Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · 5d

I'm very excited about this panel @sxswedu.com! This group has so much to share about how how state constitutions protect and empower young people.

SXSW EDU @sxswedu.com · 6d

Hear from state constitution super-users @erings.bsky.social, Celina Stewart (@lwvus.bsky.social), @harperseldin.bsky.social (@aclu.org), and Julia Olson (@youthvgov.bsky.social), as they demonstrate how dynamic learning about state constitutions can be in their SXSW EDU Featured Session.

Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Sep 4

👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 @lawrencehurley.bsky.social for this important story.

Alicia Bannon @aliciabannon.bsky.social · Sep 4

This is a remarkable article. Federal judges are increasingly speaking out against SCOTUS’s approach to the shadow docket. This isn't typical & underscores the impossible position for lower courts when SCOTUS makes new law on its emergency docket – especially when it doesn’t explain its rulings. /1

Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨EXCLUSIVE:

Federal judges tell NBC News the Supreme Court has got to do a better job of explaining emergency rulings, with frequent decisions in favor of Trump at least appearing to validate harsh criticism of the judiciary at a time of rising threats:

www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Aug 12

Have you voted yet for our @statecourtreport.org SXSW EDU (proposed) panel? We've lined up an all-star group: @lwvus.bsky.social CEO Celina Stewart, @aclu.org's Harper Seldin, and @youthvgov.bsky.social's Julia Olson. But we need your vote! THANK YOU FOR VOTING! participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals

PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

participate.sxsw.com

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Alicia Bannon @aliciabannon.bsky.social · Jul 28

ICYMI: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein spoke with @statecourtreport.org's @erings.bsky.social about disability rights and his experience as the court's first blind justice. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein Discusses Disability Rights

Bernstein, the court’s first blind justice, travels the world promoting access and equality for disabled people.

statecourtreport.org

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Reposted by Erin Geiger Smith

Marcelius Braxton @marceliusb.bsky.social · Jul 23

Why did I write about state court pushback to the Dred Scott decision? Because President Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order directly cited the Dred Scott decision when he took aim at birthright citizenship. And we could see state courts pushback against the Supreme Court again. I'll explain. /1

State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · Jul 23

NEW: Many of SCOTUS's recent rulings have been criticized for their apparent bias and politicization. @marceliusb.bsky.social dives into the history of state court pushback against the 1857 Dred Scott ruling denying Black Americans citizenship to show how SCOTUS doesn't always have the final say.

How State Courts Pushed Back on an Infamous U.S. Supreme Court Case

Dred Scott, widely considered a stain on the U.S. Supreme Court’s history, denied citizenship to Black Americans in 1857. Many state supreme courts refused to follow it.

statecourtreport.org

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State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · Jul 21

NEW: Check out @erings.bsky.social's interview with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, the state's first blind justice, where they discussed his serving as a supreme court justice with a disability, the importance of empathy, advice he wished he’d gotten as a law student, and more.

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein Discusses Disability Rights

Bernstein, the court’s first blind justice, travels the world promoting access and equality for disabled people.

statecourtreport.org

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Reposted by Erin Geiger Smith

Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · Jul 21

The U.S. government is building a sweeping digital surveillance dragnet that turns social media into a tool for monitoring, screening, and enforcement. A single post can follow someone from abroad, at the border, and into every stage of life on U.S. soil. 1/9 www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

The Government’s Growing Trove of Social Media Data

It’s increasingly collecting and using social media information to make high-stakes decisions related to immigration.

www.brennancenter.org

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Jul 15

Today at 3: Watch @brennancenter.org @statecourtreport.bsky.social panel with all-star education experts discussing this case and other Trump administration education actions, and how states can respond. RSVP here: www.brennancenter.org/events/troub...

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Jul 14

Seems like a good time to mention @brennancenter.org and @statecourtreport.bsky.social are hosting a free virtual event tomorrow on how states are handling the roller coaster of education cuts and changes. Excellent panelists! RSVP here: www.brennancenter.org/events/troub...

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State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · Jul 2

BREAKING: The Wisconsin Supreme Court said today that an 1849 ‘zombie’ law does not ban abortions, contrary to arguments by state Republicans. During oral arguments, one justice said attempts to apply the 175-year-old law in the present day was a sign of "a world gone mad."

Wisconsin Justices Appear Hostile to 175-Year-Old Abortion Law

The dispute over whether the 1849 law bans nearly all abortions in the state is a sign of a “world gone mad,” one justice said.

statecourtreport.org

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Reposted by Erin Geiger Smith

Alicia Bannon @aliciabannon.bsky.social · Jun 27

Today SCOTUS limited the scope of court orders (called injunctions) blocking Trump’s birthright citizenship order. To be clear, Trump's order is plainly unconstitutional & courts continue to have the power to stop its enforcement. /1

Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · Jun 27

First #SCOTUS ruling today is birthright citizenship.

Justice Barrett, for a 6-3 majority (with the three Dem. appointees dissenting) holds that universal injunctions are only appropriate when necessary to provide "complete" relief to parties, and stays these injunctions insofar as they go further:

www.supremecourt.gov

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Jun 23

Thank You for Voting came out five years ago today.

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Liza Goitein @lizagoitein.bsky.social · Jun 13

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) requiring Trump to return control of the National Guard to CA Governor Newsom. The order is accompanied by a powerful opinion that affirms the rule of law, separation of powers, and the First Amendment. 1/23

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Jun 3

Congrats to the team at Borgo, which is brand new but manages to feel like it’s been open forever. An absolute stand out in NYC.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jun 3

Of course, there are more than 100 amazing restaurants in New York. But these best answered: Where would we send our friends? Which places are worth a splurge? Here's the full list of the 100 best restaurants in New York City: trib.al/pjfiyQq

A still life of a light-colored bowl filled with a modern culinary dish, featuring sliced meat, cream, and greens, with "The 100 Best Restaurants In New York City" overlaid.

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Jun 2

I’ve edited several essays in this series, and it’s fascinating (and fun even) to learn the history and quirks. Montana’s is/was particularly unique.

State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · May 29

Did you know state constitutions can be even more protective of our rights than the US Constitution? We’ve asked an expert from each state to dive into their constitution, narrate its history, identify its quirks, and summarize its most essential components for our readers. Learn about yours here:

Series: Exploring State Constitutions

statecourtreport.org

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The New York Times @nytimes.com · May 27

Breaking News: A judge ruled that President Trump’s order targeting WilmerHale, a law firm associated with his political opposition, was unconstitutional.

Judge Strikes Down Trump Order Targeting WilmerHale

www.nytimes.com

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · May 24

A beautifully written story of complicated facts and feelings. By @bernstein.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/m...

My Father Prosecuted History’s Crimes. Then He Died in One.

www.nytimes.com

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · May 24

Law at issue shifts power to appoint elections bd members from gov to state auditor. Justices Earls and Riggs issued sharp dissents. Earls: “No one calls their accountant to protect their right to vote.” Riggs: Decision “threatens to erode the integrity of the judicial branch.”

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · May 24

On Friday, the NC Supreme Court allowed a major control shift over state election administration to stand, at least for now, despite a trial court finding the change is unconstitutional. @brennancenter.org's Justin Lam explained why this power grab matters. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

North Carolina Court Enables a Partisan Shift on State Elections Board

The court approved a law to strip the governor’s election board powers, risking creating a precedent for partisan power-grabbing.

statecourtreport.org

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Stephen Spaulding @stevespaulding.bsky.social · May 21

Today @hankjohnson.house.gov introduced the TERM Act—a bill to create 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices. The bottom line is this: no one should hold too much power for too long. 1/

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · May 21

Things I learned: The Ohio Constitution is one of the nation’s oldest, but events in the last few years — repro rights fights, gerrymandering, questionable state supreme court decisions — have kept this 1851 doc in the news cycle.

State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · May 21

NEW: Our latest essay spotlighting state constitutions comes from Steven Steinglass, who dives deep into the history that shaped the Ohio Constitution—including major events in 2023 and 2024—and the uncertainty of its future.

The Ohio Constitution: Its History and Its Future

Recent amendments, and fights against them, demonstrate the importance of the state constitution.

statecourtreport.org

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · May 10

I wrote about Allison Riggs in my 2020 book Thank You for Voting when she was arguing for voters’ rights at SCOTUS. Five years later, she spent six months demanding votes in her race for NC Supreme Court be counted. She won.

State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · May 8

NEW: "You can’t change the rules after an election." In a win for voters, the six-month dispute over the NC Supreme Court election ended yesterday with Griffin's concession to Riggs. @erings.bsky.social discusses the details and stakes of dispute:

Griffin Concedes to Riggs, Ending Six-Month Dispute Over North Carolina Supreme Court Election

The concession follows a federal court decision Monday denying Griffin’s efforts to throw out votes cast in the 2024 election and saying the election must be certified.

statecourtreport.org

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · May 7

6 months after the election, the person who won the election will be seated. And those citizens who took the time to participate in democracy will have their votes counted.

Sean Morales-Doyle @seanmorales-doyle.bsky.social · May 7

Today, Judge Griffin conceded this election to Justice Riggs, saying he wouldn't appeal the decision. This means we still live in a world where votes are counted according to rules in place during the election and not some new set drawn up by a court after the fact. www.newsday.com/news/nation/...

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Erin Geiger Smith @erings.bsky.social · Apr 25

My @statecourtreport.bsky.social colleague @douglaskeith.bsky.social in @slate.com on today’s arrest of a Wisconsin judge. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

ICE’s New Courthouse Arrest Policy Set Them on a Collision Course with State Courts

The arrest of a Wisconsin judge comes after ICE walked back policies designed to ensure communities wouldn’t be afraid to access courts

statecourtreport.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · Apr 25

Arresting a judge for something like this is dangerous and wrong. We know that ICE's presence in courthouses makes our communities less safe. 1/2

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Apr 25

Breaking News: FBI Director Kash Patel said that agents arrested a Wisconsin county judge and accused her of obstructing immigration enforcement, a major escalation in the Trump administration’s battle with local authorities over deportations.

Wisconsin Judge Arrested, Accused of Shielding Immigrant From Federal Agents

Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested on suspicion that she “intentionally misdirected federal agents away from” an immigrant being pursued by the authorities, the F.B.I. director said in a social media pos...

www.nytimes.com

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