
Case in Point: The Legal Show on the Hottest Legal Cases in Politics and Culture
If the thought of a legal podcast makes you shy away and you’re tired of so-called “legal” experts talking in confusing legal jargon, you’ve come to the right place. The Heritage Foundation’s “Case in Point” talks about the hottest cases affecting politics, culture, and everyone’s daily lives in a way that lawyers and non-lawyers alike can understand.
Host Hans von Spakovsky may work in Washington, D.C., but he grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. He hasn’t lost touch with his roots and hasn’t been captured by the Beltway Insiders. He understands the heart and soul of America, the everyday fol
Latest episodes

Jul 2, 2021 • 39min
That's a Wrap
After an epic sprint to the finish, the Court has wrapped up the term. The justices handed down two of the term's biggest cases this week--the Arizona election-law case and the First Amendment challenge to California's nonprofit donor disclosure rules. Your hosts unpack those and the other three cases of the week. GianCarlo also interviews Louisiana Solicitor General, Elizabeth Murrill, who recently won Edwards v. Vannoy at the Court. Lastly, GianCarlo tests Zack's knowledge of the rate of agreement and disagreement between the justices this term. Can you guess how many unanimous opinions we got? The show will be on a summer hiatus along with the Court, but we're looking forward to seeing you again in October!Follow us on Twitter @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.

Jun 25, 2021 • 25min
It's Raining Opinions
The Court is making it rain opinions on us---ten in one week! We got some of the big ones too including the NCAA antitrust case, the "Cussing Cheerleader" case, and a significant property rights case. Your hosts discuss those cases and all the rest, which involve warrantless entry into the home, the Appointments Clause, securities fraud, the standing doctrine, and Alaskan Native Corporations. Because there was so much to cover, your hosts didn't interview anyone this week, but they did not skip trivia. Zack hits GianCarlo with trivia about Justice Steven Breyer's life and career, and GianCarlo hits it out of the park. Can you keep up with our resident Justice Breyer expert?If you're interested in learning more about this week's cases, you can find two articles about them by GianCarlo here and here.Follow us on Twitter @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.

Jun 17, 2021 • 39min
Obamacare Revisted. Again.
The ball has finally dropped! This week we got two of the biggest cases of the term: California v. Texas, the latest challenge to Obamacare, and Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which concerns Catholic foster care services. Your hosts discuss those cases and the many others released this week. But if you thought this week was busy, hold on to your hats, because we have three opinion days next week. Zack interviews former United States Solicitor General Gregory Garre and learns what happens when you hit the Chief Justice of the United States with a tennis ball. Lastly, GianCarlo grills Zack with trivia about Indian tribes and SCOTUS.Follow us on Twitter @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.

Jun 4, 2021 • 29min
How to Become an Appellate Advocate
The Supreme Court keeps up the pace with two opinion days a week. Your hosts discuss the three opinions this week, which involve the scope of Indian police jurisdiction, an immigration issue, and a very unique statutory interpretation case that answers the question how do you become a cyber criminal. GianCarlo interviews Joshua Prince, a junior associate at the law firm Schaerr Jaffe LLP to learn about how a young lawyer can start a career as an appellate advocate. Lastly, GianCarlo tries to stump Zack with trivia about the Justice's educations, but ends up getting bested at his own game!Follow us on Twitter @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.

May 28, 2021 • 55min
Food Court
The Court had a calm and peaceful week taking no new cases and issuing three unanimous opinions in fairly technical cases. Your hosts explain all of those opinions, and then Zack has a fascinating discussion with Judge Douglas Ginsburg about his career, clerking for Justice Thurgood Marshall, and why he felt the need to escape the Harvard faculty even though he had just received tenure. Zack then grills GianCarlo about the inner workings of The Food Court--the Supreme Court's cafeteria. Tune in to find out which Justice to blame if you don't like the food!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.

May 21, 2021 • 58min
Tales from the D.C. Circuit
With oral arguments over and the term on the home stretch, the Court is issuing opinions at high speed. But before they issued this week's opinions, the Justices threw a curve-ball at court watchers by taking Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, a major abortion case that could see the court overturn or rein in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Your hosts discuss that case and the four opinions handed down this week. Among them, two major criminal procedure cases, one civil procedure case, and a stinging rebuke to the IRS for engaging in administrative shenanigans. Zack interviews Judge Randolph of the D.C. Circuit who shares a wealth of fascinating stories about his career and his many friends from the Circuit who went on to SCOTUS. Lastly, GianCarlo grills Zack with trivia about judicial attire.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.

May 1, 2021 • 59min
Dueling Textualists, Part II
It's full steam ahead as the Court finishes up its second-to-last week of oral arguments for the term. Among the six cases argued this week, were two blockbuster First Amendment cases, one that may decide the meaning of "freedom of association," and another that may decide whether schools can punish students for speech made outside of school. Your hosts discuss those arguments and more. GianCarlo explains the one opinion of the week, which is all about the meaning of the word "a," and explains how it's round two in the ongoing debate between Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh about the right way to do textualism. GianCarlo also interviews veteran advocate and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. Last up, Zack tries to stump GianCarlo with more strategic retirement 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.

Apr 23, 2021 • 51min
You're in, Luck!
It was a very busy week at the Court with six oral arguments, three opinions, and a couple of noteworthy orders. GianCarlo discusses the Court's order striking down a California COVID-19 restriction that discriminated against religious practice and a patent case with facts fit for an episode of Suits. Zack, meanwhile, discusses a case raising that all-important issue of whether and how the lawyers will get paid. Together your hosts explain this week's opinions, which involve life without parole for juvenile murderers, Social Security administrative law judges, and the scope of the Federal Trade Commission's enforcement powers. Zack interviews Judge Robert Luck of the Eleventh Circuit, and GianCarlo grills Zack with trivia about strategically timed SCOTUS retirements.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.

Apr 9, 2021 • 37min
Guns, Tech, and Free Speech
This week the Court issued a high-profile and very technical opinion in the copyright dispute between Google and Oracle. Your hosts break down the complicated issues in that case and cover other interesting orders from this week including an opinion by Justice Thomas about free speech and Big Tech that sparked a national conversation. Later on, Amy Swearer joins us again! This time, however, she's in the hot seat as a guest and subject-matter expert to discuss the Supreme Court and the Second Amendment. Lastly, Zack quizzes GianCarlo with some trivia about the Justices' pre-SCOTUS jobs.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.

Mar 26, 2021 • 40min
Cases for the Casebooks
This week the Court takes us back to our first year of law school with cases destined for the casebooks. Oral arguments this week involved a takings case that touches on first-year property and the "bundle of rights," a Fourth Amendment case involving the community caretaking exception to the warrant requirement, and a unique case about tribal police. We also got two blockbuster opinions this week involving personal jurisdiction and the definition of a "seizure" for the Fourth Amendment. Your hosts unpack all of that, and more. GianCarlo also interviews John Wood, a veteran litigator, Justice Thomas clerk, and current Chief Legal Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Last up, Zack grills GianCarlo with Fourth Amendment trivia. If he does well, all credit goes to Judge Pamela Harris who taught him criminal procedure.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.