President Donald J.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
April 21, 2025 at 6:18 AM
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thetnholler.bsky.social
ICYMI — “Shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday, the Supreme Court issued an emergency order halting the Trump administration’s reported efforts to fly Venezuelan migrants to an El Salvador prison before they could challenge their deportation.” slate.com/news-and-pol...
April 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
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chrisgeidner.bsky.social
BREAKING: Ninth Circuit denies Trump administration's request to enforce its anti-trans military ban during the administration's appeal of its loss below.

As covered at Law Dork, the same panel previously denied an administrative stay: www.lawdork.com/p/breaking-a...
Case: 25-2039, 04/18/2025, DktEntry: 31.1, Page 1 of 1 EMILY SHILLING; et al., Plaintiffs - Appellees, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT No. 25-2039 D.C. No. 2:25-cv-00241-BHS Western District of Washington, Seattle ORDER FILED APR 18 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS V. DONALD J. TRUMP, in his official capacity as President of the United States; et al., Defendants - Appellants. Before: TASHIMA, OWENS, and DESAI, Circuit Judges. The emergency motion (Docket Entry No. 9) to stay the district court's March 27, 2025 preliminary injunction is denied. See Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 434 (2009) (defining standard for stay pending appeal). Appellants have not demonstrated that they will suffer irreparable harm absent a stay. See Washington v. Trump, 847 F.3d 1151, 1168 (9th Cir. 2017); see also Doe #1 v. Trump, 957 F.3d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 2020).
April 19, 2025 at 12:21 AM