Strict Scrutiny
Strict Scrutiny
Strict Scrutiny is a podcast about the United States Supreme Court and the legal culture that surrounds it.
Hosted by three badass constitutional law professors-- Leah Litman, Kate Shaw, and Melissa Murray-- Strict Scrutiny provides in-depth, accessible, and irreverent analysis of the Supreme Court and its cases, culture, and personalities. Each week, Leah, Kate, and Melissa break down the latest headlines and biggest legal questions facing our country, emphasizing what it all means for our daily lives.
Whether you’re a lawyer or law student, or you’re just here for the messy legal drama, Strict Scrutiny has you covered. New episodes out every Monday… plus bonuses whenever SCOTUS takes away another one of our rights.
Hosted by three badass constitutional law professors-- Leah Litman, Kate Shaw, and Melissa Murray-- Strict Scrutiny provides in-depth, accessible, and irreverent analysis of the Supreme Court and its cases, culture, and personalities. Each week, Leah, Kate, and Melissa break down the latest headlines and biggest legal questions facing our country, emphasizing what it all means for our daily lives.
Whether you’re a lawyer or law student, or you’re just here for the messy legal drama, Strict Scrutiny has you covered. New episodes out every Monday… plus bonuses whenever SCOTUS takes away another one of our rights.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 11, 2021 • 46min
Messing with Texas
Leah, Melissa, and Kate reconvene for another emergency podcast on Texas SB8, which is now being challenged by the federal government. Y’all, they are messing with Texas! Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Sep 6, 2021 • 43min
Untitled Dating Show
It’s law school advice time, Strict Scrutiny style! Melissa and Leah chat with Mark Moran, graduate of UVA Law and contestant on FBoy Island, for the first ever Strict Scrutiny x FBoy Island Crossover. What can law school teach you about reality TV, and reality TV teach you about law school? A lot, it turns out…. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Sep 4, 2021 • 46min
Flagrantly Unconstitutional
Melissa, Kate, & Leah get together again to discuss the Supreme Court’s decision in the Texas SB8 case, what is happening now in Texas, and what might happen still with the law. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Sep 2, 2021 • 40min
Message Received
Commander Professor Steve Vladeck joins us for an emergency episode about SB8, the most restrictive abortion law that has been allowed to go into effect since Roe v. Wade. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Aug 30, 2021 • 54min
Sexual Justice
Kate and Leah talk with Alexandra Brodsky, founding co-director of Know Your IX and author of Sexual Justice: Supporting Victims, Ensuring Due Process, and Resisting the Conservative Backlash. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Aug 23, 2021 • 54min
How Rights Went Wrong
Kate and Leah talk with Jamal Greene about his new book, How Rights Went Wrong: Why Our Obsession with Rights is Tearing America Apart. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Aug 16, 2021 • 47min
Open Wound
Melissa talks reparations with Katherine Franke, Columbia Law Professor and author of Repair: Redeeming the Promise of Abolition. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Aug 9, 2021 • 1h 3min
Superminority Status
Melissa and Leah are joined by Easha Anand (MacArthur Justice Center) and Kate Levine (Cardozo University School of Law) to recap the big criminal law cases from last term. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Aug 2, 2021 • 56min
Born Tired
In collaboration with The Appellate Project, Leah, Kate, and Melissa talk to Debo Adegbile and Bruce Spiva about voting rights and diversity in the appellate bar. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
Jul 26, 2021 • 50min
Anti-Democratic Super Weapon
It’s Supreme Court reform summer! On this episode, Leah talks to Professor Nikolas Bowie about his testimony to the Presidential commission on the Supreme Court and whether we have or should have a democracy. Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025!
3/6/26 – San Francisco
3/7/26 – Los Angeles
Learn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
