Advisory Opinions

Latest Episodes:

Listening to a Justice | Interview: Justice Amy Coney Barrett Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett joins Sarah Isgur and David French from the Lawyer’s Room at the Supreme Court. They begin with a lightning round of questions (Emergency docket? Certiorari pronunciation?) before diving into ACB’s thoughts on originalism and discussing her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and the Constitution.

The Agenda:
—Lightning round!
—Give up, “equity docket,” David
—Do oral arguments even matter anymore?
—All about originalism
—Life as a Justice Antonin Scalia clerk
—Law school: to go or not to go?

Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Speech and ‘The Executive Power’ | FIRE Crossover Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

David French and Sarah Isgur speak with Nico Perrino to discuss the origin story of Advisory Opinions andthe few free speech issues where they disagree with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

Show Notes:
—Origin story of Advisory Opinions
—Disagreements between FIRE and AO
—Why FIRE doesn’t editorialize on the content of speech
—Limits of presidential power
—Free speech, the dread of tyrants
—The prosecution of political figures
—Cracker Barrel
—State of the conservative legal movement

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Flag Burning Becomes a Crime | Interview: Sanford and Cynthia Levinson Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French talk about flag burning and protected free speech in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order on the same subject.

Then, husband-wife duo Sanford and Cynthia Levinson, authors ofFault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today, join to discuss why they believe some of our contemporary political problems stem from our founding document.

The Agenda:
—President Trump's executive order
—Texas v. Johnson
—Dinkus vs. Dingus
—Greenbag.org
—NIH v. American Public Health Association
—Intro to constitutional law for non-lawyers

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political Retribution? | Interview: Saikrishna Prakash Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French analyze the legalities of the FBI’s raid on former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s home. Then, an interview with Saikrishna Bangalore Prakash on his forthcoming book, The Presidential Pardon: The Short Clause with a Long, Troubled History.

The Agenda:
—What could have triggered an FBI raid on John Bolton?
—Is Chris Christie next on the investigation list?
—Mortgage fraud investigations
—More and more norm violations
—The double-edged sword of pardons

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are Age Verification Laws Constitutional? Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French analyze Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurrence in the NetChoice v. Mississippi case and whether or not states can enforce unconstitutional laws.

The Agenda:
—Battle of the irreparable harms
—SCOTUS and political battles
—Revisiting minors’ First Amendment rights
—Dissential battle raging at the 6th Circuit
—White House joins TikTok
—Let the drag shows continue
—Christian Legal Society vs. Martinez

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federalizing D.C. | Live From the Alaska Federal Bar Association Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French break down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching use of executive powers—from calling in the National Guard at home to pushing the limits of tariff authority abroad. Then, they continue part two of life advice for lawyers with 9th Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay.

The Agenda:
—Sarah and David and Putin, oh my!
— “Presence patrols" in the nation's capital”
—Trump administration's 28(j) letter
—Judge Readler claps alone for the 6th Circuit
—The physics of guns and “bad man stays in jail doctrine”
—Navigating failures in legal careers
—Answering audience questions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hookers and Kushners | Interview: Chris Christie Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joins Sarah Isgur and David French to give advice to all young attorneys and aspiring legal professionals. Plus: some war stories from Trump Force One.

The Agenda:
—Frenemies
—Christie’s time as a U.S. attorney
—The difference between a podium and a lectern
—No class reunions at the White House
—We’ve all crashed out at some point
—‘I’m not a potted plant’
—Should Christie wear make-up?
—VeggieTales and David French

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abraham Lincoln, Originalist | Interview: Akhil Amar Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Akhil Amar, Sterling Professor of law and political science at Yale, joins Sarah and David for a deep dive into the constitutional battles and amendments that ended slavery, offering a preview of his forthcoming book, Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840–1920.

The Agenda:
—Exploring originalism and American identity
—Our canonical texts
—The Second Amendment and originalism
—The evolution of constitutional interpretation
—‘His errors were symmetric’
—Harriet Beecher Stowe: America’s first female superstar

Show Notes:
—Read "Brothers In Law"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drive-By Rulings | Interview: J. Joel Alicea Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

J. Joel Alicea, professor at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law, joins Sarah Isgur and David French to discuss race-conscious redistricting. Then, they viciously attack Professor Alicea for thinking text, history, and tradition right.

The Agenda:
—Congressional acquiescence
—Louisiana v. Callais
—On questions presented
—Bruen Was Right by J. Joel Alicea
—The three eras of originalism
—Listener email: Has Bruen made any babies?

Show notes:
—SCOTUSblog coverage of Louisiana v. Callais
—Allen v. Milligan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting Into Law School | Interview: Miriam Ingber and Kristi Jobson Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Sarah Isgur and David French are joined by Miriam Ingber, associate dean of admissions & financial aid at Yale Law School, and Kristi Jobson, dean of admissions at Harvard Law School, to discuss what they’re looking for in applicants.

The Agenda:
—Who even reviews applications these days?
—The influx of applications
—AI applications
—Up in arms about the LSAT
—The role of accommodations
—Financial aid decisions

Show Notes:
—Ingber and Jobson’s podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices