Advisory Opinions

Sarah Isgur returns to her home state of Texas to join a panel of leading constitutional scholars for a deep dive into the most significant Supreme Court decisions of the term. Alongside experts Jonathan Adler, Daniel Epps, and Frederick Lawrence, she examines key cases and explores the growing influence of politicians and the media on how the court is viewed by the public. The Agenda: —Is there a play in the joints between religion clauses and the First Amendment? —Why is it called United States. v Skrmetti [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-477_2cp3.pdf]? —The Fifth Circuit is the new Ninth Circuit —Will the court rein in excesses of state criminal justice [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/22-7466_5h25.pdf]? This episode is brought to you by Burford Capital, the leading global finance firm focused on law. Burford helps companies and law firms unlock the value of their legal assets. With a $7.2 billion portfolio and listings on the NYSE and LSE, Burford provides capital to finance high-value commercial litigation and arbitration—without adding cost, risk, or giving up control. Clients include Fortune 500 companies and Am Law 100 firms, who turn to Burford to pursue strong claims, manage legal costs, and accelerate recoveries. Learn more at burfordcapital.com/ao [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttp://burfordcapital.com/ao%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1752118336296260%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0L1-nOppLCn7xwGo3TG4ya&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1752118336299850&usg=AOvVaw0lVriZHUioOuRRJgtXWmJf]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Could a parental consent law finally be headed to the Supreme Court? Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas recently declined to take up a case—but their silence may be saying more than a firm “no.” —Camp Mystic tragedy in Texas —Denial of cert on a case involving minors and abortion [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-745_7758.pdf] —We can't send people to get tortured, even if they're criminals [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a1153_2co3.pdf#page=5] —First Amendment rights and government speech [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-355_i425.pdf] —LA COVID evictions [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-435_m6hn.pdf] —Not the most sympathetic pro-life protester [https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/olivier-v-city-of-brandon-mississippi/] This episode is brought to you by Burford Capital, the leading global finance firm focused on law. Burford helps companies and law firms unlock the value of their legal assets. With a $7.2 billion portfolio and listings on the NYSE and LSE, Burford provides capital to finance high-value commercial litigation and arbitration—without adding cost, risk, or giving up control. Clients include Fortune 500 companies and Am Law 100 firms, who turn to Burford to pursue strong claims, manage legal costs, and accelerate recoveries. Learn more at burfordcapital.com/ao [http://burfordcapital.com/ao]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Pardon our legal nerd-out as Sarah Isgur, David French, Amy Howe [https://www.scotusblog.com/author/amy-howe/], David Lat, and Zachary Shemtob [https://www.scotusblog.com/author/zachary/]—our dream team of SCOTUSBloggers and Advisory Opinions hosts—break down the biggest moments [https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/07/the-2024-25-term-brought-notable-wins-for-the-courts-conservative-majority-and-the-trump-administration/] from the Supreme Court’s term. What made this term so mellow? Which rulings came out of left field? And is Justice Jackson the Supreme Court’s breakout star? The Agenda: —Mellow vibes all around —Emergency Docket vs. Merits Docket —Cert petition surprises and denials —Oral argument highlights —Justice Clarence Thomas’ post-Dobbs influence —Looking ahead Show Notes: —SCOTUSblog's Stat Pack [https://www.scotusblog.com/stat-pack-2025/?_ptid=%7Bkpdx%7DAAAA2tlXoCbxgwoKbGtjVUlwd3NwdRIQbWNtZzZyZmVweHViMWZoOBoMRVhDOFhXVFkxNUVGIiUxODA1djMwMGJzLTAwMDAzNXVjdXNzY3J1cmI5MGdvZGkzdjJrKhpzaG93VGVtcGxhdGUxRUpQNEw1VkJXUzAyNzABOgxPVFBaWUlFSzlNMDVCDU9UVjE5SjFJTFZDQU5SEnYthADwNGNteHEydnVxMTdsWicyNjA3OmZiOTE6MmU3Mjo1Mzg3OjljNDI6N2QyZjplNmZkOjkzNmFiA2RtY2iL4pvDBnAEeAQ] This episode is brought to you by Burford Capital, the leading global finance firm focused on law. Burford helps companies and law firms unlock the value of their legal assets. With a $7.2 billion portfolio and listings on the NYSE and LSE, Burford provides capital to finance high-value commercial litigation and arbitration—without adding cost, risk, or giving up control. Clients include Fortune 500 companies and Am Law 100 firms, who turn to Burford to pursue strong claims, manage legal costs, and accelerate recoveries. Learn more at burfordcapital.com/ao [http://burfordcapital.com/ao]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Sarah Isgur and David French break down the biggest takeaways from the Supreme Court’s latest term using SCOTUSblog’s stat pack [https://www.scotusblog.com/stat-pack-2025/?_ptid=%7Bkpdx%7DAAAAvwUd0L3wgwoKbGtjVUlwd3NwdRIQbWNma3hzcXZjOTBydjFubxoMRVhDOFhXVFkxNUVGIiUxODA3bnVvMGM0LTAwMDAzNXRrNnB2dnVqM21ocnFuNTI4bmFjKhpzaG93VGVtcGxhdGUxRUpQNEw1VkJXUzAyNzABOgxPVFBaWUlFSzlNMDVCDU9UVjE5SjFJTFZDQU5SEnYthADwGnQwdnpjdDFlNjc1eloMMTAwLjguMTI5LjE3YgNkbXNo2LWCwwZwBHgE] as their guide. They also explain the outcomes in the Texas explicit content case and the “pride puppy” case. The Agenda: —OT25 in review —The most influential justice —What makes a case “important” —Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton [https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton/] —Explaining tiers of scrutiny —The pride puppy case [https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/06/court-allows-parents-to-opt-their-children-out-of-school-lessons-involving-lgbtq-themes/] —Curriculum opt-outs — Mahmoud v. Taylor [https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/mahmoud-v-taylor/] This episode is brought to you by Burford Capital, the leading global finance firm focused on law. Burford helps companies and law firms unlock the value of their legal assets. With a $7.2 billion portfolio and listings on the NYSE and LSE, Burford provides capital to finance high-value commercial litigation and arbitration—without adding cost, risk, or giving up control. Clients include Fortune 500 companies and Am Law 100 firms, who turn to Burford to pursue strong claims, manage legal costs, and accelerate recoveries. Learn more at ⁠burfordcapital.com/ao⁠ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttp://burfordcapital.com/ao%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1751064658293659%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1eBBy2CQ5bWw7kalbE2_N7&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1751064658311137&usg=AOvVaw1DRX2FF7iAHsQ6JICx7Ike]. Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thedispatch.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Divided Argument [https://dividedargument.com/] hosts Daniel Epps and William Baude join Sarah Isgur to unpack the Supreme Court’s decision (ahem, non-decision) on birthright citizenship. Plus: a little showdown between two justices. The Agenda: —What the Supreme Court did NOT decide —What the Court DID decide —Similarities to Marbury v. Madison,Loper Bright, and Chevron —Justice Amy Coney Barrett v. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson —Judicial supremacy? —Sir, this is not a Denny’s —Injunction influx —The future of forum shopping —A big July for Advisory Opinion Show Notes: —SCOTUSblog on the 6-3 decision itself [https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/06/supreme-court-sides-with-trump-administration-on-nationwide-injunctions-in-birthright-citizenship-case/] This episode is brought to you by Burford Capital, the leading global finance firm focused on law. Burford helps companies and law firms unlock the value of their legal assets. With a $7.2 billion portfolio and listings on the NYSE and LSE, Burford provides capital to finance high-value commercial litigation and arbitration—without adding cost, risk, or giving up control. Clients include Fortune 500 companies and Am Law 100 firms, who turn to Burford to pursue strong claims, manage legal costs, and accelerate recoveries. Learn more at burfordcapital.com/ao [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttp://burfordcapital.com/ao%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1751064658293659%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1eBBy2CQ5bWw7kalbE2_N7&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1751064658311137&usg=AOvVaw1DRX2FF7iAHsQ6JICx7Ike]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]