Lawyer 2 Lawyer

Back in August of 2014, Lawyer 2 Lawyer hosted a show on the death penalty where we explored whether the death penalty was considered cruel and unusual with standout guests Judge Alex Kozinski from the United States Court of Appeals for The Ninth Circuit, exonerated death row survivor Ronald Keine from Witness to Innocence, and M*A*S*H actor Mike Farrell from Death Penalty Focus.  That episode focused on the merits of firing squads vs. lethal injections and corruption in the judicial system. Presently, the death penalty is the law in in 31 states and the debate continues. Today on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, we revisit the death penalty debate. Host, J. Craig Williams joins attorney Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center and Judge Alex Kozinski, who sits on the bench of the United States Court of Appeals for The Ninth Circuit. Robert and Judge Kozinski take a look at the death penalty debate within our society and in our courts, exploring forensics, the fate of the death penalty, and whether we will see the constitutionality of death penalty argued before the Supreme Court.

Ten years ago, the Authors Guild filed a lawsuit against Google, Inc. in an alleged copyright infringement case involving Google’s book scanning project. This project involved creating a searchable database that allows a user to search the content of all books that have been scanned into that database. After many years in the courts, a federal appeals court recently ruled that the project is fully protected by fair use and does not infringe on the copyrights of authors. In this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Bob Ambrogi joins Attorney William H. Frankel from Brinks Gilson & Lione, Attorney Kenneth D. Crews from Gipson Hoffman & Pancion and Attorney Jeremy S. Goldman from Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz, PC. Together, they discuss the ruling in Authors Guild v. Google, Inc., explore fair use, review the case, evaluate the Authors Guild’s potential appeal and analyze how this landmark ruling will impact the book industry and the general public of readers. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.

Over the years, sexual assault on college campuses has been a huge problem and Washington has taken notice through various legislation and initiatives. Between the Clery Act, pending legislation of the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) and the Safe Campus Act, and Vice President Biden and President Obama’s “It’s On Us” Campaign, there has been a call to action implementing specific guidelines that colleges and universities need to adhere to when faced with allegations of sexual assault. But it is not all black and white—so, how are colleges handling allegations? Once accused, are those students receiving due process within administrative hearings? And are the alleged victims receiving the maximum protection from colleges? On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, hosts J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi join Attorney Laura Dunn, executive director of SurvJustice and Attorney Brett A. Sokolow, the president and CEO of The NCHERM Group, as they take a look at the latest on sexual assault on college campuses, how colleges across the country are handling allegations, due process of accused students, victim protections and the importance of educating students and faculty on sexual assault. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.

Back in 2009, former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon filed a lawsuit on behalf of the NCAA's Division I players. O’Bannon challenged the NCAA’s use of the images of its former student athletes for commercial purposes. Later, District Judge Claudia Wilken found for O'Bannon stating that the NCAA's rules violate antitrust laws.  However, on September 30, 2015, a three-judge panel upheld Judge Wilken's ruling, but threw out the proposal that the NCAA should pay athletes $5,000 per year in deferred compensation. On Lawyer 2 Lawyer host, J. Craig Williams joins Attorney Swathi Bojedla from Hausfeld Law firm and Attorney Scott D. Schneider from Fisher & Phillips LLP, as they take a look at O’Bannon v. NCAA, amateurism and anti-trust laws, the appeal and how this opinion will impact future cases. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.

J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi interview Judge Alex Kozinski from the United States Court of Appeals for The Ninth Circuit and Judge Richard Kopf from the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska. Together, they discuss the essential elements that go into persuasive legal writing and how lawyers might be selling their clients short. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.

J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi interview Robert Blagojevich. Together they discuss they his experiences with the FBI and U.S. Attorneys Office as well as his new book “Fundraiser A: My Fight for Justice and Freedom”. Tune in to hear about his million dollar legal fight to save his name and stay out of prison. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.

J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi interview Dean Erwin Chemerinsky from University of California, Irvine School of Law and Sergeant John Rivera from the Dade County Police Benevolent Association. Together they discuss the merits of using Ferguson to analyze police procedures, culpability of elected officials, and growth of murder rates around the country. In addition, they talk about attacks on police as well as the use of military equipment. Tune in hear about body cams, protests by Black Lives Matter, and the benefits of community-based policing. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.

House Resolution 2076 would permit banking for marijuana businesses if they follow certain guidelines. But what does that mean for the banks and the existing federal laws? Wouldn’t they still be aiding and abetting criminal activity? J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi interview Tom Downey from Ireland Stapleton, Professor Sam Kamin from the University of Denver, and Leonard Frieling from NORML. Together they discuss existing federal restrictions, criminal penalties, and how H.R. 2076 might change the landscape. Tune in to hear about the Supremacy Clause, money laundering, and much more. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.

Despite its popularity, not everyone is so enamored with Uber. Recently, it has fallen under scrutiny for its utilization of independent contractors and been accused of violating local regulations for taxi services. Perhaps the most visible challengers to Uber’s ride sharing service are the taxicab companies and unions who are crying fowl in major metropolitan areas. In this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Bob Ambrogi discusses these issues and more with guests Jonathan Handel from University of Southern California and Matthew Feeney from the Cato Institute. Tune in to hear about categories for workers and liability for accidents in the new sharing economy. Special thanks to our sponsor Clio.

J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi discuss the latest Supreme Court decisions with Tony Mauro from the National Law Journal and Tejinder Singh from SCOTUSBlog. Together they review the fundamental rights in Obergefell v. Hodges, interpretation of legislation under King v. Burwell, and free speech in Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans. Tune in to hear a detailed analysis of decisions as well as predictions for the future. Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.