Government

Oral Arguments, with Context

Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context. Court recordings can be difficult to follow, and many suffer from poor audio quality. This podcast enhances the audio, provides a brief introduction to each case, and explains legal concepts that may be unfamiliar to some listeners. We hope these enhancements make oral argument recordings easier to understand, more accessible, and more enjoyable to listen to. Recordings come from the courts’ own public releases; Supreme Court timing is derived locally from the Court’s official transcript and audio.

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United States v. Walji — 9th Cir. (Aug 7, 2026) Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews Walji's request for a new trial after a federal sexual-abuse conviction on an aircraft. He says a forensic interviewer's testimony and the prosecutor's closing argument improperly reinforced the complaining witness's credibility. The United States says the statements stayed within the trial record and did not warrant a new trial. Mark Middaugh of Middaugh Law will seek a new trial; Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Culbertson will ask the court to affirm. The panel affirmed on August 18, finding no improper vouching and no basis to reverse. United States v. Walji (No. 25-415) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 7, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/07/25-415.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-415&hearingDate=2026-08-07 Memorandum disposition — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2026/08/18/25-415.pdf Case docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-415 Mark Middaugh biography — Middaugh Law: https://www.middaughlaw.com/about Mark Middaugh counsel listing — Supreme Court of the United States: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-8312.html Lawyer-representative roster — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/assets/lawyer-reps/LR-Roster.pdf Tania Culbertson counsel listing — Supreme Court of the United States: https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23A874/305661/20240321162745324_Proof%20or%20Service%20Request%20for%20Extension%20of%20Time%20for%20Cert%20Petition.pdf Court order identifying counsel's work on this appeal — Justia: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/washington/wawdce/3%3A2024cv05637/337831/24

Safarov v. Blanche — 9th Cir. (Aug 7, 2026) Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews the denial of a Russian family's motion to reopen removal proceedings. An earlier Ninth Circuit ruling upheld the denial of their asylum claim. The family now contends that later evidence shows materially changed conditions for Meskhetian Turks in Russia, while the Board of Immigration Appeals found continuity. The question is whether the Board adequately explained that conclusion or abused its discretion. Safarov v. Blanche (No. 25-3147) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 7, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/07/25-3147.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-3147&hearingDate=2026-08-07 Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-week/?date=2026-08-07&loc=SE Safarov v. Garland memorandum — Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2024/11/06/24-93.pdf Safarov v. Garland docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/24-93 Lisa Anderson — State Bar of California: https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/204694 Lisa Anderson — Varzandeh Anderson: https://www.varzandehanderson.com/who-we-are.php?disable_mobile=true Raya Jarawan — U.S. Courts opinion record at GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca6-25-03337/pdf/USCOURTS-ca6-25-03337-0.pdf Raya Jarawan — Ninth Circuit opinion record at GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca9-17-72212/pdf/USCOURTS-ca9-17-72212-0.pdf Published-opinion search — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/ Memorandum-disposition search — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/decisions/memoranda/

Students v. Paxton — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit hears consolidated First Amendment challenges to Texas's App Store Accountability Act. It requires age verification and parental consent before minors download apps or make purchases. The district court blocked it; an earlier panel stayed the injunctions. Texas Solicitor General William Peterson will defend the law. Cooley partner and former U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar will argue for the industry; Davis Wright Tremaine partner Adam Sieff for the students. Students v. Paxton (No. 25-51073 c/w 26-50001) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-51073_8-4-2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-51073 Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-08-04 June 4 stay order — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/25/25-51073-CV0.pdf Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 121 — Texas Legislature: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/BC/pdf/BC.121.v3.pdf Emergency docket 25A1389 — U.S. Supreme Court: https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25a1389.html Students appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-51073 CCIA appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/26-50001 William Peterson biography — Texas Attorney General: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/about-office/ken-paxtons-leadership-team Elizabeth Prelogar biography — Cooley: https://www.cooley.com/people/elizabeth-prelogar Elizabeth Prelogar service record — U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/osg/bio/solicitor-general-elizabeth-b-prelogar Adam Sieff biography — Davis Wright Tremaine: https://www.dwt.com/people/s/sieff-adam

Sealed Appellee v. Sealed Juvenile — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit returns to a sealed juvenile appeal involving machine gun conversion devices. The juvenile will challenge the government's Juvenile Delinquency Act certification for federal proceedings and argue that the federal machine gun ban is unconstitutional as applied to devices not attached to a firearm. The United States will answer that Mississippi lacked jurisdiction over the charged conduct and that circuit precedent forecloses the Second Amendment claim. Sealed Appellee v. Sealed Juvenile (No. 24-60348) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/24/24-60348_08-04-2026.mp3 Earlier argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/24/24-60348_4-28-2025.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=24-60348 Related precedent — United States v. Wilson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-10633-CR0.pdf

Payne v. Hammond City — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit considers whether a jury should hear Jennifer Payne's employment claims against Hammond, Louisiana. Payne says the city demoted and later fired her in retaliation for an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charge, treated male officers more favorably, and failed to accommodate her disability. Hammond says its investigations began before it learned of the charge, and medical and certification barriers kept her from police work. The district court granted summary judgment to Hammond; the appeal asks whether disputed evidence instead requires a trial. Payne v. Hammond City (No. 25-30700) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-30700_08-04-2026.mp3 Argument listing — Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-30700 Argument calendar — Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-08-04 Summary-judgment order — Eastern District of Louisiana: https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/louisiana/laedce/2%3A2024cv01857/270161/88/0.pdf Argument report — Law360: https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/discrimination/articles/2508987/5th-circ-scrutinizes-ex-cop-s-sex-bias-suit-over-sick-leave Federal Rules of Civil Procedure — U.S. Courts: https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure Pretext standard — Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/21/21-40119.0.pdf Kim M. Boyle — Phelps Dunbar: https://www.phelps.com/professionals/kim-m-boyle.html Kim M. Boyle profile confirmation — City of New Orleans: https://nola.gov/next/mayors-office/news/articles/july-2026/2026-07-08-city-of-new-orleans-announces-municipal-complex-advisory-committee/ Decision search — Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions?docket=25-30700

Louisiana Shrimp Association v. Lutnick — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit reviews a 2019 rule requiring skimmer trawl vessels at least 40 feet long to use turtle excluder devices—escape hatches that let turtles out of shrimp nets. Louisiana shrimpers say the National Marine Fisheries Service relied on unsupported estimates of deaths after release and failed to answer their objections. The government says the agency used observer data, studies and expert review, then narrowed the rule to reduce economic harm. A federal district court upheld the rule; the shrimpers appealed. The Fifth Circuit has not yet ruled. Louisiana Shrimp Association v. Lutnick (No. 25-30408) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-30408_08-04-2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-30408 Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-08-04 Opinion search — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions?docket=25-30408&group=flat District-court order and reasons — U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-laed-2_24-cv-00156/pdf/USCOURTS-laed-2_24-cv-00156-0.pdf 2019 turtle-excluder-device final rule — National Marine Fisheries Service: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-12-20/pdf/2019-27398.pdf Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 706 — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section706&num=0&edition=prelim Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-30408

Johnson v. Tarrant County — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit hears an appeal over civil-rights claims arising from Anthony Johnson Junior's twenty twenty-four death in the Tarrant County jail. The district court dismissed the claims against Tarrant County and several jail officers, ruling that the complaint did not plausibly connect the death to a county policy or state what each officer did. Johnson's family will ask to proceed and amend the complaint; the county and officers will answer that it alleges individual wrongdoing, not a county policy, and groups officers together without enough facts. On August twenty-first, the court affirmed the district court's judgment in a one-page unpublished decision. Johnson v. Tarrant County (No. 25-10540) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-10540_08-04-2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-10540 Decision — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/25/25-10540.0.pdf District court dismissal order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txnd-4_24-cv-00686/pdf/USCOURTS-txnd-4_24-cv-00686-0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-10540 Decision record — Justia: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca5/25-10540/25-10540-2026-08-21.html 42 U.S.C. § 1983 — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2021-title42/pdf/USCODE-2021-title42-chap21-subchapI-sec1983.pdf Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12 — U.S. House: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title28a-node89-node104-rule12 Monell v. Department of Social Services — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-436/pdf/USREPORTS-436-658.pdf Garza v. City of Donna — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/Opinions/pub/18/18-40044-CV0.pdf

Hamm v. Ochsner-Acadia — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit reviews class and collective certification in a meal-break pay suit against two Acadia affiliates. Amy Hamm and Joye Wilson say staff at a Louisiana psychiatric hospital were effectively on call during unpaid meal breaks. The district court certified a Fair Labor Standards Act collective and a Rule 23 class for Louisiana unjust-enrichment and conversion claims. Acadia appeals. On August 19, the Fifth Circuit dismissed Acadia's challenge to the FLSA collective for lack of appellate jurisdiction and affirmed the Rule 23 class certification. Hamm v. Ochsner-Acadia (No. 25-30603) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-30603_8-4-2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-30603 Opinion — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/25/25-30603-CV0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-30603 District court class-certification order — Justia: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/louisiana/laedce/2%3A2020cv01515/245968/367/ District court collective-certification order — Justia: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/louisiana/laedce/2%3A2020cv01515/245968/129/ Independent decision report — VERDICT News: https://verdict.news/circuit/fifth-circuit-affirms-class-certification-in-louisiana-meal-break-wage-suit-01a01c79 Frederick L. Conrad III — Holland & Knight: https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/c/conrad-frederick Ori Edelstein — Schneider Wallace Cottrell Kim: https://www.schneiderwallace.com/attorneys/ori-edelstein/

Frankfort v. Metropolis Technologies — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit considers whether Metropolis Technologies, which manages gateless parking facilities, can qualify as a debt collector under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Drivers allege that its system leads customers to leave without paying, then demands undisclosed violation charges many times the parking fee. The district court dismissed the federal claim with prejudice. The appeal asks whether the complaint plausibly supports either statutory definition of a debt collector and whether the drivers should have been allowed to amend. Frankfort v. Metropolis Technologies (No. 25-11168) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-11168_08-04-2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-11168 Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-08-04 Magistrate judge's recommendation — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txnd-3_24-cv-02283/pdf/USCOURTS-txnd-3_24-cv-02283-0.pdf District court order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txnd-3_24-cv-02283/pdf/USCOURTS-txnd-3_24-cv-02283-1.pdf Opinion search — Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions?docket=25-11168 Daniella Main — Vartabedian Katz Hester & Haynes: https://vkhh.com/attorney/daniella-main/ Daniella Patricia Main — State Bar of Texas: https://www.texasbar.com/attorneys/member.cfm?id=365378 Christopher M. Walling — Massey & Gail: https://masseygail.com/team/christopher-walling/ Related Frankfort–Metropolis docket (counsel confirmation) — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/26-90015

Davis v. Cisneros — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026) Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Circuit considers the reach of a Reconstruction-era civil-rights law after a convoy supporting Donald Trump surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus on a Texas highway in 2020. A jury cleared five defendants but found Eliazar Cisneros liable under Section 1985 subsection 3 and awarded forty thousand dollars. The appeal asks whether the statute's support or advocacy clause requires hostility toward a race or other protected class, and whether it can reach private interference with federal campaign activity without government involvement. Davis v. Cisneros (No. 25-50693) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-50693_08-04-2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-50693 Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-08-04 Post-trial order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txwd-1_21-cv-00565/pdf/USCOURTS-txwd-1_21-cv-00565-12.pdf Summary-judgment order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txwd-1_21-cv-00565/pdf/USCOURTS-txwd-1_21-cv-00565-8.pdf Opinion search — Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions?docket=25-50693 Francisco R. Canseco — State Bar of Texas: https://www.texasbar.com/attorneys/member.cfm?id=162512 Francisco R. Canseco — U.S. House History, Art & Archives: https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/11824 Erica Ross — Willkie Farr & Gallagher: https://www.willkie.com/professionals/r/ross-erica

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