Beyond The Judgement - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Beyond The Judgement — Government
Beyond The Judgement

While national courts often dominate headlines, many everyday decisions that shape our communities are made by state judges. Beyond The Judgement dives deep into the lives and perspectives of judges and justices from local courts across the country. Through interviews, we uncover the stories, values, and challenges of those who are making important decisions. These interviews are supplemented by conversations with law professors who dive into the effects of state court decisions. Taken together, we hope to understand who and what is truly beyond the judgement.

Copyright: © Eva Eapen & Pari Sidana

Latest Episodes:

Gender-Affirming Care (US v. Skrmetti) Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Hey y'all! On today's episode Eva and I discuss US v. Skrmetti. Here are the resources we used:

- https://www.hrc.org/resources/attacks-on-gender-affirming-care-by-state-map

- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2793977

- https://www.oyez.org/cases/2019/17-1618

- https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-477

- https://www.theusconstitution.org/litigation/united-states-v-skrmetti/#:~:text=In%20United%20States%20v.,Clause%20of%20the%20Fourteenth%20Amendment

- https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Bill/SB0001.pdf

- https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/united-states-v-skrmetti/

- https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-477/300984/20240220190248213_23-477%20United%20States%20v.%20Skrmetti%20-%20final.pdf

- https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-477/299674/20240202161645864_23-466%20-477%20Brief%20in%20Opposition%20Final.pdf

Barnes v. Felix: Defining Limits on Police Force Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode of Tiers of Scrutiny, Pari and I discuss Barnes v. Felix, a case concerning the “moment of threat doctrine”--a legal principle limiting review of police officers’ use of force to only the “moment of threat” in which they perceived a threat. Opponents of the doctrine call for an evaluation of “totality of circumstances”--arguing that courts must review any and all actions leading up to the moment of threat.

Barnes v. Felix is named for Ashtian Barnes, a Black man who was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop in 2016.

Listed below are relevant resources:

https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/barnes-v-felix/

https://www.theusconstitution.org/litigation/barnes-v-felix/

https://www.forcescience.com/2024/10/officer-created-jeopardy-a-legal-theory-that-threatens-effective-policing-will-the-supreme-court-restore-limits/

https://abc13.com/post/us-supreme-court-reviewing-2016-case-where-pct-5-deputy-constable-roberto-felix-fatally-shot-ashtian-barnes-during-traffic-stop/15409623/

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1239/331758/20241113164932983_Barnes%20Merits%20Brief%2011-13-24%20Final.pdf

https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/471/1/

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1239/335125/20241213165012756_Felix%20Respondents%20Brief.pdf

Clouds of Confusion: Vapes vs. FDA Rules (FDA v. Wages and White Lion Investments) Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into the legal battle between e-cigarette manufacturers and the FDA—a case that’s making waves all the way to the Supreme Court. Back in 2009, Congress put vaping under FDA oversight, but fast forward to 2021, and manufacturers claim the agency pulled a last-minute rule change, shutting down their applications without warning. The FDA says it’s just doing its job to protect public health—especially kids. So, did the agency play fair, or did it pull a “regulatory switcheroo,” as the Fifth Circuit called it? We break down the arguments, the legal implications, and what this case means for government transparency, corporate accountability, and the future of flavored vapes.

Tune in as we unpack the puffs, politics, and procedures behind this high-stakes case!

Here are our sources:

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-1038

https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/food-and-drug-administration-v-wages-and-white-lion-investments-llc/

https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/12/justices-hear-fda-case-on-flavored-vapes/

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1038/323413/20240826164114741_23-1038tsFDA.pdf

https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1038/327672/20241007153644875_23-1038%20Brief%20for%20Respondents.pdf

Privacy, Porn, and the First Amendment: A Constitutional Crossroads (Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton) Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Happy Monday, folks! On today's episode, Pari and I discuss Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a case in which SCOTUS must decide the correct scrutiny test to apply to age verification laws on porn sites. Other questions we touch on...Should governments be able to require that porn websites verify viewers' ages? Do such laws infringe on First Amendment protections and anonymity?

This is a case that will have significant implications for free speech protections regarding sexual/obscene content. We recorded this episode before the Supreme Court heard arguments in this case, so we've linked the January 15th arguments for you below--alongside a host of resources if you're interested in learning more.

See you in two weeks!

Eva & Pari

https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton/https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-1122

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-1122

https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton/

https://ballotpedia.org/Free_Speech_Coalition,_Inc._v._Paxton#:~:text=Ketanji%20Brown%20Jackson-,Free%20Speech%20Coalition%20v.,court's%20October%202024%2D2025%20term.&text=The%20issue%3A%20The%20case%20concerns%20people's%20access%20to%20protected%20speech

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/scotus-attorney-general-ken-paxton-defends-texas-law-requiring-age-verification-measures-pornography#:~:text=Attorney%20General%20Ken%20Paxton%20filed,children%20from%20obscene%20online%20material

https://www.aclu.org/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton

https://www.freespeechcoalition.com/

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/326045/20240916160337719_Petitioners%20Merits%20Br.pdf

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/311950/20240530120355427_23-1122%20Brief%20in%20Opposition.pdf

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/326689/20240923183221800_23-1122tsacUS_Free_Speech_Coal_Final.pdf

Republic of Hungary v. Simon Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Hello listeners! In this episode, Pari and I discuss Republic of Hungary v. Simon, a SCOTUS case that concerns Hungarian Holocaust survivors suing the Republic of Hungary in pursuit of compensation for seized property. Pari was actually lucky enough to be present in the chamber during oral arguments for this case! Listen for her observations about the justices' statures, behaviors and body languages during arguments, and more. As always, we've linked some information for you below and we'll see you in two weeks!

https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/12/case-preview-foreign-sovereign-immunity-comity-and-the-holocaust/

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-867/309743/20240514121241293_Republic%20of%20Hungary%20v.%20Simon%20-%20Brief%20for%20Respondents%20FILE.pdf

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-867

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-867/323352/20240826122931272_23-867%20Petitioners%20Opening%20Brief.pdf

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-867/324002/20240903185425980_23-867tsacUnitedStates.pdf

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-867/309743/20240514121241293_Republic%20of%20Hungary%20v.%20Simon%20-%20Brief%20for%20Respondents%20FILE.pdf

https://tlblog.org/hungary-v-simon-offers-supreme-court-stark-choice/

Tik Tok on Trial: A Conversation About Tik Tok v. Garland Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

Hey y'all!

On today's episode Eva and I discuss the SCOTUS case about the Tik Tok ban. Here are the sources we used:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-656/336151/20241227163400981_2024-12-27%20-%20TikTok%20v.%20Garland%20-%20Amicus%20Brief%20of%20President%20Donald%20J.%20Trump.pdf

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-656/335380/20241217144322392_24A587%20TikTok%20v%20Garland%20Amicus%20Brief%20pdfa.pdf

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-656/335387/20241217150212414_24A587%20Amicus%20Brief%20PDFA.pdf)

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-656/336144/20241227161148472_24-656tsGovt_final.pdf https://www.npr.org/2024/05/14/1251086753/tiktok-ban-first-amendment-lawsuit-free-speech-project-texas

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-656/336136/20241227160309446_24-656%20ts.pdf

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-tiktok-ban-law/

https://www.wral.com/story/republican-nc-supreme-court-candidate-wants-gop-led-high-court-to-toss-ballots-after-elections-board-rejects-protest/21774323/

Sentenced to Death by Deception (Glossip v. Oklahoma) Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Eva and I discuss Glossip v. Oklahoma. The case is about Richard Glossip who has been sentenced to the death penalty despite the prosecution hiding information about a key witness' mental health and that same witness admitting that he lied on the stand. We dive into the ethical implications of what will happen if the Supreme Court decides to uphold Glossip's sentence. Here are the sources we used:

- https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/22-7466

- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/04/opinion/courts-execution-mistakes.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

- https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-7466/308603/20240429163200162_22-7466%20ts.pdf

- https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/clemency

- https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/373/83/

- https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/brady_rule

- https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-7466/270450/20230705170639604_GlossipRes%20MAIN%20%20E%20FILE%20Jul%205.pdf

- https://www.oyez.org/cases/2014/14-7955

Who Gets to Define the Word "Firearm"? (Garland v. VanDerStok) Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we delve into the Supreme Court case that challenges the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) 2022 revisions to the Gun Control Act of 1986. These revisions introduced new definitions of key terms like "firearm," "firearm frame," and "receiver" that could have far-reaching implications for gun regulations across the country. The case revolves around whether the ATF has overstepped its authority by redefining these terms and altering the legal landscape for gun owners, manufacturers, and regulators. Join us as we break down the legal arguments, the historical context of the Gun Control Act, and the potential consequences of this case for the future of firearms law.

Here are the sources we used:

Can SCOTUS make up its mind on gun laws? (Update: U.S. v. Rahimi) Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

Hello everybody! We are on to business as usual, updating you on U.S. v. Rahimi. This is a case about the permissibility of 2nd amendment restrictions. If you need additional background, we recommend you go back and listen to the original U.S. v. Rahimi episode, as well as the NY State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen episode. Linked below are some resources on the Rahimi case for your viewing! Thanks for tuning in.

As for the NC Supreme Court race, Justice Allison Riggs appears to have won by a slim 625 votes. There will likely be a recount. If you want to learn more about her, we recommend that you go back and listen to our interview with her, entitled "Campaigning with Conviction".

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-915

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-915_8o6b.pdf

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-domestic-violence-d63ee828e51911cc5e5a01780820f224

Election Day Emergencies: 3 SCOTUS Decisions About the 2024 Election Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

Hey y'all!

On today's episode Eva and I discuss 3 key decisions that the Supreme Court made about the upcoming election. If you have not made a plan to vote yet visit iwillvote.com to get all the information you need to vote tomorrow. Here are all the resources we used in compiling this episode:

- https://www.npr.org/2024/11/01/g-s1-31054/supreme-court-pennsylvania

- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/30/us/supreme-court-virginia-purge-voter-registration.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

- https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/30/virginia-voter-purge-justices/

- https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/noncitizen-voting-missing-millions

- https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4960129-election-lawsuits-supreme-court/

Related Podcasts