The Citizen's Guide to the Supreme Court

Latest Episodes:

The Scalia-Thomas One-Two Punch Oct 02, 2016

Show notes

This week's spotlight shines on Justice Clarence Thomas and how Thomas' conservative views were bolstered by the presence of Justice Scalia. Brett and Nazim discuss popular Establishment Clause cases to give context to how Thomas and Scalia worked together and then address the case of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Pauley, which asks whether or not Missouri can use the First Amendment to avoid giving nominal government services to a church-run day care. Law starts at (9:04).

The Breyer Scale, Revisited Sep 25, 2016

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This week's episode continues our weekly focus on individual Justices, with this week's Justice du jour being Stephen Breyer. Brett and Nazim discuss Breyer's background and cover influential death penalty cases over the last four decades to see if there is traction on finding the death penalty unconstitutional. Lastly, the current pending case of Moore v. Texas is covered, which asks whether or not the Court has the power to overturn State standards for instituting death that appear at face value to be out of touch.

How Does Roberts Rate as a Chief Justice? Sep 18, 2016

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This week's episode starts a series of episodes that will examine individual justices, including their background, their big cases, and one big question about them moving forward. This week covers Chief Justice Roberts, and specifically how Roberts stacks up against Rehnquist, Burger, and Warren. Law starts at (02:06).

Viva La Libert(arians) Sep 11, 2016

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This week's episode covers a recent Supreme Court denial of an emergency petition by Libertarian Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson to appear as "Libertarian" and not "Independent" on an Ohio voting ballot. Surprisingly enough, how you appear on a voting ballot has a history with the Supreme Court and it's own test. Also surprising this week is the revelation that one of the hosts currently serves as an elected government official. You'll never guess who! (Spoiler: you probably can). Law starts at (03:12).

The Voting Rights Act: To Stay or Not to Stay Sep 08, 2016

Show notes

In what is hopefully the end of our discussion on the Voting Rights Act, Brett and Nazim take one more spin around North Carolina NCAAP v. McCrory to discuss what the most recent decision denying a stay of the 4th Circuit's decision means both practically and politically. Brett and Nazim also discuss the most recent Michigan case where the Voting Rights Act was used to strike down a ban on straight ticket voting. The law starts at (03:28), but listening from the beginning may add more context to all the Star Wars jokes.

The Voting Rights Act: Life After Shelby County Sep 04, 2016

Show notes

This week's episode is a good representation of why its difficult to cover current events in podcast form. Brett and Nazim begin by discussing the 4th Circuit decision in North Carolina NAACP v. McCrory, which struck down a North Carolina law under grounds that it violated the broad provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Then, future Brett and Nazim from two weeks later come in to discuss the Supreme Court's grant of cert to this case. Then finally, just Brett updates the most recent ruling declining a stay from last Thursday. Law starts at (05:26).

The Voting Rights Act: The Dunce Corner Aug 28, 2016

Show notes

In part one of a two part CLIFFHANGER (!!!), this week's episode introduces the Voting Rights Act, and specifically how it created a dunce corner for States who could not be trusted to pass fair, non-racist voting laws. After the goodness of the statute is covered at length, Brett and Nazim discuss how the Supreme Court destroyed that part of the statute in Shelby County v. Holder. General law talk begins around (03:44) but specific Voting Rights Act law starts at (10:10).

Who is to Blame for Bush v. Gore? Aug 21, 2016

Show notes

This week's episode takes us back to the year 2000 when all hell broke loose in the Presidential Election. Brett and Nazim dive deep into the Bush v. Gore case, including why the case came before the Supreme Court, the lower decisions that put the Supreme Court in place to "decide" the election, and how much blame the Supreme Court should take from this with sixteen years of hindsight on our side. The entire episode covers the broad context of the issue, but the most specific law starts around (09:30).

Revenge of the Public Defenders!! Aug 17, 2016

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This week's mini-episode covers two State law issues that deal with victorious and/or spiteful Public Defenders, with the first being Delaware's Death Penalty being declared unconstitutional after a case involving the PD's office, and the second being Missouri's PD Office appointing public officials to criminal cases as revenge for a lack of funding. The recent Third Circuit decision denying New Jersey's sports gambling law is also tacked on, which covers the extent of federal power over selective States. Law starts at (02:54).

Ranking Non-Bill of Rights Amendments, Part 2 Aug 14, 2016

Show notes

This week's episode continues the discussion from last week about non-BOR amendments, only this week is decidedly more positive. This week centers mostly on voting, equality, and taxes; and to liven things up, Brett and Nazim suggest fairly unworkable changes to our existing system of government. Finally, Brett and Nazim discuss whether or not Citizens United, or any other proposal, will be the next amendment on this list. Law starts at (06:52).

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