Against the Rules with Michael Lewis

Alison LaCroix on How History Rhymes at the Supreme Court

Oct 15, 2024

Alison LaCroix, a legal historian and professor at the University of Chicago, dives deep into the Supreme Court's landmark decision overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. She discusses the historical tension between state sovereignty and federal authority, tracing back to the Fugitive Slave Act's impact. The conversation also explores how the framers envisioned federalism and its implications for modern legal decisions, especially in sports betting. LaCroix highlights how history influences today's legal landscapes, reminding us that history truly does rhyme.

34:13

Creator website

Episode guests

Alison LaCroix

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Murphy v. NCAA transformed state autonomy in sports gambling, highlighting historical federalism tensions.

Alison LaCroix emphasizes how historical debates over states' rights and federal power continue to influence legal interpretations and governance today.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Sports Betting Legislation

The Supreme Court's decision in 2018 that struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act marked a significant shift in sports betting legislation across the United States. This case, known as Murphy v. NCAA, allowed individual states to legalize sports betting, reflecting broader changes in attitudes toward gambling. The ruling was rooted in historical tensions between federal and state jurisdictions, illustrating how legal interpretations of federalism have evolved. As a result, states have become laboratories for democracy, experimenting with various regulatory frameworks for sports betting.

Intro

5min

Jurisdiction and Federalism: The Framers' Dilemma

11min

Identity Theft and Historical Perspectives

5min

The Clash of State Sovereignty and Federal Authority in the Fugitive Slave Era

4min

Evolving Interpretations of Federalism in Supreme Court Decisions

3min

Federalism and Identity in 19th Century America

7min

The Limitations of Congressional Authority Over States

3min

It may seem like sports gambling got legalized overnight in the US. But it was in fact a winding road to get there. Michael Lewis speaks with legal historian and University of Chicago professor Alison L. LaCroix about all the factors that led to the Supreme Court overturning, in 2018, a federal law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. And they explore why, in some eras of US history, the Court tends to lean towards “states rights” arguments.

For further reading: Alison LaCroix’s The Interbellum Constitution: Union, Commerce, and Slavery in the Age of Federalisms

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.