Advisory Opinions

It’s an (almost) Supreme Court-free podcast episode today. First, David talks about a ruling from the 4th Circuit striking down federal prohibitions on adults under 21 purchasing firearms, and Sarah gives her thoughts on whether the decision will stand. Then, our hosts dive into the latest in the Michael Avenatti saga, a ruling from a federal judge sentencing him to two and half years in prison for extortion. Finally, Sarah and David chat about a new Tennessee law requiring businesses to notify their customers about their transgender bathroom access policies. Show Notes: -Hirschfeld v. Bureau of Alcohol -Michael Avenatti sentenced to prison for 30 months -Tennessee bathroom law Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s podcast, David and Sarah talk about the recent Supreme Court term and how Trump’s justices have changed the ideological makeup of the court. After some SCOTUSBlog stats analysis, Sarah explains how she would categorize the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence this year, and why a lot of commentators are leaving out part of the story when they discuss the justices’ ideological leanings. Plus, a dive into an anti-critical race theory lawsuit out of Evanston, Illinois, where elementary school students have been getting simplistic and controversial “anti-whiteness” training. Show Notes: -SCOTUSBlog statistics -Deemar v. Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After some brief thoughts about Trump’s lawsuits against Facebook, Twitter, and Google, Sarah and David chat with a special guest: Peter Canellos, editor at large at Politico and the author of a new biography of Justice John Marshall Harlan. Tune in to hear Canellos share some of his research on a man whom he describes as “America’s judicial hero,” a justice who went from Southern slave owner to staunch segregation opponent. Our hosts ask Canellos about Harlan’s famous dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson and what Harlan’s legacy means for the country today. Show Notes: -Trump’s lawsuit against Twitter -The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America's Judicial Hero Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s not-quite-emergency pod, Sarah and David have thoughts to share about the Supreme Court’s orders from last Friday. David discusses the ins and outs of the Arlene’s Flowers case, where the court denied an appeal from a flower shop owner that refused to design arrangements for a same-sex wedding, and analyzes how Supreme Court justices don’t always rule the way people predict. Then Sarah goes into a slew of other orders from the court on qualified immunity for university admins, religious liberty for the Amish, defamation against public figures, and eminent domain. Plus, David and Sarah review a ruling from a Minneapolis judge that throws a wrench into “defund the police.” Show Notes: -Friday Supreme Court orders -Writ of mandamus from Minneapolis judge on police force Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s podcast, David and Sarah start with a discussion about Bill Cosby’s getting released from prison after his sentence was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on due process grounds. Our hosts then turn to the two big final decisions from the Supreme Court on voting rights and anonymous donor disclosures, cases that divided the court along ideological lines. Sarah explores the ins and outs of Elena Kagan’s dissent in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, while David explains how Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta isn’t the conservative victory some news outlets have claimed. Finally, David and Sarah talk about a new big tech bill out of Florida that puts a lot of new requirements on big social media platforms (except those operated by certain state theme parks). Show Notes: -Pennsylvania Supreme Court Bill Cosby decision -Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee -Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got a lot more first rate Supreme Court analysis for you in today’s pod. David and Sarah break down the most recent cert grant announcements and the court’s refusal to hear some contentious cases involving interstate conflict, transgender bathroom access, and marijuana. They then dive into the Supreme Court’s opinion in Lombardo v. City of St. Louis, which asked a lower court to reevaluate whether police used excessive force in kneeling on the back of a handcuffed suspect who later died. Also, Sarah gives her thoughts on Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, a property law dispute involving union recruiting that divided the Supreme Court along even ideological lines. Finally, David and Sarah discuss a heated confrontation at the 5th Circuit about a case involving police officers who tased a person soaked in gasoline and set him on fire. Show Notes: -Thomas statement on federal marijuana laws -John Lombardo v. City of St. Louis, Missouri -Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid -5th Circuit ruling on police incineration -5th Circuit ruling on en banc petition (and Justice Willett’s dissent) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was a big win for student free speech at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. In today’s pod, David and Sarah talk all about the long-awaited decision in Mahanoy Area School District v. BL, where the court ruled in favor of a high school cheerleader who was suspended from her team after posting a profanity-laden Snapchat. Our hosts discuss what Justice Stephen Breyer’s ruling means for free speech for students going forward and how much of an impact on schools it will actually have. They then analyze Samuel Alito’s concurrence and Clarence Thomas’ lone “curmudgeonly” dissent. Plus, a quick dive into Lange v. California, the “hot pursuit” Supreme Court case that limits when and how police officers can enter a home without a warrant. Show Notes -Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. -Lange v. California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Student athletes have reason to celebrate after Monday’s big Supreme Court NCAA decision. In today’s episode, David and Sarah discuss the ins and outs of National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston, a unanimous ruling that paves the way for college athletes to receive compensation beyond scholarships as long as it is tied to their education. Our hosts talk about how the case will set a precedent for the future, and analyze a concurrence from the court’s very own basketball coach, Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Also on the podcast, Sarah walks through two other Supreme Court rulings on security fraud and patents. Finally, David and Sarah chat about her recent Twitter spat with Case Western law professor Jonathan Adler about standing in the Obamacare case. Show Notes: -National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston -Goldman Sachs Group Inc. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System -United States v. Arthrex Inc. -Jonathan Adler’s Reason article about the Supreme Court Obamacare case Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The big Supreme Court rulings have finally arrived! On today’s podcast, David and Sarah discuss two unexpected majorities in California v. Texas, which upheld the constitutionality of Obamacare (again!), and Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which unanimously protected the religious liberty of Catholic Social Services after the city of Philadelphia excluded CSS from its foster parent program for refusing to certify same-sex couples as foster parents. Our hosts analyze how the Supreme Court denied standing to the states challenging the ACA and then dive into two spicy opinions from Alito. Plus, some “palace intrigue” discussion about whether Alito was denied his chance to write a majority opinion. Show Notes: -California v. Texas -Fulton v. City of Philadelphia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s jam-packed episode, David and Sarah discuss the Supreme Court’s invitation to the Biden administration to weigh in on a pending challenge to Harvard’s affirmative action policy. Our hosts also untangle two criminal cases that united the justices unanimously in favor of the government, one on felons possessing firearms and another on sentence reduction. Then, Sarah shares insight from her own time at the Department of Justice into why a New York Times story that the Trump-era Justice Department seized the data of congressional Democrats might be overblown. They also explain why the DoJ appears to be siding with former President Donald Trump in a defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll. Finally, they discuss why a recent Twitter thread on critical race theory that inspired a “hate tsunami” online should inspire you to go attend your local school board meetings. Show Notes: -Greer v. United States -Terry v. United States -The New York Times’ June 10 initial subpoena story -The New York Times’ June 13 follow-up story about Don McGahn’s records -The New York Times’ June 11 follow-up story about DoJ opening an investigation into the subpoenas -Explanation of Assistant U.S. attorney -David’s Twitter thread -David’s debate with Christopher Rufo on Bari Weiss’ podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices