For the first time in years, the Supreme Court issued surprise opinions during its February working recess. It issued an opinion in the Nazi art case and another in a case about railroads and retirement plans. Zack and GianCarlo discuss those as well as the newest case on the court's docket, which will decide whether a corporation can use the federal government's eminent domain power against a state government. Your hosts are joined this week by Judge Brantley Starr who discusses his journey to the bench and the influence his famous uncle had on his decision to become a lawyer. Lastly, Zack lobs some snowy-weather themed trivia at GianCarlo.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Going into its three week "working recess," the Court was relatively quiet, issuing a few orders and one DIG. What's a DIG? GianCarlo explains that, while Zack explains Munsingwear vacatur. GianCarlo then interviews Ninth Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke who shares his unusual path to law school and reveals why GianCarlo has dubbed him the modern-day Serranus Hastings. Finally, Zack holds his own in trivia about SCOTUS nicknames!Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a quiet week at the court with no new grants or opinions, but we did have two interesting oral arguments. Zack and GianCarlo discuss those cases, and then GianCarlo interviews Fifth Circuit judge Jennifer Walker Elrod. She tells us about her career, her musical talent, and her continuing devotion to her undergraduate alma mater. Lastly, Zack throws some inauguration-themed trivia GianCarlo's way. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back from the holiday break and so is SCOTUS! This week we discuss orders that the Court issued in a capital-punishment case and an abortion case. Zack and GianCarlo also discuss this week's oral arguments, which among other cases, involve a unique First Amendment issue with far-reaching implications. GianCarlo interviews Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who explains the link between Robert Bork, Thomas Sowell, and Top Gun's Maverick. Lastly, GianCarlo tries to trick Zack with trivia about where many Supreme Court justices came from.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special holiday episode, Zack and GianCarlo prepare for the Court's Winter break with a review of the term so far and a preview of what's to come. Of course, no episode of SCOTUS 101 would be complete without trivia, so GianCarlo tests Zack's knowledge of the history of the Court's annual Christmas party.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have our first opinions in cases argued this term. Zack joins GianCarlo in discussing those cases and this week's oral arguments, which include two cases about art stolen by Nazis. Zack also updates us about the major election cases pending before the Court. GianCarlo interviews returning guests, Judge Jeffrey Sutton and Ed Whelan on their new book: The Essential Scalia: On the Constitution, the Courts, and the Rule of Law. Lastly, Zack quizzes GianCarlo with art-related trivia.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Zack Smith is back, and he joins GianCarlo to discuss this week's oral arguments, which cover some touchy technology issues and whether the president can discount illegal aliens when it comes to determining the relevant population for each state's allotment of seats in the House of Representatives. GianCarlo also discusses the Court's midnight Thanksgiving order granting houses of worship a win against discriminatory COVID-19 restrictions. He also interviews Judge Raymond Kethledge who tells us about his career and shares his passion for writing. Last up, Zack is in the hot seat for technology-themed trivia!You can find Judge Kethledge's book here.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the Court gave advocates a Thanksgiving break from oral arguments, but our favorite black-clad gang of nine gave us a few new cases. With Amy out this week, our colleague Zack Smith fills in to discuss those cases. GianCarlo interviews Professor Josh Blackman to discuss the status of religious-liberty challenges to COVID-19 restrictions, the confusion caused in the lower courts by the Chief's opinion in South Bay United Pentecostal Church, and what the Court is likely to do with the two new religious-liberty challenges now pending. Lastly, Zack tries to stump GianCarlo with Thanksgiving themed SCOTUS trivia.You can read Professor Blackman's two articles here and here.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a quiet week for the Court, so your hosts take the time to highlight some of the most interesting cases that are waiting for the Court to take them up. Amy also discusses the one case that was picked, and GianCarlo interviews Professor Paul Cassell, a former federal judge and leading expert in the field of victims' rights. Lastly, GianCarlo tests Amy's architectural knowledge with trivia related to the Supreme Court building.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @scotus101 and send questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, your hosts are back in the studio to cover new cases, emergency election orders, and some of the term's biggest oral arguments. GianCarlo discusses the arguments in Brownback, and Amy walks us through the oral arguments in Texas v. California the most recent challenge to the Affordable Care Act. GianCarlo also interviews Professor John Yoo about his latest book: Defender in Chief: Donald Trump's Fight for Presidential Power. Lastly, Amy tries to stump GianCarlo with Veterans Day trivia, but he turns the table on her with some trivia of his own!You can find Professor Yoo's book here.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for future episodes to scotus101@heritage.org.Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating!Stay caffeinated and opinionated with a SCOTUS 101 mug:https://shop.heritage.org/products/scotus-101-mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.