The Citizen's Guide to the Supreme Court
News & Politics
About
Brett and Nazim are two attorneys who hate being attorneys. Each week, they discuss current Supreme Court cases with the intent to make the law more accessible to the average person, while ruminating on what makes the law both frustrating and interesting. This podcast is not legal advice and is for entertainment purposes only. If anything you hear leads you to believe you need legal advice, please contact an attorney immediately
Episodes
- Nazim's Doom-and-Gloom Gerrymanding Spectacular
This week's episode covers the perils of gerrymandering in Louisianna v. Callais, in which the Supreme Court reversed course on a districting map that may alter the application of the Voting Rights Act moving forward. Nazim's sad and Brett…
- Rich Borders, Porous Borders
This week's long over-due covers the past, present and future on international law and the Supreme Court. You (as Bill Murray in Scrooged) will enjoy the tarriffs in Learning Resources v. Trump (Buster Poindexter in Scrooged), birthright c…
- Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animals
This week's episode addresses three cases involving the government and the political process. This includes Trump v. Barbara (addressing the merits of birthright citizenship), Louisianna v. Callais (further undermining the Voting Rights Ac…
- Everything All At Once
Hi there. This week's episode covers a lot to make up for all the time we've been away. The episode starts with discussing LGBT rights (Little v. Hecox & Chiles v. Saalazar), then moves to the Second Amendment (Wolford v. Lopez & US v. Hem…
- Birthright Citizenship and Skrmetti
This episode of The Citizen
- The Foothills of Mt. Doomsday
This week's question asks the age old question of whether we are dealing with a Constitutional Crisis, or run-of-the-mill incompetency. Brett and Nazim discuss the cases of Noam v. Garcia and Trump v. JGG to determine the scope of both Sup…
- Sex, Drugs, and Unemployment Taxes
Brett and Nazim return to cover three Con Law cases. The first, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, asks whether mandatory government ID verifications for adult websites violates the First Amendment. The second, Skrmetti v. US, discusses the…
- Government Efficiency Run Amok
This week's episode covers the Supreme Court's decision in TikTok v. Garland, a great example of how the Federal government passing laws can end up as the Federal Government's own worst nightmare. Nazim has returned, so enjoy commentary on…
- TikTok v. Garland Oral Argument
This week's episode, which covers the oral argument in Tiktok v. Garland, is just Brett and no Nazim. We ask that you see past this fatal flaw and still enjoy discussion on why TikTok may not be a First Amendment case, what kind of First A…
- The 2024 Presidential Election
So you've won/lost the 2024 Presidential election, what comes next? Brett and Nazim take some time to vet out what the 2024 election means for the President, the Supreme Court and Administrative Agencies. Sprinkle in a touch of doom, and j…
- The Rise and Fall of Chevron
This week's episode discusses Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, in which the Supreme Court overruled the Chevron doctrine, but not before discussing the potential success of lawsuits challenging the change in the Democratic candidate f…
- Trump Immunity Decision
This week's episode covers Trump v. U.S. , which deals with the Court's new test for Presidential Immunity, how that test applies to former President Donald Trump, and whether Brett can talk Nazim off a ledge over the whole thing. Law star…
- 50 Shades of Originalism
This week's episode covers two criminal cases with bickering concurrences. Rahimi v. U.S., holding that the Second Amendment does not invalidate a law disarming someone subject to a domestic violence restraining order, shows that a lot can…
- Abortion & Guns (Civ Pro & Statutory Interpretation)
This week's episode covers the cases of FDA v. Doctor's for Hippocratic Medicine and Cargill v. Garland , which deal with big legal issues in small legal ways. The podcast starts by also discussing Big Sam Alito's recently foibles with jud…
- The Case Against Donald Trump
This week's episode once again covers former President Donald Trump's cases before the Supreme Court, dealing mostly with Trump v. U.S. (whether a President has absolute immunity for criminal actions), but also covering Fischer v. U.S. (wh…
- FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine Oral Argument
This week's episode covers the most recent abortion case before the Supreme Court, which covers less about the Constitution, and more about administrative law and the adversarial nature of the American legal system. Brett and Nazim discuss…
- Colorado, Executive Immunity and Yes We're Talking About Trump Again.
Time is a flat circle, folks. Fresh off the heels of two SCOTUS decisions, Brett and Nazim discuss the Supreme Court hearing Trump's Executive Immunity defense in Trump v. U.S., and the Supreme Court's holding in Trump v. Anderson which ba…
- Donald Trump and the Colorado Ballot
This week's episode covers Trump v. Anderson , which asks whether Colorado can prevent Donald Trump from being on the Presidential ballot due to the 14th Amendment. Considering how insane this case is, your boys discuss the lower decision…
- Trump, Double Jeopardy and Guns
Well hello there. The podcast returns for a discussion on executive immunity (United States v. Trump), double jeopardy and the insanity defense (McElrath v. Georgia) and the second amendment's application to domestic violence crimes (Rahim…
- The Third Wrongest Decision of the 2023 Term
Brett and Nazim are back to discuss the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. North Carolina/Harvard , in which the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in school admissions. The Law starts at (8:20), and Nazim's sound i…
- The Two Wrongest Decisions of the 2023 Term
Well hello there. Your boys are back to discuss the two lousy decisions of Biden v. Nebraska (holding the President cannot forgive student loan debt pursuant to the HEROES Act) and 303 Creative v. Elenis (holding that Colorado's Public Acc…
- Opinionpalooza
This week's episode covers big opinions from the past few weeks, including Twitter v. Taamneh (whether social media is civilly liable for terrorism), Sackett v. EPA (how do different justices interpret the Clean Water Act), Pork Council v.…
- Down Goes the Internet
This week's episode covers two cases, Gonzales v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, which appear to cover broad, important issues at first (the recruitment of terrorism on the internet), but seem more likely to affect narrow, trivial issues l…
- No Way FDA
This week's episode is jam-packed with current events, as it covers Clarence Thomas' recent ethics controversy, followed by Alliance for Hippocratic Oath v. United States FDA, which asks whether the Court can overrule FDA approval for abor…
- New Kids on the Docket (Part 2)
Brett and Nazim continue last week's episode of covering new cases on the docket in 2023, which include Samia v. U.S. (does the Confrontation Clause bar vague, redacted accusations), Groff v. DeJoy (what level of accommodation do employers…
- New Kids on the Docket (Part 1)
Look! We're back! Brett and Nazim return to discuss new cases added to the docket in 2023, including United States v. Hanson (whether an immigration statute is void for vagueness), and Jack Daniels Properties v. VIP Properties LLC (whether…
- The Seminal Case of "A" v. "The"
There are no Christmas themed cases this year, so Brett and Nazim usher in our holiday break by covering In re Grand Jury , a case with anonymous parties, no facts, and the Supreme Court seemingly poised to overturn a generally reasonable…
- The Grinch Who Stole Student Loan Forgiveness
Ho ho ho! Just in time for the holidays, the podcast covers the most direct example of the Supreme Court possibly taking $20,000.00 out of your pocket. This week, Brett and Nazim discuss Biden v. Nebraska , which covers whether the Supreme…
- Conservative Law Heat Check
This week's episode covers the case of Haaland v. Brackeen, a case involving Tribal Sovereignty and (stop us if you've heard this before) an argument to overrule a decades-long statute because it was decided incorrectly in the first place.…
- The Annual Thanksgiving Mailbag Episode
Happy Thanksgiving, folks. This year's mailbag covers topics such as a Supreme Court code of ethics, the leaked Dobbs opinion, strict scrutiny on religious laws, and senate confirmation hearings, BUT ALSO covers a professional wrestling ma…
- How Many Judges Does It Take to Define a Wetland?
If you love that age-old classic, you're going to love this week's episode covering Sackett v. EPA, which asks the Court to revisit the EPA's definition of "a wetland", after they were unable to come to a consensus sixteen years ago. Brett…
- Room Temperature News from Room Temperature Dudes
Brett and Nazim are bringing up the caboose on last week's news, covering Affirmative Action oral argument highlights, Lindsey Graham looking to avoid a subpoena, and Trump asking the Supreme Court to help protect his tax returns. Everythi…
- War(hol) Profiteers
This week's episode serves as the spiritual successor to Thursday's episode on intellectual property, as Brett and Nazim discuss Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts v. Goldsmith, which asks whether Warhol's depictions of a photograph are p…
- The Citizen's Guide to Intellectual Property
Brett and Nazim continue a series of shorter episodes on fundamental legal topics. This episode covers intellectual property, including what is protected, how it is protected, and why we sometimes let that protection lapse in the interests…
- The Hogs of Federalism
This week's episode is a real SCOTUS ghost story for Nazim, as the podcast covers National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, which asks whether a California law which affects pork farms in other States violates the Dormant Commerce Clause. L…
- The Citizen's Guide to Getting Arrested
Brett and Nazim continue a series of shorter episodes regarding fundamental legal topics. This episode covers the criminal justice system, including how it works and why you should try to avoid it.
- The Citizen's Guide to Getting Sued
Brett and Nazim continue a series of shorter episodes on fundamental legal topics. This episode covers the civil justice system, including how and why it takes so long, and how and why to avoid it.
- Nazim's Birthday Voting Rights Spectacular
In honor of the prosciutto playboy's birthday, Brett and Nazim cover the two big voting rights cases before the Supreme Court this term. The first is Merrill v. Milligan, which covers Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act as it applies to Ala…
- Masterpiece Cakes 3: Revenge of the Sachertorte
The age old battle over discrimination in public accommodations is back in this week's episode, as Brett and Nazim cover the case of 303 Creative, Inc. v. Elenis, which asks whether the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act violates a business'…
- The Neutrals!!, feat. Donald Trump, Mar A Largo, and Affirmative Action
This week's coming at you extra neutral this week, as Brett and Nazim try to take a neutral approach to two big Supreme Court issues and also say the word "neutral" about a hundred times. In particular, this week's episode covers the Supre…
- The Citizen's Guide to Equal Protection
Brett and Nazim continue their series of shorter episodes with a companion episode to the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard / North Carolina case on Equal Protection. This episode reviews how it applies, the three applicable standard…
- The Citizen's Guide to Congress
Brett and Nazim start a series of shorter episodes regarding fundamental legal topics. This episode covers Congress, including who can serve, what they do, and how they compare to other International legislative bodies.
- The Citizen's Guide to the Executive Branch
Brett and Nazim start a series of shorter episodes regarding fundamental legal topics. This episode covers the Executive Branch, including what it includes, the extent of its power, and how the Supreme Court has shaped its authority over t…
- The Citizen's Guide to the Courts
Brett and Nazim start a series of shorter episodes regarding fundamental legal topics. This episode covers the Judicial Branch, including what cases they can hear, how they are organized, and how appellate procedure works.
- SEASON FINALE LIVE: Fantasy Things Draft 2022
It's the end of the term, so Brett and Nazim are coming at you LIVE from an online google chatroom. This episode grades our evergreen predictions from last summer, and sets forth new predictions for what is hoping will be a less bleak summ…
- The 2022 SCOTUS Fall Line-Up
This week's episode previews some of the cases that will be covered next term, including cases about Delaware, Voting Rights, the Chevron Doctrine, Andy Warhol, Native American Sovereignty, the Independent State Legislature Theory and Affi…
- Last Call for Criminal Law
It's the end the term, so this week's episode ties up loose ends, which include: a mea culpa on cannon ownership (2:00); the plan so far for the Season Finale episode (5:00); discussion on Concepcion v. U.S. (how judge's should interpret t…
- Gorsuch and Tribal Sovereignty
This week's episode covers three cases which discuss recent Supreme Court decisions on Native American Law and Tribal Sovereignty, including Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta (holding that State law has criminal jurisdiction on tribal land), Denez…
- Administra-VAGANZA!!!!
This week's celebration of administrative law features two John Roberts Opinions; one of which suggests the Supreme Court is OK with the end of the world (West Virginia v. EPA) and also favors Biden's half-baked use of Admin Law over Trump…
- The Hyperbole Police
This week's episode discusses two cases in which the Supreme Court prioritized Free Exercise Clause rights over Establishment Clause rights. Carson v. Makin states that Maine cannot provide a voucher system that excludes religious schools…