Category: 3-LawSometimeCommentary

Today's Thanksgiving Special / Rapid Response episode takes a look at the single most important Yodel Mountain case pending right now:  Andrew Miller's lawsuit before the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  Find out what it all means!

We begin, however, with a brief Andrew Was Right and roundup on the status of the Jim Acosta lawsuit, which has been mooted thanks to the injunctive relief won by CNN (and the White House's decision to restore Acosta's credentials).

Then, it's time for the deep dive into Andrew Miller and his Don Quixote-esque foray into our legal system to challenge Robert Mueller's authority.  Along the way you'll find out who Andrew's Shattered Glass doppelganger is, and learn more than you ever thought possible about the U.S. Constitution's "Appointments Clause."

Finally, we end with an all new Thomas Takes The Bar Exam #102 on evidence and the admissibility of hearsay.  Find out how Thomas outsources the decision and more.  And, of course, if you'd like to play along with us, just retweet our episode on Twitter or share it on Facebook along with your guess and the #TTTBE hashtag.  We'll release the answer on next Tuesday's episode along with our favorite entry!

Appearances

None!  If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

1. The "recalcitrant witness" statute is 28 U.S.C.  § 1826.
2. Click here to read Judge Howell's U.S.D.C. trial court opinion.
3. We pulled a ton of documents for you in the Miller case, including (a) Concord's motion to intervene; (b) Concord's amicus brief on the merits; (c) the eminently silly Sibley amicus brief; (d) Robert Mueller's merits brief; (e) Andrew Miller's merits brief; (f) Andrew Miller's supplemental brief; and (g) Rober Mueller's supplemental brief.  Phew!
4. Don't be afraid to check out In Re Sealed Case, 829 F.2d 50 (D.C. Cir. 1987) for the case that's directly on point.
5. Finally, you can read the "nearly a heart attack" regs on Mueller's funding (28 CFR § 600.8(a)(2)) here.

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Today's Deep Dive Tuesday tackles the motion for preliminary injunction and underlying lawsuit brought by CNN and Jim Acosta against the Trump White House for revoking his press credentials.  You'll get to hear about how Andrew Was Right... last Thursday (!)  As a bonus, you'll get a listener question that segues into a mini-deep-dive on the "sovereign immunity" doctrine!

We begin, however, with some initial information about the still-sketchy situation surrounding Michael Avenatti and his arrest for domestic violence.

After that, it's time to traipse through the CNN/Acosta lawsuit, which is still relevant today (even though the PI was, as Andrew predicted, granted).

Then, it's time to answer a really interesting listener question about Oklahoma's new anti-vax governor that winds up with a discussion of the sovereign immunity doctrine.  It's a rabbit trail you'll want to go down!

Finally, we end with the answer to Thomas Takes The Bar Exam #101 on SPACE LAW.  Find out Lando's (and Thomas's!) fate! Remember to follow our Twitter feed (@Openargs) and like our Facebook Page so that you too can play along with #TTTBE!

Appearances

None!  If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

1. On Avenatti, you can see the "SurefireIntel" tweet here.
2. You can read the Acosta/CNN underlying complaint, the accompanying memorandum of law supporting the Acosta TRO motion, and the Trump response.

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

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Don't forget the OA Facebook Community!

For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki

And email us at openarguments@gmail.com

 

Today's Rapid Response Friday takes a deep dive into the recent lawsuit filed (actually, amended) by Maryland's ace Attorney General, Brian Frosh, challenging the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney General.

We begin, however, with an Andrew Was Right (and Wrong, sadly) roundup of a bunch of issues:  (1) whether the midterm elections were a "Blue Wave" (they were); (2) the formation of a new breakaway conservative legal group; (3) Jeff Flake's efforts to protect Robert Mueller; (4) Whitaker's recusal status; and (5) the election of Kyrsten Sinema to the U.S. Senate in Arizona.  Phew!

After that, it's time for the deep dive into Maryland's ACA lawsuit that.. somehow morphed into a judicial request to determine that Matthew Whitaker cannot be the Attorney General?  How is that even possible??  We explain it all... and along the way, we let you know what arguments the State of Maryland has raised that the next Attorney General should be Rod Rosenstein instead.  It's a fascinating lawsuit, and you'll even get a brief discussion of the "canon of constitutional avoidance." (!!)

After that, we (briefly) discuss the California wildfires in light of.. SEC disclosure requirements??!?  Hey, that's why you listen, right?

Finally, we end with an all new Thomas Takes The Bar Exam #101 on SPACE LAW, involving deadbeat Ewoks and Lando Calrissian.  (No, really.)  You'll have to listen and find out!  And, of course, if you'd like to play along with us, just retweet our episode on Twitter or share it on Facebook along with your guess and the #TTTBE hashtag.  We'll release the answer on next Tuesday's episode along with our favorite entry!

Appearances

None!  If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

1. Click here to read 538's "Yes, It Was a Blue Wave" article.
2. Here is the announcement of the formation of the "Checks and Balances" legal society.
3. Lawfare has filed a FOIA request for all documentation regarding Whitaker's ethics advice and potential recusal.
4. Click here to read Maryland's motion for preliminary injunction; here to read the Flood memorandum that contains Trump's likely responses; and here to read the court's scheduling order.
5. Finally, click here to read the SEC's guidelines on when to file a form 8-K, and here to read the 8-K filed by PG&E.

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

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For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki

And email us at openarguments@gmail.com

 

...using this one weird trick! (but for real.) It's a new intro this week and Thomas hopes you don't mind the departure from the regular quotes. After that Andrew has updates on several cases for us! They involve: the Emoluments Clause, a 40 foot cross, Net Neutrality, and Monsanto!

Then we get to the meat of our episode, which is about how the Democrats in the House can now use their power to force Trump's tax returns out. It has lots of twists and turns and isn't as straightforward as you might think!

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

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And email us at openarguments@gmail.com

 

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Neal Katyal, former acting Solicitor General under President Barack Obama and co-author of this op-ed in The New York Times. Also on Amicus this week, Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s voting rights project on why their current litigation over the 2020 census is so crucial, and concerning.

Please let us know what you think of Amicus. Join the discussion of this episode on Facebook. Our email is amicus@slate.com.

Podcast production by Sara Burningham.

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Today's Rapid Response Friday covers the two things that are definitely on everyone's minds:  (1) the midterm elections, and (2) the fate of the Mueller investigation and more in light of President Trump's decision to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions.  Elections have consequences... don't they?

We begin with a roundup of  the outstanding legal issues in connection with the midterms.

After that, it's Yodelin' time.  What happened to G. Zachary Terwilliger?  Is the Mueller investigation in trouble?  What can we do??  Listen and find out!

Appearances

None!  If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

1. No links this week!

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/

Don't forget the OA Facebook Community!

For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki

And email us at openarguments@gmail.com

 

At long last, we've got the audio from Andrew's debate with University of Louisville Law School professor, member of the Federalist Society and former Brett Kavanaugh clerk Justin Walker! The debate was put on by the American Constitution Society and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. It was moderated by the ACLU!

After that, it's the thrilling conclusion to TTTBE100....

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

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Dahlia Lithwick and her son Coby talk to Rabbi Chuck Diamond about the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Diamond was the rabbi at Tree of Life for seven years and originally met Dahlia when she was 10 years old. The three of them discuss the generosity of the Squirrel Hill community, the healing process over the past week, and how to talk to kids about the tragedy. 

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Today's Rapid Response Friday revisits some cases we've previously discussed with recent positive developments:  the Summer Zervos lawsuit and the future of political gerrymandering in Pennsylvania.

We begin with the Zervos lawsuit we first covered in Episode 176, in which a state trial court judge has ordered Donald Trump to respond to discovery served by Zervos's attorney.  What's next for the President and why does it have Yodel Mountain implications?  You'll have to listen and find out!

After that, we revisit our discussion from Episodes 146 and 148 regarding the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's opinion redrawing congressional maps in that state.  The U.S. Supreme Court -- and yes, that's the Brett Kavanaugh-and-Neil-Gorsuch-laden Supreme Court! -- just declined to intervene to protect the Republicans.  Why is that, and how is that a map forward?  We tell all!

Then, we return to the Gary Hart story we discussed last episode.  Was Hart really set up?  Listen and find out!

Finally, we end with an all new Thomas Takes The Bar Exam #100 that is the dreaded real property question Thomas needs to get right in order to hit "60% at the half."  Can he do it?!??  You'll have to listen and find out!  And, of course, if you'd like to play along with us, just retweet our episode on Twitter or share it on Facebook along with your guess and the #TTTBE hashtag.  We'll release the answer on next Tuesday's episode along with our favorite entry!

Appearances

None!  If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

1. Click here to read the cert petition in Turzai v. Brandt and here to read the opposition.
2. This is the James Savage response on Gary Hart.

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

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Don't forget the OA Facebook Community!

For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki

And email us at openarguments@gmail.com

 

Today's episode tackles an issue you've all been writing about:  what exactly is going on in West Virginia, where the entire state supreme court has been impeached?  We break it down for you!

First, though, we start off with a roundup on voter suppression, including Georgia's "exact match" requirement being used to deny new registrations.

After that, it's time to go deep, deep down the rabbit hole in West Virginia.  It's... kind of amazing, actually.

Then, we move to a breaking story involving Andrew's first political crush.  Yes, before there was Liz Warren, we had "Atari Democrat" Gary Hart.  Find out what's in the news regarding Hart.

After all that, we end with the answer to Thomas Takes The Bar Exam #99 regarding the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule.  Remember to follow our Twitter feed (@Openargs) and like our Facebook Page so that you too can play along with #TTTBE!

Recent Appearances

None!  If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

1. No links this week as Andrew is traveling from Undisclosed Location B.

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/

Don't forget the OA Facebook Community!

For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki

And email us at openarguments@gmail.com