Opening Arguments

Latest Episodes:

OA848: Trump is Off the Ballot in Colorado! Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew break down what the latest decision by the Colorado Supreme Court means, how it will take effect, and how a court that claims to be devoted to textualism and originalism will grapple with arguments aimed squarely at their wheelhouse. You know you want it! In the A segment, they also break down Trump's latest efforts to convince the Supreme Court to move really, really slowly. Notes Colorado Supreme Court declares Trump ineligible for the ballot https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/Supreme_Court/Opinions/2023/23SA300.pdf Lawfare Tracker on Trump DQ https://www.lawfaremedia.org/current-projects/the-trump-trials/section-3-litigation-tracker OA 836 https://openargs.com/oa836-yes-a-court-found-that-trump-incited-an-insurrection-now-what-feat-seth-barrett-tillman/ Anderson v. Griswold https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/02nd_Judicial_District/Denver_District_Court/11_17_2023%20Final%20Order.pdf

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OA847: Why Being A "Former" Government Official is Bad News for Mark Meadows... and Donald Trump Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew of course recorded this show before the big Colorado Supreme Court decision, but rest assured that breakdown is coming! In this episode, Liz and Andrew discuss Trump's hapless legal filings across multiple jurisdictions before diving deeply into a surprising decision from the very conservative 11th Circuit regarding the scope of the federal criminal removal statute. What does it all mean? Listen and find out!

There will be no show on Dec. 25 and 27th. Happy Holidays!

Notes - Trump DC Cir date set - Jan 9 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415.1208580631.0_2.pdf -Trump - Engoron - evaluation of witness testimony, denial of motion for DV https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=QbK_PLUS_LJnXDL9v6FtzC9ofmw== -11th Cir - Pryor - Mark Meadows https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202312958.pdf

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OA846: Forget Impeaching His Dad, Will Criminal Charges Even Stick Against Hunter Biden? Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew react to the $148 million defamation verdict against Rudy Giuliani by pollworkers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman before tackling the latest barrage of motions to dismiss filed by Hunter Biden's lawyers in the Delaware gun charge case.

If you need to cut through some right-wing nonsense over the holidays, this is the episode for you!

Notes DOJ Order No. 5730-2023 appointing Weiss https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-08/order.appointment_of_david_c._weiss_as_special_counsel.pdf

Hunter Biden MTD - diversion agreement https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.60.0.pdf

Hunter Biden MTD - Selective and vindictive prosecution https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.63.0.pdf

Hunter Biden MTD - constitution https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.61.0_1.pdf

Hunter Biden MTD - Exceeded authority https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.62.0.pdf

OA793 https://openargs.com/oa793-the-right-wing-freakout-or-why-hunter-biden-rejected-his-plea-deal-feat-mitchell-epner/

Jury Verdict Sheet Giuliani https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720.135.0_1.pdf

Jenna Ellis Stipulation to Discipline https://www.coloradosupremecourt.us/PDF/Public/STIPULATION%20TO%20DISCIPLINE%20PURSUANT%20TO%20C.R.C.P.%20242.19.pdf

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OA845: Immunity and Rudy, Part 2 Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew continue to cover a bunch of stories with the connected theme of how to push back against Donald Trump's efforts to use anything and everything to postpone his criminal trials.

Also, there's rare good news regarding the Supreme Court and its refusal to grant certiorari in Tingley v. Ferguson, meaning that Washington state's law prohibiting conversion therapy stays in place.

All that and much, much more, including a breakdown of the last day of Rudy's defamation lawsuit!

NotesSCOTUS denies cert in Tingley https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121123zor_e29g.pdf

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OA844: Rudy and Immunity Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

OA843: OA Field Trip! (Plus: Hunter Biden’s Taxes) feat. Kel McClanahan Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew welcome back friend of the show Kel McClanahan to tell us about an oral argument at the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit that you can and should attend in an effort to get the Senate Intelligence Committee’s full report on torture during the Bush administration released to the public!

Then, Liz and Andrew break down what’s really going on with the Hunter Biden tax indictment.

Notes Hunter Biden tax indictment https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.907805/gov.uscourts.cacd.907805.1.0_1.pdf

IRS Criminal Tax Handbook https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/tax_crimes_handbook.pdf

USSC on tax fraud https://www.ussc.gov/research/quick-facts/tax-fraud

Sentencing Guidelines https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2023/GLMFull.pdf

Musgrave v. Warner (DC Cir.) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66696476/shawn-musgrave-v-mark-warner/

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OA842: Does John Eastman WANT To Be Disbarred? (Maybe.) Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew tackle John Eastman's brief in his disbarment hearing arguing that the 2020 Presidential election was in fact stolen. It was not.

In the A story, Andrew and Liz walk through Trump's latest efforts to invade the secrecy of confidential documents in the Southern District of Florida.

Notes Moore v. Harperhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3002636935552946163

PA SOS final report on 2020 election https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/BEST/Pages/BEST-Election-Stats.aspx

CA State Bar disbar Eastman brief https://discipline.calbar.ca.gov/portal/DocumentViewer/Index/VBqEKKzWq7BHFLcNbcYFBPwEVGppqKqRVh1jPShvzLRW-TqEo4kMqYD8POcD6IXmvjC-TMQt9Ct_mI544fmjiNq7TQItUIXPLobITmdyBQk1?caseNum=SBC-23-O-30029&docType=Pleading&docName=STATE%20BAR%20S%20CLOSING%20BRIEF&docTypeId=269&isVersionId=False&p=0

Eastman brief https://discipline.calbar.ca.gov/portal/DocumentViewer/Index/VBqEKKzWq7BHFLcNbcYFBC23fHVB3vvyF9PMGQpKVVc7_-vQjVVin5csFtC6SOfJDo4RbH-B8wXlyxxx4QUOMENofD03Bn0OynOnilZ86hY1?caseNum=SBC-23-O-30029&docType=Pleading&docName=DR.%20EASTMAN%20S%20POST-HEARING%20BRIEF&eventName=Brief&docTypeId=269&isVersionId=False&p=0

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OA841: Sometimes When The President Does It, It IS Illegal! Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew unpack the two recent decisions on Presidential immunity. What does it mean for the civil and criminal cases against Donald Trump? But first, the duo unpack a recent Rule 404 filing by Special Counsel Jack Smith that reveals some (more) disturbing details of how Trump planned to hijack the 2020 Presidential election. In the LONG Patreon bonus, Andrew and Liz parse through some seemingly-minor findings and show how they're part of the bad faith effort by Judge Aileen Cannon, FSW, to delay Trump's criminal trial for stealing national security documents. it's a jam-packed episode you won't want to miss! Notes Trump - Chutkan ruling on immunity https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.171.0.pdf Trump DC Cir ruling on immunity https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.38510/gov.uscourts.cadc.38510.1208575879.0_1.pdf Nixon v. Fitzgerald, 475 U.S. 731 (1982) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2587191009008442950

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OA840: Trump Lawyer Alina Habba Speedruns the Professional Responsibility Exam Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew embark on a deep dive into a set of truly wild accusations against Trump's go-to lawyer, Alina Habba, who's accused of manipulating a young server into signing an illegal and one-sided settlement agreement to benefit Donald Trump's Bedminster golf course. Was this really Alina Habba's audition to be the next Michael Cohen? Find out why this case matters and what's coming next! Notes Bianco v. Lamington https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24179145/bianco-v-lamington-farm-club.pdf -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law

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OA839: Trump Gagged, Comer Spanked, and ... Munsingwear Vacatur?? Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew bring you a trio of stories: first, the New York appellate court reinstated the gag order on Donald Trump, prohibiting him from attacking Justice Engoron's staff.

Next, learn how Hunter Biden outmaneuvered the GOP buffoons in Congress.

Finally, geek out on the Supreme Court docket with Munsingwear!

In the Patreon bonus, the two break down whether Trump has been able to sneak assets out of New York and if so, what Special Master Barbara Jones intends to do about it.

Notes House Oversight Biden Subpoenas https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-issues-subpoenas-to-biden-family-associates%EF%BF%BC/

Abbe Lowell Letter to James Comer re Hunter Biden Testimony https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018c-161a-dbbc-a1de-7e7e397f0000

NY Trump gag orders reinstated https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=2yAOg8Zx5CTVK5fRESuAVA==

Trump petition to 1st AD https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=8mrJZIGwSPZTLMGpK_PLUS_pe_PLUS_g==

Kendall v. Doster documents https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/kendall-v-doster/

DOJ petition in Kendall for Munsingwear vacatur https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-154/275510/20230816162454819_Kendall%20III%20et%20al.%20v.%20Doster%20et%20al.%20.pdf

Kendall v. Doster opp cert https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-154/285403/20231018142033779_23-154%20Brief%20in%20Opposition%20Final.pdf

Report from Barbara Jones in the Trump Org monitoring https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=tonmcCHZaSG8Oe1NLD6eEg==

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