Category: 3-LawSometimeCommentary

From the Chief Justice seeing the funny side of stalking and harassment, to Justice Samuel Alito’s tiny violin, to fighting in the footnotes and a bench dissent snapback, to THAT painting, it’s been quite a year at One, First Street. Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Stern are back with their bottom 10 picks for the Supreme Court’s worst moments of 2023. But don’t despair, there is a glimmer of hope, one part of the SCOTUS beat sucked less this past year… Stay tuned to hear Dahlia and Mark reveal what facet of the Supreme Court multiverse actually improved in 2023. 

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As we wind down 2023, Liz and Andrew bring you an entirely Trump-free, New Year's Eve-themed show!   First, the two discuss legal weed, President Biden's pardon, and what the future holds for those who like to smoke.   Then, Liz and Andrew discuss the legal minutiae of the Ninth Circuit's reversal of the conviction of Rep. Fortenberry (pictured). Ever wanted to know the difference between venue and vicinage? You will now! Thank you for listening to us in 2023!   Notes Sessions January 4, 2018 memo re marijuana prosecutions https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-issues-memo-marijuana-enforcement   Biden October 6, 2022 statement on marijuana  https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/06/statement-from-president-biden-on-marijuana-reform/   21 U.S.C. § 844 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/21/844   Fortenberry Ruling https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60659391/united-states-v-fortenberry/

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The Colorado Supreme Court opinion on disqualifying Donald Trump, though long anticipated, landed like a tornado.  Op-eds, pundits, academics, officials - all are weighing in.  It’s a victory for democracy - no, it’s antidemocratic.  Section Three is a dead letter - no, it’s self-executing.  Trump is out - no, this helps him.  America is reaffirmed - no, there will be violence in the streets. Liberals are split; conservatives are split.  What will the Supreme Court do?  Spend some time with Amarica’s Constitution and we will help you make sense of it, and we will present the best and worst arguments out there.  And - get some CLE for your trouble!  Visit podcast.njsba.com after listening.

This week, the Colorado Supreme Court determined in a pivotal decision that Donald J Trump should not appear on the ballot in the state's Republican primary. Meanwhile the high court is already involved in the possible briefing of another Trump case (about presidential immunity) and has agreed to docket another involving the obstruction of the vote certification on Jan 6 2021. And we haven’t even mentioned the Georgia case. Basically, Trump is going to have a very lawyer-y 2024. So where do all these cases sit right now? Slate’s Jeremy Stahl joins Amicus host Dahlia Lithwick to give us an update.

In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern joins the show to talk about Rudy Giuliani’s defamation lawsuit and the $150 million he owes election workers. Mark and Dahlia also discuss the latest in ProPublica’s continued deep dive into the finances of Clarence Thomas. 

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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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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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The administrative state is up for grabs, some say, in the case of SEC v. Jarkesy, which was argued before the Supreme Court recently.  We have another “clip” episode, with Akhil weighing in on attorneys and justices alike.  It’s particularly appropriate in this case, because so much of the case concerns juries and the 7th amendment - which, by the way, Akhil has written extensively on.  That’s probably why he’s cited in so many of the briefs.  We also heard some noise out of Colorado, by the way.  CLE credit is available for this episode from podcast.njsba.com.

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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Before we settle in for a long winter's nap, we have a LOT to catch up on. First, Jodi Kantor joins the pod to talk about her reporting, with Adam Liptak, on what went down behind the scenes at SCOTUS as the conservative majority sought to overturn Roe. Then we go over some new grants of cases the Supreme Court will hear in the near future-- including the mifepristone case, and a case about January 6th convictions. We also recap some bananas arguments in Wisconsin over a gerrymandering case. And then finally, we share our 2023 edition of our favorite things! Whether you're still holiday shopping for loved ones or need ideas on how to spend your gift cards and cash, we've got you.

• Read Jodi Kantor and Adam Liptak's NYT piece, "Behind the Scenes at the Dismantling of Roe v. Wade"
• We're taking a break on 12/25, but check back in on New Year's Day for a very special edition of Strict Scrutiny!
   

Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 

• 6/12 – NYC
• 10/4 – Chicago

Learn more: http://crooked.com/events

Order your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes

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Earlier this week, the Texas Supreme Court said Kate Cox couldn’t have an abortion.Cox’s doctors had diagnosed the fetus with Trisomy 18, an almost certainly fatal genetic condition. On top of that, there were concerns about whether or not Cox would be able to have children again in the future if she continued with this pregnancy. None of this was enough for nine judges in Texas to allow Cox to have an abortion.

Cox’s story isn’t unique. Amanda Zurawski almost died after a Texas court said she couldn’t have an abortion. Today, she’s the lead plaintiff in Zurawski v. State of Texas. She joins Amicus this week to show the real, human effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Zurawski is joined by one of the lawyers representing her in the case, Jamie Levitt.

In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern talks about another made-up case that this time, won’t make it to SCOTUS. 

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