Michael Karlik

Here's the story, with Martínez calling the detention conditions in Aurora "abhorrent" and noting immigration officials do not "enjoy an unfettered right to detain noncitizens in contravention with their Fifth Amendment rights."
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/feder...

The Court is also troubled by Maldonado’s testimony explaining that “with so many deportations going on, the phones are turned off. . . [until] about 5:00 or 6:00 in the afternoon, maybe sometimes 4:00, . . . three or four times a week.” (Tr. 29:7–13.) This suggests to the Court that there is a real risk that ICE will initiate efforts to remove Maldonado while severing his ability to seek counsel before he is deported. Maldonado’s counsel powerfully expressed the same concern during the evidentiary hearing. (Tr. 92:21–93:22 (A: “I am terrified that [Maldonado] will be removed unlawfully like [Kilmar Abrego Garcia].” . . . Q: “So, effectively what you’re telling me is that you have a concern that under this administration, the DHS and ICE will not follow the rule of law?” / A: “That is exactly what I’m saying.”).)

NEW: Senior Judge William Martínez just dropped an order requiring a release hearing for a torture victim in ICE custody, and also prohibiting ICE from removing him unlawfully. The judge found a "real risk" of that happening.

Federal judge dismisses challenge to Jeffco overnight field trip policy's reliance on gender identity A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a constitutional challenge to the overnight field trip policy of Jeffco Public Schools, filed by multiple families who objected to rooming assignments based on st...

NEW: Judge Gina Rodriguez dismissed a lawsuit from the Alliance Defending Freedom challenging a Colorado school district's use of gender identity to assign overnight lodging. The plaintiffs had no constitutional right to impose "their own personal views":
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/feder...

Defendant's 'train wreck' of a statement prompts appeals court to order new trial Colorado's second-highest court ordered a new trial on Thursday for a defendant whose 16-minute statement mid-trial, which had no basis in criminal procedure and was described by one judge as a "train...

A belligerent, self-represented defendant appeared only once during his trial: to make a 16-minute statement not authorized by the procedural rules & frequently derailed by objections/screaming. The Court of Appeals found the trial's fairness was compromised:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/defen...

Appeals court overturns $850K+ in sanctions Douglas County judge imposed without explanation Colorado's second-highest court on Thursday reversed a Douglas County judge's decision to impose more than $850,000 in sanctions on a pair of litigants and their lawyer without explaining why the amou...

A Douglas County judge imposed more than $850,000 in sanctions on a lawyer and his clients, who misled the court more than once. But the judge didn't explain his reasoning for the amount, prompting the Court of Appeals to order a redo:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/appea...

The remodeling of the White House’s rose garden makes it look like a cafeteria terrace.

Despite prevailing at SCOTUS, 10th Circuit again rejects man's age discrimination lawsuit Six months after the nation's highest court ruled that a man could theoretically reopen his age discrimination case to challenge an arbitrator's unfair decision, the Denver-based federal appeals court...

A plaintiff's lawyers (mistakenly) dismissed his age discrimination case so he could begin arbitration. He later moved to reopen the case and a judge found the arbitrator's decision was flawed. But the 10th Circuit said too bad, the courts can't do anything:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/despi...

Appeals court directs Jeffco judge to reconsider releasing man's car from Lakewood police custody Colorado's second-highest court last week directed a Jefferson County judge to reconsider a man's request for Lakewood police to return his car, which the city declined to release even after his crimi...

Lakewood police took a man's car because they were investigating the possible homicide of his girlfriend. He pleaded guilty to a non-homicide offense, his case ended, and Lakewood refused to give back his car. The Court of Appeals told a judge to handle it:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/appea...

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit by Club Q survivors at parties' request A federal judge last week dismissed a consolidated lawsuit brought by survivors of a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub shooting, but permitted the plaintiffs to refile certain claims in state court.

At the request of the parties, a federal judge dismissed the remaining claims by Club Q mass shooting survivors against the property owners. They may now refile in state court:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/feder...

In private group chat, GOP lawmakers made crude jokes about a Democratic colleague's clothing The thread was sparked by a photo that was later posted to social media, unleashing online harassment.

Kudos to @cprnews.bsky.social Capitol reporter Bente Birkeland for her reporting on this absolute horror story. www.cpr.org/2025/08/06/c...

“Make everybody happy” - Torrington Telegram It’s 6:05 a.m. in the morning on Thursday, Aug. 8 – Fair Day

I shadowed the two employees who make the county fair run every year as they did the behind-the-scenes work few people clock.

"Everybody wants their kids to be happy. Making them stress-free and happy is probably the biggest part of the day.”
www.torringtontelegram.com/stories/make...

The dream inside the closet - Torrington Telegram Walking down the hallway of Guernsey-Sunrise High School, the locked door next to the art room blends into the wall as nothing more than a janitorial closet.

A teacher started a collection of homecoming dresses in her school for students whose families couldn’t afford one.

“She put it on and she just had tears. She just was like, ‘wow, I actually feel pretty.’”
www.torringtontelegram.com/stories/the-...

Personal engagement, personalized learning key to new superintendent’s philosophy - Torrington Telegram For Ryan Kramer, engaging with students on a personal level is the key to education.

The new schools superintendent in an overwhelmingly White district acknowledged the need to address anti-Hispanic bullying.

“Those type of statements should increase our blood pressure to draw a reaction from each and every employee within the district.”
www.torringtontelegram.com/stories/pers...

‘A code of ethics’ - Torrington Telegram “What is a firearm?”

I took the hunting licensure class that generations of people in the area had been through.

“One of the hardest things to do is tell a friend or relative that he or she is acting unsafely.” But “once that gun goes off, you can never call that shot back.”
www.torringtontelegram.com/stories/a-co...

Maternity police - Torrington Telegram “We don’t call you chief of police?” a second grade student asked the woman standing at the head of the class.

When the police chief — and only member of the police force — got pregnant, leaders in the town of 400 people quickly accommodated her & allowed her to stay off the street.

“They should be commended for what they’re doing,” said a national police trainer.
www.torringtontelegram.com/stories/mate...

Dear friends and neighbors, I am deeply saddened to announce 30 employees across nine publications here in Wyoming and Nebraska received a letter this morning, stating, effective today, August 6, 2025, News Media Corporation has ceased operations. The announcement has come as a shock to us. While current economic trends were being navigated, we were moving forward, adjusting our business model to today’s economy and did not expect the sudden closure. Across the state, we employed some of the greatest and hard working individuals I’ve ever met. I am forever grateful for their dedication to you, our readers and advertisers, and their commitment to bringing valuable news and information on a daily basis. Our hearts hurt. I am devastated by the loss of such a crucial and valuable resource. Nine communities no longer have a newspaper. With our vast spaces, there will undoubtedly be a void, leaving stories of great people, great accomplishments and great memories going untold. No more watchdog for local governments. We love our communities and we loved serving the people. Thank you to everyone for your support over the years. We wish we could have said a proper goodbye.

This is awful — the Wyoming newspaper where I first started is now gone. This paper, housed on the main street of town, told people about what the city council, school board and broader civic community of 14,000 people was doing.

Here are some examples of what was — and no longer will be — covered:

3 federal judges in Colorado taught at CU part-time while handling cases involving university Three of Colorado's sitting federal judges taught part-time at the University of Colorado's law school while they handled civil cases involving the university or associated entities.

Three federal judges in Colorado have taught part-time at Colorado Law while handling cases where the University of Colorado is a defendant. While recusal wasn't automatically required, the situation can appear unseemly, as @fixthecourt.com points out:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/3-fed...

Colorado judicial discipline rules released for public comment The panel charged with enacting protocols governing the judicial discipline process has released a set of new rules for public comment.

Colorado's judicial discipline rule-making committee has released three rules for public comment (even though they've been in effect on an interim basis). One is a brand new rule, the others address temporary suspensions of judges and sanctioning authority:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/color...

Colorado Supreme Court accepts cases on campaign transparency, crime victim restitution The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will review whether the state's requirement that ballot issue advocacy groups disclose the name of their legal representative on their election c...

The Colorado Supreme Court accepted cases on:
-the requirement that ballot issue advocacy groups list their registered agent on their advertising
-whether prosecutors' failure to obtain timely restitution details can excuse a defendant from paying restitution
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/color...

There is simply not enough to say about how bad this is. Not only will we miss out on cures for infections & things like pancreatic cancer, the US will fall behind in science, tech, economy, and while other countries will take this over it will still be slowed/delayed. It’s a national security risk!

10th Circuit, 2-1, rules ignoring emergency signal from jail detainees is clear constitutional violation The Denver-based federal appeals court concluded on Monday that a jail employee can violate a detainee's clear constitutional rights by ignoring an emergency distress signal, even if there is no furth...

By 2-1, the 10th Circuit ruled that jail employees may commit a clear constitutional violation if they ignore a detainee's emergency signal, even if they can't tell what the nature of the potential emergency is:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/10th-...

10th Circuit finds judge erred in imposing sex offender treatment for man's bank robbery conviction The Denver-based federal appeals court concluded on Friday that a judge imposed sex offender treatment for a defendant's attempted bank robbery conviction in violation of federal sentencing rules.

A federal judge sentenced a man to sex offender treatment for his attempted bank robbery. Although the condition was aimed at his 21-year-old attempted sex offense, the 10th Circuit said the judge improperly relied on unproven allegations of what happened:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/10th-...

"Virtually all of us are committed" to SCOTUS's ethics code, Sotomayor tells audience in Zurich fixthecourt.com/2025/08/new-.... ("Virtually"? 🫠)

She also owned up to a missed recusal that we first IDed & said not all term limits proposals are constitutional, including a leading one from House Dems

Federal judge partially sides with Catholic health clinic on Colorado's 'abortion reversal' ban A federal judge on Friday permanently blocked Colorado from enforcing against a Catholic health clinic the portion of a 2023 law that prevents medical professionals from offering "abortion reversal" t...

On Friday, the lone Trump appointee on Colorado's district court blocked the state from enforcing a law prohibiting "abortion reversal" treatment against a Catholic health clinic. However, contrary to certain press releases, he didn't "strike down" the law:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/feder...

Could it be a joke? Sure. Is he seriously thinking about stepping down? I don't know. It's clearly documented that he wasn't angling for a trial judgeship at the time Trump appointed him. At minimum, it's worth making a mental note of for later. (2/2)

So I look forward to in a few years, if Mr. Belcher's 14 right, that we're all still here -- which I'm not sure I am 15 quite as hopeful for myself. But I do hope that you won't vi

So, I saw something odd when looking through a transcript of a May 2024 sentencing hearing. Judge Dan Domenico (early 50s, 2019 Trump appointee, next in line to be Colorado's chief district judge) quips that he's not entirely sure he'll be on the court in a few years....(1/2)

Pro Soccer Player Who Spent 125 Days At CECOT Gives Chilling Account Of His Time There “Both the physical and mental abuse doled out by the officers made me think sometimes that I would never leave that place,” Jerce Reyes Barrios said.

pro soccer player Jerce Reyes Barrios followed all the rules when he came to the US. His lawyer told took his asylum case bc it seemed like a "slam dunk. Then US officials sent him to CECOT, where he was told he'd spend the rest of his life

w/@mattshuham.bsky.social www.huffpost.com/entry/pro-so...

Federal judge weighs release of detained man tortured in home country A federal judge on Friday considered whether to release a man in custody who suffered torture at the hands of government authorities in his home country and who remains detained, even after prevailing...

NEW: Today a federal judge heard a torture victim’s request to be freed from immigration detention, or to at least bar ICE from transferring him away from Colorado. An ICE officer testified the man was almost moved out of state, despite his federal case:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/feder...

Appeals judge calls for investigation into law firm's handling of potential murder weapon A member of Colorado's second-highest court took the extraordinary step on Thursday of calling for an investigation into the "serious ethical issues" raised by a criminal defense firm's concealment of...

A Colorado Court of Appeals judge took the extraordinary step of calling for an investigation into a law firm that may have violated ethical rules by concealing a potential murder weapon at its office for three years:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/appea...

Appeals court eases path for injured plaintiffs to appeal unsuccessful claims against government Colorado's second-highest court on Thursday clarified that injured plaintiffs have the same opportunity as the government to appeal a judge's order whenever the claims implicate the immunity afforded ...

Colorado’s Court of Appeals clarified that plaintiffs suing the government have the same options — not fewer — as public entities for the timing of filing an appeal that pertains to governmental immunity:
www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/appea...