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Chief Justice John Roberts recently called out the Trump administration for their threats to impeach judges who have ruled against them. In response to these threats to the judiciary, the Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition, composed of over twenty former federal district and circuit judges  appointed by Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama, defended the federal judiciary, as political impeachment attempts against judges increase and the federal courts system face heightened scrutiny. In this episode, Craig is joined by Chief Judge Paul R. Michel, formerly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and member of Keep Our Republic's Article III Coalition. Together, Craig and Judge Michel discuss the calls for impeachment of judges by the current administration, and how a coalition of judges is fighting back. Mentioned in this Episode: Keep Our Republic's Article III Coalition

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.   In 1802, founding father Thomas Jefferson, wrote a letter to the Danbury, Connecticut Baptist Convention insisting that their legislature "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and state. On April 30th, 2025, SCOTUS heard arguments in  the consolidated cases of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond and Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond which could redefine the fine line between religion and government in public education.  In this episode, Craig is joined by Frank Ravitch, professor of law & religion at Michigan State University's College of Law.  Together, Craig and Professor Ravitch delve into the significant legal topic of SCOTUS and the separation of church and state. Their discussion encompasses the details of these cases, Chief Justice Roberts' prior involvement in similar matters, the complex question of whether faith-based schools should be part of the public charter system, the importance of safeguarding religious freedom, and the potential ramifications of this forthcoming landmark decision.

What is a constitutional crisis? For some, a constitutional crisis is when the president defies the Supreme Court, for others it is when a president simply defies a federal judge’s order. Under the reign of President Trump and his administration, the country has dealt with a number of incidents where judicial orders have been disregarded. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mahmoud Khalil are three individuals who have taken center stage in the battle between the courts and the Trump administration, and the quest for due process. In this episode, Craig is joined by professor Kent Greenfield, the Dean’s Distinguished Scholar at Boston College Law School. Craig & Kent discuss whether the country is currently in a constitutional crisis, the Trump administration's defiance of a Supreme Court order involving the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States,  the power of  judicial vs. executive branches, and the consequences for defying the rule of law.Mentioned in this Episode:Bipartisan Letter Coordinated by Kent Greenfield, Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar at Boston College Law School, and the American Constitution Society

Deferred contracts are becoming a powerful tool in Major League Baseball, allowing teams to stretch massive payouts over decades — but what does that mean for the sport? In this episode, Craig is joined by Jeremy M. Evans, attorney and CEO of California Sports Lawyer, to discuss the rise of deferred contracts and how they’re reshaping financial strategy in baseball. Craig and Jeremy break down how teams like the Dodgers are leveraging media revenue, why private equity is entering the conversation, and what lessons MLB might take from other leagues.

On March 15th, 2025, the Trump administration defied an oral order from U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg to stop the flights of Venezuelan migrants headed to a Salvadoran prison, after the administration used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport more than 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador with no due process.In this episode, Craig is joined by Virgil Wiebe, Professor of Law from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, as they discuss the recent deportation of Venezuelan migrants and federal Judge Boasberg's ruling, blocking the Trump administration from   deporting noncitizens. Craig & Virgil talk about the Alien Enemies Act, defying the judiciary, and next steps for individuals who are deported without due process.Related Episodes Senators Weigh In on Immigration, The Constitution, and Obama’s Executive Order Unaccompanied Minor Immigrants: Push and Pull Factors of Immigration Inside Human Trafficking: Sex & Labor Trafficking, and the Fight to Protect Victims

Bridgette A. Carr, a clinical professor of law and co-director of the Human Trafficking and Immigration Clinic at the University of Michigan, sheds light on the harrowing realities of human trafficking. She discusses the various forms it takes, from sex to labor trafficking, emphasizing how consumerism fuels this crisis. Bridgette also highlights the importance of awareness, legal reforms, and societal shifts to eradicate these injustices. Additionally, she shares inspiring stories of resilience and the critical role of legal support in helping survivors reclaim their lives.

Civility within the legal profession can be defined as the courteous and respectful behavior exhibited by legal professionals throughout their practice. Personal attacks, not agreeing to reasonable requests, writing inflammatory emails, briefs, or motions, are just a few examples of incivility within the profession. These actions have prompted calls for a return to civility. Where some states have adopted codes of civility, a fight for mandatory civility continues. In this episode, Craig is joined by David A. Grenardo, a professor of law and associate director of the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions at St. Thomas School of Law. Craig & David spotlight civility in the legal profession, and take a look at mandatory civility and teaching the importance of civility to our law students and to those within the legal profession.Mentioned in This Episode:Civility Rules: Debunking the Major Myths Surrounding Mandatory Civility for Lawyers and Five Mandatory Civility Rules That Will WorkHear more from David on State Bar of Texas Podcast 

In January, communities in Los Angeles were devastated by wildfires, permanently displacing thousands and destroying property and lives. Prior to the fires, thousands of L.A. residents in fire-prone areas were dropped from their insurance, leaving them with no protection or safety net. After losing their homes, their businesses, and their schools, they were left with the harsh reality of picking up the pieces.In this episode, Craig is joined by Hannah Perls, Senior Staff Attorney with the Harvard Environmental & Energy Law Program (EELP), as they take a look at the aftermath of the L.A. fires. Craig and Hannah discuss disaster preparedness and response, insurance recovery after big disasters like the fires, and next steps for those impacted by the fires.Listen to our previous episodes about other California wildfires:2018 Episode with Dan Wade, Tiela Chalmers and Michael Hart2007 Episode with Mark C. Zebrowski, Katherine L. Parker and Dan HullMentioned in This Episode:It’s Always Fire Season Now -Harvard Law TodayNeighborhood Legal Services of L.A. County (NLSLA)Is California Becoming Uninsurable?

With a stroke of a pen, President Trump signed a record number of executive orders attempting to change the fabric of our nation, attempting to undo years of legislation, and challenge the Constitution of the United States. From birthright citizenship to the elimination of DEI programs, to a freeze on federal aid, these orders stand to impact millions.In this episode, Craig is joined by Qasim Rashid, human rights lawyer, author, and a former Congressional candidate, as they spotlight Trump's recent executive orders including: birthright citizenship, the elimination of DEI programs, and the freeze on federal aid. Craig & Qasim discuss reaction, the legality of these orders, the executive branch v. Congress, litigation, and the potential impact these orders could have on the people of our nation.

Four years ago, on January 6th, 2021, our U.S. Capitol was under siege by supporters of Donald Trump who tried to stop a joint session of Congress from certifying the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election. Fast forward to 2025, Donald J. Trump is about to take office as President and the fate of those convicted of January 6th crimes lies in his hands.In this episode, Craig is joined by Kimberly Wehle, professor of law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and author of the book, Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works—and Why. Craig & Kim take a look back at January 6th, the possibility of Trump pardoning those convicted of federal crimes stemming from January 6th, and the implications this could have on our society and our legal system.Mentioned in This Episode:Los Angeles Times: Hundreds of Capitol Riot Prosecutions in Limbo as D.C. Court Awaits Trump’s White House Return By Alanna Durkin Richer and Michael Kunzelman  Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works—and Why by Kimberly Wehle