The Citizen's Guide to the Supreme Court

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Thank God for Football May 01, 2022

Show notes

This week's case discusses Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, in which the Court must determine whether a public school football coach who prays on the field violates the Establishment Clause. This case is ripe with factual issues, legal issues, and sadly very little discussion about actual football. Law starts at (02:35).

Laws 2, Constitution 0 Apr 24, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode covers the age-old battle of LAWS v. CONSTITUTION. The first case is U.S. v. Vaello-Madero, in which the Supreme Court held that denying Puerto Rican residents SSI benefits did not violate Equal Protection. The second case is City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, in which the Supreme Court tied the First Amendment in knots trying to resolve sign problems. Law starts at (02:04).

Soft on Crime Apr 17, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode covers Concepcion v. U.S., which continues the Supreme Court's interpretation of the First Step Act, a bi-partisan law aimed at lowering sentencings for drug dealers, but maybe wasn't drafted super well. Law starts at (04:10).

First Amendment Red Flags Apr 10, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode starts with a discussion on Justice Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court (starts from the beginning), and moves to a discussion about Shurtleff v. City of Boston (17:26), which asks whether a government policy which allows citizen's flags can exclude a religious flag under the First Amendment.

Ketanji Explains It All Mar 27, 2022

Show notes

This week's supersized episode covers the Senate Confirmation hearings of Ketanji Brown Jackson, while also covering Clarence Thomas, Ramirez v. Collier, and Wisconsin Legislature v. Wisconsin Election Commission. The law starts from the beginning and is mostly consistent except for a conversation about parenting, reality shows, and Encanto in the third act. The podcast is also taking next week off, but will return on April 10, 2022.

Harry Potter and the Gerrymandered Maps Mar 20, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode covers two brief Supreme Court orders with big political ramifications for the future. Moore v. Harper (N.C.) and Toth v. Chapment (PA) are two State Supreme Court decisions where the Court decided the political maps instead of the legislature. This is discussed through the fact that Brett saw Harry Potter for the first time and now wants to talk about it twenty years after its release. Law starts at (09:45) but your house gets 10 points if you listen all the way through!

Boston Marathon Bomber & the Less-Famous Abortion Decision Mar 13, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode covers recent decisions in U.S. v. Tsarnaev (reinstating the death penalty for the Boston Marathon Bomber) and Cameron v. EMW Women's Surgical Center (allowing AG to intervene in abortion case when everyone else gave up). It's all killer, no filler because the law starts at (1:33).

Drugs and the Mind Police Mar 06, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode is all about drugs and the mindset needed to distribute drugs illegally. Ruan v. U.S. asks whether a doctor accused of violating the Controlled Substance Act should be judged by an objective standard (would every doctor think this was wrong), or a subjective standard (did this doctor think this was wrong). Law starts at (05:00).

The Philadelphia Eagles and Administrative Law Feb 27, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode covers Biden v. Texas, a case which asks whether Biden is required to continue a Trump era immigration policy due to some kind of administrative law revenge plot. This week's episode also discussed how this whole ordeal is analogous to the Philadelphia Eagles 2022 campaign. Law starts at (03:23).

Religious Rights Surivivor Series Feb 20, 2022

Show notes

Well, Mene Gene, it is the Establishment Clause vs. the Free Exercise Clause because this week's case is Carson v. Minkin, in which a Supreme Court with three new justices must decide whether a State can refuse children from choose religious schools under a State-Scholarship program. Law starts at (11:00).

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