Supreme Court Brief – Details, episodes & analysis

On this week's episode, Jimmy does a deep-dive on the Supreme Court's recent decision weakening the Voting Rights Act with UCLA Law Professor Rick Hasen, who explains why the case has left the justices' emotions "bubbling up to the surface." That was most evident from an extraordinary clash between Justices Samuel Alito and Ketanji Brown Jackson.   Plus, a look at the latest battle over the abortion drug mifepristone to land on the Supreme Court's shadow docket.     Host: Jimmy Hoover Guest: Rick Hasen Producer: Charles Garnar

On this week's episode, Jimmy breaks down Wednesday's decision in Louisiana v. Callais delivering a major blow to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. In an ideologically split-6-3 ruling, the court largely prohibited states from intentionally boosting minority voting representation through the redistricting process. The decision led to a forceful dissent from liberal Justice Elena Kagan, who said the majority had set back a half-century of gains in minority representation in government.   Also this week, Jimmy interviews Stanford Law Professor Orin Kerr about Monday's hearing in a cutting-edge Fourth Amendment case involving so-called "geofence warrants."     Host: Jimmy Hoover   Guest: Orin Kerr   Producer: Charles Garnar

On this week's episode, Jimmy highlights new data revealing the incredible success that a small group of elite lawyers are having in taking their cases to the Supreme Court, and what it tells us about who gets to influence the direction of U.S. law. Law professors Tracey George, Mitu Gulati, and Albert Yoon join the program to discuss the findings of their recent paper, "The Inside Track."

Plus, a look at the Department of Justice's efforts to have the Supreme Court throw out the contempt-of-Congress convictions of MAGA influencer Steve Bannon in the "interests of justice."

 

 

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest: Tracey George, Mitu Gulati & Albert Yoon

Producer: Charles Garnar

On this episode of Supreme Court Brief, host Jimmy Hoover interviews defamation lawyer Travis Chance on why a recent medical malpractice ruling from the Supreme Court could make it harder for news organizations to defeat frivolous libel lawsuits.

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest: Travis Chance

Producer: Charles Garnar

 

 On this episode of Supreme Court Brief, Jimmy interviews criminal defense attorney and Supreme Court advocate Jeff Green on the stark drop in the number of appeals being filed by indigent prisoners at the court, and how it could affect the development of the criminal law.

 

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest: Jeff Green

Producer: Charles Garnar

 

On this episode of Supreme Court Brief, host Jimmy Hoover breaks down Wednesday's blockbuster hearing on whether President Donald Trump may fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Joining the program to discuss her original scholarship into "for cause" removal protections is legal historian Jane Manners, whose amicus brief was discussed in the courtroom on Wednesday. Plus, Jimmy recaps a notable win for medical malpractice plaintiffs and why Hawaii's recent law restricting firearms in public is likely to fall.

 

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest: Jane Manners

Producer: Charles Garnar

 

On this episode of Supreme Court Brief, host Jimmy Hoover summarizes Tuesday's oral arguments over state laws that prohibit trans student athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports. Later, Jimmy interviews Supreme Court lawyer Adam Unikowsky on the promise and peril of using AI to litigate cases at the Supreme Court.

 

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest: Adam Unikowsky

Producer: Charles Garnar

 

On this episode, host Jimmy Hoover interviews law scholar Amanda Frost about her latest research on the original understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment's citizenship clause, and how it calls into question President Donald Trump's attempt to deny birthright citizenship to the children of immigrants. The Supreme Court will be weighing the constitutionality of Trump's policy this term, with a ruling expected by July

 

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest: Amanda Frost

Producer: Charles Garnar

 

On this episode of Supreme Court Brief, host Jimmy Hoover interviews the lawyer for George Retes, a U.S. citizen and veteran who was detained for three days by ICE following an immigration raid in California. Institute for Justice attorney Marie Miller explains how the Supreme Court's rulings have both fueled the administration's aggressive immigration crackdown and made it nearly impossible to hold officers accountable in court for alleged civil rights violations.

Plus, Jimmy talks through a new death penalty case taken up by the Supreme Court this week involving claims of racial discrimination during the jury selection process.

Supreme Court Brief will return to regular programming in January after the holiday break. 

 

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest:  Marie Miller 

Producer: Charles Garnar

 

On today's episode of Supreme Court Brief, host Jimmy Hoover takes an inside look at Monday's blockbuster hearing on the fate of independent federal agencies and how it could vastly expand the powers of the presidency.

Plus: a breakdown of Tuesday's arguments on the constitutionality of a campaign finance law aimed at preventing public corruption by federal officials. Jimmy looks at why one key issue is whether Vice President J.D. Vance intends to run for the White House in 2028.

Today's guest is Bill Kovacic, a former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission during the late Bush and early Obama administrations. Kovacic speaks with Jimmy about the "disappointing" aspect of Monday's Supreme Court hearing in Trump v. Slaughter about whether President Donald Trump should be allowed to fire members of so-called "independent agencies" like the FTC. 

The case centers around Trump's purported firing of Democratic FTC member Rebecca Slaughter. It could spell the end of roughly a century of Supreme Court precedent upholding removal restrictions for members of multi-member government commissions.

Supreme Court Brief will be back with another podcast episode next week. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple and Spotify. The show is produced by Charles Garnar. For more of the latest news on the U.S. Supreme Court, go to Law.com.

 

Host: Jimmy Hoover

Guest: Bill Kovacic

Producer: Charles Garnar