Lawyer & Layman Explain It

The Judge That Said: “Nahh.”

Kasey and Martin are back, after a bit of an unplanned hiatus!  Your hosts switch gears slightly to bring the focus on a lower federal court: specifically, the District of Rhode Island, where Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. said “nah” to executive actions that resulted in a freeze of federal funds that should be going to states.  Chief Judge McConnell also said “yes” to basic civics education, given the apparent lack of awareness about how the three branches of government work.  Kasey also explains some legal terminology that you might be seeing in the news and wondering, “what does that mean”?  If you are looking for some good news during these times, this episode might leave you feeling a little more encouraged.   Visit https://tinyurl.com/47zpkjdj for references to links mentioned in the episode.   Our episodes are now available on YouTube!   Connect with us: Email: lawyerandlaymanpod@gmail.com Instagram & Threads: @lawyerandlaymanpod X / YouTube / TikTok: @lawyerandlayman Music: The Podcast Intro by Music_Unlimited 2022.

Roberts n Them: The Modern Supreme Court (Part 2)

Martin and Kasey are back with more on the modern Supreme Court!  In between Kasey expressing her disappointment with Martin not knowing who K.P. & Envyi are, the hosts discuss the importance of the swing vote on the Court, and why we should be worried about the fact that there really isn’t a swing voter anymore (at least, not in the way there used to be) among the 9 justices.  They also talk about the Supreme Court’s very weak Code of Conduct, and what it might look like if there was a way to actually enforce the requirement to “not allow family, social, political, financial, or other relationships to influence official conduct or judgment.”  Of course, we want the backgrounds of the justices to inform their opinions in some cases—but we want more of the human element and less of the political and financial ones. Visit https://tinyurl.com/47zpkjdj for references to links mentioned in the episode.   Our episodes are now available on YouTube!   Connect with us: Email: lawyerandlaymanpod@gmail.com Instagram & Threads: @lawyerandlaymanpod X / YouTube / TikTok: @lawyerandlayman Music: The Podcast Intro by Music_Unlimited 2022.

Roberts n Them: The Modern Supreme Court (Part 1)

After providing listeners with some basic facts about the Supreme Court, and walking through the Court’s history, Kasey and Martin have finally arrived at the modern Court era!  In this episode, the hosts discuss the changes that have occurred since 2005, when Chief Justice Roberts joined the Court.  In that year, tall tees and Baby Phat reigned supreme (ba doom cha), The Wire was on a hiatus, and the U.S. was embroiled in (at least) two major wars.  It was also the beginning of the Supreme Court’s extreme shift to the right that operates to the detriment of all of us in the United States. Today’s discussion also explores the clear connection between the Rehnquist Court and the Roberts Court. Visit https://tinyurl.com/47zpkjdj for references to links mentioned in the episode.  Our episodes are now available on YouTube!   Connect with us: Email: lawyerandlaymanpod@gmail.com Instagram & Threads: @lawyerandlaymanpod X / YouTube / TikTok: @lawyerandlayman Music: The Podcast Intro by Music_Unlimited 2022.

The Supreme Court’s History and Origin Story (Part 3)

Today’s episode is about a guy who, while in elementary school, uttered the words: “I’m going to change the government!”  He meant it, and did just that. Kasey and Martin discuss Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1972 to 2005, first as an Associate Justice and then as the Chief Justice.  With Rehnquist at the helm, the Court reached a milestone decision in the realm of Free Speech, while also issuing some very business-friendly (aka, not person-friendly) precedent.  The hosts will share how the Rehnquist Court laid the groundwork for the pro-corporate interest, scaled back civil rights Court that we are familiar with today. Visit https://tinyurl.com/47zpkjdj for references to links mentioned in the episode.   Our episodes are now available on YouTube!   Connect with us: Email: lawyerandlaymanpod@gmail.com Instagram & Threads: @lawyerandlaymanpod X / YouTube / TikTok: @lawyerandlayman Music: The Podcast Intro by Music_Unlimited 2022.

The Supreme Court’s History and Origin Story (Part 2)

Like a novel or movie is often defined by its leading character, the Supreme Court tends to be defined by its Chief Justice.  Today’s episode focuses on a very lucky guy named Earl, who led the Court during a number of influential cases that established some of the critical rights we have today.  Between 1953 and 1969, the United States went through a dramatic shift: schools were integrated, interracial marriage was legalized, poverty could no longer be used as a means for preventing individuals from accessing the courts…and so much more.  In this episode, Martin and Kasey discuss the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren, who ended up on the Court due to a lucky (for him) break.  This episode is definitely a bright spot among the decidedly more gloomy Supreme Court discussions on the podcast—so you shouldn’t miss it! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/47zpkjdj ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://docs.google.com/document/d/102jmRtuQEYFliklgZGZQrVM0RYCvwrhQN6oaw-HJv7g/edit?usp=sharing]for references to links mentioned in the episode.   BTW, our episodes are now available on YouTube!  Connect with us: Email: lawyerandlaymanpod@gmail.com Instagram: @lawyerandlaymanpod X / YouTube / TikTok: @lawyerandlayman Music: The Podcast Intro by Music_Unlimited 2022.