

Advisory Opinions
The Dispatch
Advisory Opinions is a legal podcast by The Dispatch. Hosts David French and Sarah Isgur meet twice a week to talk about the law, the courts, their collision with politics, and why it all matters.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 14, 2023 • 1h 12min
Is Donald Trump 'Absolutely Immune'?
Controversial abortion case in Texas, special counsel's petition to the Supreme Court, pro-life definition, conversion therapy's coverage by First Amendment, and Nancy's cancer diagnosis.

Dec 12, 2023 • 1h 4min
Clients Don't Always Listen
Topics discussed include university presidents' testimony prep, the ACLU's role in NRA v. Vullo, Trump's gag order, correcting a chief justice, dynamics of the client-lawyer relationship, personal experiences with team face paint, potential settlement in a story, NRA v. Vullo and free speech, Supreme Court decision and charges against Hunter Biden, language in media and journalism.

Dec 7, 2023 • 56min
Students Call for Genocide, Presidents Smirk
University presidents testify before Congress on antisemitism, lack of clear condemnation of anti-Semitic activity on college campuses discussed. Liability and behavior of witnesses during testimony explored. Smirking and clownish behavior in GOP addressed. Controversial photo, lawsuits, and Supreme Court oral arguments analyzed. Heartwarming story of love through Supreme Court shared.

Dec 5, 2023 • 1h 33min
Bionic Judges
Judge Kevin Newsom joins Sarah and David to talk about various topics including lunchtime constitutional conversations, clerk hiring, health scares, ping pong skills, the Oscar recruitment system, rethinking standing doctrine, finding your writing style, and defamation and falsity in portrayals.

Nov 30, 2023 • 1h 11min
Inconsistent and Repugnant
Supreme Court argument on double jeopardy law, dating site shoutout, mistrials vs. double jeopardy, federal rights vs. state interpretations, the coolest unused word, losing with valor at SCOTUS, Fifth Circuit and Rahimi case, AO's next guest

Nov 28, 2023 • 1h 13min
Story Time for Fed Court Nerds
Discussion includes lowdown of the Voting Rights Act, hacking minority districts, laws created by precedents versus statutes, undoing the Warren Court, section two rights in civil court, reporters not going to activists, Elon versus Media Matters, and humorous blind date anecdotes.

Nov 21, 2023 • 1h 20min
Hamburger Mary's Risqué Drag Show
In this podcast, Sarah and David discuss a First Amendment case involving risqué drag shows at a burger joint, challenges to Donald Trump's ballot access, and hunter harassment laws. They also touch on topics such as masked protesters, anti-Klan laws, and the challenges of finding a partner for marriage.

Nov 16, 2023 • 1h 1min
The New Supreme Court Ethics Code Is...Okay?
Topics include Bari Weiss' speech, new Supreme Court ethics code, Trump trademark case, limited public forum, reflections on advocacy, and distortion of truth in activism.

4 snips
Nov 14, 2023 • 44min
Bari Weiss: Fight, Fight Fight
Bari Weiss discusses the role of anti-Semitism, the war of ideas, the impact of postmodernism, measuring fairness, conspiracy theories, suspicion around success, decolonization, and examining the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Nov 9, 2023 • 1h 7min
Solicitor General 9000
This podcast discusses two Supreme Court cert grants that involve gun-related issues. They also analyze op-eds by judges on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a ban on bump stocks. The hosts explore book banning and the horseshoe theory, as well as analyze the oral arguments in the Rahimi case. They discuss the arguments on gun ownership restrictions and speculate on potential dissenting opinions. The podcast also touches on a challenging Supreme Court case and explores predictions on gun rights law.


