

Case in Point: The Legal Show on the Hottest Legal Cases in Politics and Culture
The Heritage Foundation
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
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 29, 2020 • 36min
Justice Barrett Goes to Washington
This week Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the Supreme Court as its 115th justice! Your hosts respond to some listener questions and explain why justices take two oaths, who administers them, and when and where those traditions were formed. Following up on her tribute to Justice Ginsburg from a previous episode, Amy explores what it means for a conservative woman to have a conservative role model on the court. The hosts replay an interview that Elizabeth Slattery conducted of then Judge Barrett, and lastly Amy tries to stump GianCarlo with trivia about swearing-in ceremonies.GianCarlo and John Malcolm recently wrote an article about Justice Barrett's confirmation, which you can find 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.

Oct 23, 2020 • 39min
Shortlists, Snubs, and Also-Rans
This week your hosts provide an update on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation process and discuss several interesting new cases the Court took up this week. Amy interviews Professors Hannah Brenner Johnson and Renee Knake Jefferson about their book “Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court.” Lastly Amy shines in trivia about famous lawyers who could have, would have, or should have been on the Supreme Court.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.

Oct 16, 2020 • 46min
Confirm Me If You Can
In this episode Amy and GianCarlo introduce Judge Amy Coney Barrett and cover all the most interesting and exciting parts of her confirmation hearing. They also discuss two cases argued before the Court this week: Torres v. Madrid, and U.S. v. Briggs. GianCarlo interviews Ilya Shapiro about his new book, Supreme Disorder: Judicial Nominations and the Politics of America's Highest Court. And lastly, Amy does a pretty good job of stumping GianCarlo with court-packing trivia! If you'd like to read Ilya's new book--and we highly recommend it--you can find it here.Here's Amy's article on Judge Barrett's Second Amendment writings.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.

Oct 9, 2020 • 50min
The Court [and the Show] Must Go On
A new term begins! Amy and GianCarlo launch the new season with a tribute to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. GianCarlo previews some of the biggest legal issues facing the Court this term, and Amy discusses this week's oral arguments. The duo also interview their colleague, Thomas Jipping, who is an expert on the confirmation process, and the three of them look at the road ahead of SCOTUS nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Last up, GianCarlo tries to stump Amy with confirmation-related trivia.If you'd like to hear more about the biggest cases of this term, you may enjoy watching The Heritage Foundation's preview of the term with The Honorable Paul Clement, and Eric Citron available here: https://www.heritage.org/courts/event/virtual-event-supreme-court-preview-the-2020-2021-term.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.

Jul 9, 2020 • 48min
The Grand Finale
The term has ended with a bang! In this final episode of the season, GianCarlo and Amy discuss the blockbuster cases handed down this week, which addressed whether the President must release his tax returns, whether nearly half of Oklahoma is, in fact, an Indian reservation, whether the Little Sisters have to provide contraceptives in violation of their religious beliefs, and more. Amy interviews our dear friend and colleague, Paul J. Larkin, Jr., and he talks about his career, his mentors, and how he prepared for SCOTUS oral arguments.Here's Amy's article about the Little Sisters' case: https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/07/08/little-sisters-of-poor-win-big-at-supreme-court-but-the-fight-isnt-over/Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.

Jul 2, 2020 • 44min
Chief Justice Roberts Moves the Strike Zone
In this episode, GianCarlo and Amy unpack the five big opinions issued this week, which involve religious liberty, abortion, separation of powers, corporate free-speech rights, and cutting edge trademark law. GianCarlo interviews Judge Daniel Bress of the Ninth Circuit who shares stories about clerking for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III and Justice Scalia. And lastly, Amy grills GianCarlo with religious-liberty trivia.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.

Jun 26, 2020 • 35min
Clerking for Justice O'Connor
In this episode, GianCarlo and Amy unpack the two opinions released this week, one holding that the SEC may seek disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and the other upholding a statutory limit to habeas review for aliens detained for expedited removal. GianCarlo then interviews Judge Sandra Ikuta of the Ninth Circuit, and who tells us about her career, her mentors, and her clerkship with Judge Sandra Day O'Connor. And lastly, the hosts are joined by special guest, Paul J. Larkin, Jr., for SCOTUS movie trivia!Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.

Jun 19, 2020 • 53min
Sex in the Text
In this episode, GianCarlo and Amy dive into the two big opinions this week that considered whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act forbids sexual-orientation and gender-identity discrimination and whether the Trump administration acted properly when it rescinded the DACA program. Amy then interviews Judge David Porter of the Third Circuit. And lastly, with textualism all the rage because of the Title VII decision, GC tries to stump Amy with textualism-related trivia!Here's the link to Amy's article on the Court's refusal to take a Second Amendment case: https://www.heritage.org/firearms/commentary/justices-continue-long-shameful-silence-second-amendmentFollow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.

Jun 11, 2020 • 39min
Judges, Generals, and Grand Legal Poobahs
In this episode, GianCarlo and Amy discuss the rumored departure of Solicitor General Noel Francisco, update you on Covid-19 litigation, and explain the one opinion issued this week on the prisoner pleading three-strikes rule. GianCarlo also interviews former federal judge and Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, who settles the debate about what to call attorneys general. Finally, in honor of the anniversary of D-Day on June 6, Amy tries to stump GianCarlo with World War 2 SCOTUS trivia.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.

Jun 5, 2020 • 45min
The Floodgate Opens
In this episode, GianCarlo and Amy discuss the dueling opinions in the case denying emergency relief to churches challenging California's Covid-19 restrictions. They also breakdown the five opinions the Court issued this week, which cover ERISA standing, foreign arbitral awards, the Puerto Rico Oversight Board, successive habeas petitions, and appellate review in the context of the Convention Against Torture. What a week! Amy also interviews former C.J. Rehnquist clerk and superstar securities lawyer, Matthew Martens, and tries to stump him with Rehnquist related trivia. Is she successful? Tune in to find out!Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ scotus101 and send comments, questions, or ideas for futureepisodes 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.


