Podcast
Advisory Opinions
Hosted by The Dispatch · EN
Advisory Opinions is a legal podcast by The Dispatch. Hosts David French and Sarah Isgur meet twice a week to talk about the law, the courts, their collision with politics, and why it all matters.
145episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Problem With Multidistrict Litigation
Feb 6, 2024Tap to summarizeSarah and David invite District Judge Vince Chhabria on the pod to explain the state of multidistrict litigation and answer the question: Why does he listen to Advisory Opinions?The Agenda:—Justice Breyer’s jurisprudence—Judging vs. personal value judgments—David’s cringe a cappella group name—Constitutionality of magistrate judges—How to fix forum shopping—MDLs, explained—The pros and cons of MDLs—How to become a judge—Judge Chhabria’s clerk hiring process Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Reading the Founders’ Minds
Feb 1, 2024Tap to summarizeJudge John K. Bush of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals joins Sarah to discuss the method and merits of the "history and tradition test." But first, Sarah and David dive into some Supreme Court gossip.The Agenda:—Addressing Justice Sotomayor's comments—David's gross speculation—More immigration talk—The problem with Remain in Mexico—Why we have hate crimes—Tiers of scrutiny—The problems with "history and tradition"—How to become a clerk for Judge Bush—How Judge Bush judges judgingShow Notes:—Judge Bush's profile at the Federalist Society—Turner v. United States—R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Bari Weiss: Fight, Fight Fight
Nov 14, 2023Tap to summarizeBari Weiss recently gave the Barbara K. Olson Memorial lecture at the Federalist Society, in which she detailed the horrific aftermath of Hamas’ October 7 attack against Israel, the ensuing “battle of ideas,” and the left’s morally perverse showing therein. Given the subject matter, we decided to devote today’s episode of Advisory Opinions to reairing her speech. her speech.Show Notes-Full speech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Cancel Culture and the Anti-Semitism Rot in Universities
Oct 12, 2023Tap to summarizeSarah and David return to their regularly scheduled Supreme Court programming, specifically to a racial gerrymandering case out of South Carolina (Sarah has copious notes). The two also have a lot to say about the insanity coming out of elite law schools. But first David revisits law of war to explain the international rules of siege warfare. Then:-Supreme Court justices speaking statistics-Non-justiciable gerrymandering-Bonkers law student statements-Some cancel culture clarity-Ideological hot houses at elite institutions-Harmonizing grace and moralityShow notes:-Term statistics (2023)-South Carolina gerrymandering case-Rucho v. Common Cause-Allen v. Milligan-John Oliver talks Franklin, TN mayoral race-Chicago BLM chapter comments on Israel-Hamas war-Harvard students comment on Israel-Hamas war-David French: Difference between Kaepernick and Barr-GWU students comment on Israel-Hamas war Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →A Different Kind of Impeachment
Sep 14, 2023Tap to summarizeThe David and David show looks at Speaker McCarthy's call to open an impeachment inquiry against President Biden. They also break down a big win for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Ninth Circuit free speech case. And...-Trump cases update-New Mexico Gov v. the US ConstitutionShow Notes:-How Trump’s DOJ gave Biden a major assist on impeachment-OLC opinion on House vote for impeachment-Trump Seeks Recusal of Judge in Federal Elections Case-Trump demands recusal by Judge Chutkan-Judge Tells Trump to Use Secure Facility for Secret Evidence-Fellowship of Christian Athletes v. San Jose Unified School District Board-New Mexico’s governor seems to think it’s okay to ignore the Supreme Court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Indictment Watch: Trump's New Charges, Hunter Biden's Plea
Jul 29, 2023Tap to summarizeSarah Isgur and David French answer questions around the legal troubles of Donald Trump and Hunter Biden, including:-Drained swimming pools and deleted documents-How is Hunter Biden in good standing with the DC Bar?-David’s 10PM runsShow Notes:-"It's Seven Grandkids Mr. President"-Has the Supreme Court fixed qualified immunity doctrine yet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Billable Hours by the Millions
Jul 11, 2023Tap to summarizeSarah and David catch-up with non-SCOTUS cases starting with...-A multi-million dollar lawsuit involving Musk's Twitter deal-A bold move by a judge blocking state actors and social media workers meeting over protected speech-Tennessee’s latest push in the culture war with a ban on gender-affirming care-A bullied child, a MAGA hat, and the First AmendmentShow Notes:-David French for The Dispatch on convincing versus coercion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Legal Eagles Travel Log: A Gettysburg Anniversary Special
Jul 6, 2023Tap to summarizeIn this special episode of Advisory Opinions, Sarah follows Judge Alan Norris, a Sixth Circuit judge, on a trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Legal Eagles, a group of Judge Norris' colleagues and law clerks, accompany him on an annual trip to relive the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →SCOTUS on Student Loan Forgiveness: Nope
Jul 4, 2023Tap to summarizeFor Advisory Opinions' purposes, the Supreme Court term is over. Sarah and David return to share their end-of-term thoughts and feelings, David's crankiness about the student loan forgiveness commentary, look to the next term and:-Student loan forgiveness is dead-D.O.E. v. Brown-Compelled speech in Colorado-NYT: I Teach at an Elite College. Here’s a Look Inside the Racial Gaming of Admissions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Alito's Preemptive Strike (Against ProPublica)
Jun 23, 2023Tap to summarizeSarah Isgur and Guest-host David French return from the Advisory Opinions live event for some Supreme Court bingo. Plus:-Opinion lightning round-Justice Alito's Op-Ed in the WSJ-Transgender care for minors at the District Courts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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