Beyond the Brief

In this episode, we bring you the disturbing story of St. Paul police officer Heather Weyker, whose lies led to the wrongful prosecution of dozens of people—and put an innocent teenage refugee in jail for two years. Will she ever be held accountable?  Today we’re joined by  IJ senior attorney Patrick Jaicomo, one of the leaders of IJ’s Project on Immunity and Accountability.  We’re discussing Patrick’s lawsuit against Officer Weyker, how courts have systematically closed doors to government accountability, and how IJ is trying to wrench those doors back open.  https://youtu.be/rf_NetF2l9k BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR Are you looking for a rewarding and consistent way to support IJ’s work?  Become a member of our Merry Band of Monthly Donors and stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients every month of the year. Donate now [https://ij.org/support/give-now/?recurring=1&monthlyother=5&utm_campaign=Monthly+Podcast+Ad&utm_medium=Advertising&utm_source=YouTube&utm_content=fincen-BTB] RELATED VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HujPlUyTXRY

Dalton Boley thought he found a refuge for him and his children in 10 acres of woods by his Alabama home. That is, until government officials started showing up on the land without a warrant.I’m Kim Norberg of the nonprofit civil liberties law firm the Institute for Justice, joined by co-host Keith Neely, and today we’re discussing the Open Fields Doctrine and what IJ is doing to close this 4th Amendment loophole. We’re joined by IJ attorney Josh Windham. https://youtu.be/tyeF77uNjW0 RELATED VIDEOS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je8mOkgMoWk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcnL6gF_ua4 BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR Are you looking for a rewarding and consistent way to support IJ’s work?  Become a member of our Merry Band of Monthly Donors and stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients every month of the year. Donate now [https://ij.org/support/give-now/?recurring=1&monthlyother=5]

You shouldn’t need a law degree to start a barber shop, but entrepreneurs across the country face steep fees, delays, and confusing requirements before they ever even open. That’s why, in addition to suing cities when they violate people’s rights, IJ works with cities to make it cheaper, faster, and simpler to start a small business.  Today we’re joined by Assistant Director of IJ’s Activism Team Jennifer McDonald, and Senior Policy Advisor Chad Reese to discuss how IJ makes Cities Work. https://youtu.be/IYN4RCN-yo8 BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR Are you looking for a rewarding and consistent way to support IJ’s work?  Become a member of our Merry Band of Monthly Donors and stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients every month of the year. Donate now [https://ij.org/support/give-now/?recurring=1&monthlyother=5&utm_campaign=Monthly+Podcast+Ad&utm_medium=Advertising&utm_source=YouTube]

The Constitution requires a warrant before police can search you or your property. But what if that warrant is based on third-hand information? That’s what happened to IJ client Michael Mendenhall, and it happens across America every day.  We recently spoke with IJ attorneys Patrick Jaicomo and Jared McClain to discuss how warrants are often just rubber stamps, and what IJ is doing to fix that.  https://youtu.be/0hTQIAsDHX0 BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR Are you looking for a rewarding and consistent way to support IJ’s work?  Become a member of our Merry Band of Monthly Donors and stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients every month of the year. Donate now [https://ij.org/support/give-now/?recurring=1&monthlyother=5&utm_campaign=Monthly+Podcast+Ad&utm_medium=Advertising&utm_source=YouTube&utm_content=fincen-BTB]

A new financial surveillance dragnet is sweeping up ordinary cash transactions at small businesses near the US-Mexico border. The federal government has placed onerous new requirements on businesses that help people without bank accounts cash checks or send money to family members. It’s demanding reports on all transactions involving at least $200 in cash, subjecting innocent people to warrantless surveillance and burying small businesses in paperwork.  Today we chat with IJ attorneys Rob Johnson and Betsy Sanz to talk about how IJ is fighting back against financial surveillance and the government’s war on cash.  https://youtu.be/MGPC27FIrqE BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR Are you looking for a rewarding and consistent way to support IJ’s work?  Become a member of our Merry Band of Monthly Donors and stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients every month of the year. Donate now [https://ij.org/support/donate-stock/]