Easha Anand, Co-director of Stanford Law School Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, discusses cases argued before the Court, their impact, and unique clinic approach. Students share experiences, legal challenges faced, and preparing for Supreme Court arguments. The podcast delves into whistleblowing cases, client defense complexities, and student involvement in legal battles.
Stanford Supreme Court Clinic restores reputation of clients unfairly targeted by state.
Directors' reputation attracts majority of cases to Stanford Supreme Court Clinic.
Students in the clinic handle diverse legal challenges through intensive research and preparation.
Deep dives
Mr. Shevrini's Reputation and Stanford Law Representation
After facing a felony money laundering charge, Mr. Shevrini mentioned how Stanford's representation already restored his reputation. The Stanford Supreme Court clinic took up his case, leading to past acquaintances recognizing their earlier misjudgments. This experience highlighted the clinic's impactful use of resources to aid individuals targeted unfairly by the state.
Supreme Court Case Selection Process
The Stanford Supreme Court clinic primarily receives cases based on the clinic's reputable directors, Jeff Fisher and Pam Carlin. Two-thirds of cases reach the clinic due to these directors' standing in the legal field. The remaining one-third involves actively identifying compelling legal issues and cases where clinic students could learn collaboratively with clients and co-counsel.
Gareth's Work on Immigration and Criminal Cases
Gareth worked on two distinct cases during a quarter. One involved an immigration case focusing on a statutory issue related to required notice to non-citizens facing removal. The other case, United States v. Jackson, raised complexities around state drug convictions as qualifying offenses under criminal statutes, illustrating a range of legal challenges students tackle in the clinic.
Preparation and Rituals for Supreme Court Argument
The preparation for a Supreme Court argument involves intensive research, strategic consideration of justices' inclinations, and meticulous legal reasoning. Rituals such as repeated argument simulations, physical movement while rehearsing, and personal routines like specific dietary choices aim to mentally and physically prepare advocates for the high-stakes court appearance.
Impactful Legal Advocacy Beyond the Supreme Court
Following the formal clinic period, students have varied levels of involvement in case continuations. Some students opt to stay engaged post-clinic, contributing to ongoing legal advocacy efforts. The clinic emphasizes a balance between pedagogical value and public service impact in selecting cases, fostering both student learning and impactful, client-centered legal representation.
Professor Easha Anand, co-director of the Stanford Law School Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, joins Professors Pam Karlan and Richard Thompson Ford, along with Gareth Fowler, JD '24, for a discussion about three cases that she argued before the Court this term, the people behind the case titles, and what it takes to represent them at the highest court in the land.
(00:00:00) Chapter 1: Introduction and Setting the Stage
Easha Anand shares the story of Mr. Ciavarini and the impact of the Stanford Supreme Court Clinic on restoring his reputation. Hosts Rich Ford and Pam Karlan introduce the episode and guests Professor Easha Anand and Gareth Fowler, discussing their work with the Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic.
(00:01:52) Chapter 2: Joining the Clinic and the Clinic's Unique Approach
Gareth Fowler describes his experience joining the Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic and the process of working on cases as a student. Easha Anand explains the distinctive features of the clinic's model, emphasizing the significant role of students in producing legal work.
(00:05:38) Chapter 3: Working on Cases and the Sarbanes-Oxley Case
Gareth Fowler discusses the specific cases he worked on during his time at the clinic, including Mendez-Colleen and United States v. Jackson. Easha Anand recounts her experience arguing the case of Murray v. UBS before the Supreme Court and the significance of the outcome for whistleblower protection.
(00:15:52) Chapter 4: Insights from Oral Arguments
Easha Anand reflects on the differences between arguing cases at lower courts versus the Supreme Court, emphasizing the unique challenges and opportunities of Supreme Court advocacy.
(00:18:16) Chapter 5: Clinic's Trip to D.C.
Gareth Fowler shares his experience attending Supreme Court oral arguments in Washington, D.C., providing insights into the courtroom dynamics and the significance of the proceedings.
(00:20:27) Chapter 6: Preparing for Future Cases and Impactful Moments
Easha Anand discusses the upcoming case of Chiavarini and the journey of preparing for oral arguments, highlighting the client's story and the clinic's commitment to justice. Pam Karlan and Easha Anand reflect on the profound impact of their work with clients and the meaningful experiences shared during their collaboration with the Stanford Supreme Court Clinic.
[00:24:23] Chapter 7: Audience Question and Answer
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode