Opening Arguments

Liz and Andrew break down the weekend's developments in Trump's criminal case in DC for conspiring to steal the 2020 election, including a rundown of the terrible arguments being made by his newest lawyer, John Lauro. Notes U.S. v. Trump docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656604/united-states-v-trump/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc US v. Trump motion for protective order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.10.0_11.pdf  Proposed DOJ protective order - tracks Judge Nichols order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.10.1_6.pdf Trump motion for extension of time https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.11.0_2.pdf DOJ opposition to Trump motion https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.12.0_1.pdf Hammerschmidt v. US, 265 U.S. 182 (1924) https://

Liz and Andrew welcome back to the show Mitchell Epner, who helps break down today's arraignment of Donald Trump in DC, with a particular focus on the conflicts of interest surrounding Stan Woodward (in Florida) and Todd Blanche (in DC). Notes US v. Trump (DC) docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656604/united-states-v-trump/ Blanche PHV https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.7.0.pdf US v. Trump (SDFL) Garcia motion https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.97.0.pdf US v. Garcia, 517 F.2d 272 (1975) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2468718350509973831 Liz's Wonkette on “Free Speech” defense https://www.wonkette.com/p/no-shut-up-new-york-times-the-first -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  

It's INDICTMENT DAY! Liz and Andrew release an emergency episode one day early that tells you everything you need to know about the just-released Trump DC indictment! Notes TRUMP DC Indictment https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.1.0_2.pdf J6 committee report https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-REPORT/pdf/GPO-J6-REPORT.pdf Ricky Vaughn Complaint https://www.justice.gov/d9/press-releases/attachments/2021/01/27/mackey_complaint_0.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew begin by discussing the latest developments in Fulton County, Georgia. No, it's not a Trump indictment - but it is the next best thing! After that, the duo break down Trump's latest LOLsuit loss in Trump v. CNN, and discuss how Trump may aim to leverage that loss into an argument to overturn the most important Supreme Court case in terms of press freedom: New York Times v. Sullivan. Notes OA 744 https://openargs.com/oa744-georgia-fake-electors-scheme-gets-real-feat-lawfares-anna-bower/ McBurney order denying Motion to Quash, Preclude, and Recuse https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2057/EX-PARTE-FILING-7-31-23 Fulton County docket http://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/94?Grid-orderBy=LastModifiedDate-desc Trump v. CNN complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239.1.0.pdf Order dismissing Trump v. CNN https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239/gov.uscourts.flsd.621239.31.0_1.pdf St

Liz and Andrew welcome a very special guest expert to break down redistricting in Alabama, Miami, and elsewhere in light of Allen v. Milligan. This is an unpaid post on Patreon. Notes Grace, Inc. v. Miami https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.625372/gov.uscourts.flsd.625372.94.0.pdf Merrill v. Milligan (2022) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a375_d18f.pdf Allen v. Milligan (2023) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-1086_1co6.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

HERE IT IS! Liz and Andrew break down a rapid response to the superseding indictment of Donald Trump in the Mar-a-Lago documents case. As a bonus, the duo also discuss today's DOJ filing for a protective order and what it tells us about Trump's strategy (hint: it's greymail). Notes Trump Superseding Indictment https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653.85.0_1.pdf Trump Superseding indictment summary https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653.86.0.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew break down the latest developments in Hunter Biden's plea deal and help inoculate you against the coming right-wing storm of misinformation suggesting something nefarious. In the Patreon bonus, Andrew and Liz take a deep look at the Trump SDFL docket and discover something very interesting about Special Counsel Jack Smith. Notes Liz’s ATL on Giuliani https://t.co/CN4aal5bx9 DOJ Press release https://www.justice.gov/usao-de/pr/tax-and-firearm-charges-filed-against-robert-hunter-biden DOJ Information 2 - tax https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/rhb_information_2.pdf DOJ Information 1 - firearm https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/rhb_information1.pdf DOJ Agreement to produce Weiss https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23886334/doj-letter-weiss-testify.pdf Fed R. Crim. Pro. 11 https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcrmp/rule_11 Jason Smith amicus brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82801/gov.uscourts.ded.82801.7.3.pdf Email correspondence between Kittila

Indictment Watch(TM) continues as Liz and Andrew update you as to what's new with Bernard Kerik before debunking the false arguments being made in defense of the fake electors who plotted with Trump to try and steal the 2020 election. If you've ever heard anyone dishonestly suggest that "Hawaii in 1960" justifies generating fake electoral certificates, this is the episode for you! Notes Judge Howell Discovery Order re Kerik Motion to Compel https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720.82.0_1.pdf Joint Stipulation re Kerik Discovery https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720.83.0_1.pdf  Chesebro-Troupis Dec. 9, 2020 memo https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/trump-electors-memo-december/eb149df1a68cc512/full.pdf Todd Zywicki, “The Law of Presidential Transitions and the 2000 Election,” BYU L. Rev. https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2031&context=lawreview Zywicki 2023 declara

As Indictment Watch(TM) continues, Liz and Andrew turn their eyes to Fulton County, Georgia. Will DA Fani Willis beat Jack Smith in the race to indict Donald Trump for a third set of crimes? Will Trump's new lawyer, John Lauro, be less of a dipshit? (No.) And what about the fake cosplay electors who helped Trump try to steal Georgia? What's going to happen to them? Listen and find out! In the Patreon bonus, Liz explains that yes, sometimes it is RICO, and gives us a very special Lizdive into the Georgia standardized test scandal of 2009. Trust us, it's all a seamless web! Notes Lauro on Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/video/6331632263112 3 U.S.C. § 5 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/5 3 U.S.C. § 15 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/15 SUPREME COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23875842/s23o1134_-_original_petition-copy.pdf SUPERIOR COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCe

Liz and Andrew provide a brief update as we continue to wait with bated breath on Trump indictments in DC (for the January 6th insurrection) and possibly in Fulton County, Georgia (for trying to falsify Georgia's election results). In the main segment, Liz and Andrew break down the Supreme Court's recent decision in Biden v. Nebraska on the so-called "major questions" doctrine as to why we can't have nice things like student loan forgiveness. This is a paid post on Patreon. Notes Biden v. Nebraskahttps://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-506_nmip.pdf Dep’t of Education v. Brown https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-535_i3kn.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew invite back friend of the show Mitchell Epner to discuss the breaking news today that Jack Smith's Washington, DC grand jury has issued a "target letter" informing Donald Trump that he is likely to be indicted in connection with the January 6 investigation. Find out exactly what all that means & much, much more! This episode is an unpaid post on Patreon & was released a day early for  all Patrons! NOTESMichigan AG Dana Nessel's press release https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2023/07/18/michigan-attorney-general-dana-nessel-charges-16-false-electors -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew welcome Prof. Guha Krishnamurthi to the show to discuss his forthcoming law review article about the future of affirmative action in light of the Supreme Court's recent decision in SFFA v. Harvard. Notes SFFA v. Harvard https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew break down Trump's latest doomed efforts to try and suppress the Special Purpose Grand Jury Report in Fulton County, Georgia (because he's probably going to be indicted in the next few weeks). Then, the two tackle the supposed "whistleblower" who can link Hunter Biden to Joe Biden to piles of cocaine to China to... something. Except that's all nonsense and the whistleblower has been indicted for the stuff they accuse Biden of doing. Neat! This is an unpaid post on Patreon. Notes SUPREME COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23875842/s23o1134_-_original_petition-copy.pdf SUPERIOR COURT Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2046/2023CV382670 Fulton County docket http://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/94?Grid-orderBy=LastModifiedDate-desc Trump motion to quash https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23718113-ex-parte-fulton-county-grand-jury-03-20-2023-102331-373

Liz and Andrew give a few updates on Trump's scheduling and the E. Jean Carroll litigation before diving into Ray Epps's defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Notes OA 704 https://openargs.com/oa704-democrats-play-offense-on-january-6/ Trump docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490071/united-states-v-trump/ DOJ opp Trump motion for continuance https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.76.0.pdf Epps v. Fox News lawsuit https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.83032/gov.uscourts.ded.83032.1.1_1.pdf -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew take a deep look at the U.S. v. Trump docket and explain how some minor-seeming procedural filings may tell us more than you'd think about how Donald Trump intends to mount a defense for crimes that he's definitely guilty of. You won't want to miss this one! Notes Trump docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490071/united-states-v-trump/ Trump opp Motion for Continuance https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.66.0.pdf Trump Speedy Trial Act report https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.72.0.pdf DOJ Denney case file https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/denney-lucas United States v. Hatfield, 466 F. App’x 775, 777 (11th Cir. 2012) https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23870839-us-v-hatfield In re Grand Jury Investigation (Mueller Challenge) https://casetext.com/case/in-re-investigation-5442 -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

Liz and Andrew break down the developments in the Trump documents case, including a deep dive into the relationship between Trump's co-defendant Walt Nauta and Nauta's lead counsel -- who's being paid by Trump's PAC. In the (LONG!) Patreon bonus, Liz recaps Alina Habba's greatest hits before bidding her a fond farewell. Notes OA 771 https://openargs.com/oa771-trump-judge-burns-down-first-amendment-to-save-free-speech/ OA 772 https://openargs.com/oa772-classified-documents-in-court-beyond-the-feing-socks-case-feat-kel-mcclanahan/ CIPA https://law.justia.com/codes/us/2021/title-18/appendix-18/ Missouri v. Biden motion to stay https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520/gov.uscourts.lawd.189520.301.0.pdf Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans (2015) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14885642386066449353 US v. Trump docket  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490071/united-states-v-trump/ Mar-a-lago less-redacted affidavit https://s3.documentcloud.org/do

Liz and Andrew break down two stories in the news. First, Republicans are taking aim at Target for its Pride line of products for the dumbest reasons. Second, the Sixth Circuit's has entered a stay of a district court order, effectively allowing Tennessee SB 1 -- prohibiting gender-affirming care -- to go into effect. Notes L.W. v. Skrmetti https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/23a0146p-06.pdf Miller v. California (1973) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=287180442152313659 Indiana AG Rokita letter to Target https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/INAG/2023/07/06/file_attachments/2546257/Target%20Letter%20Final.pdf Erin in the Morning  https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/republican-ags-declare-lgbtq-merchandise?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email  -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter f

While Donald Trump rants incoherently about "vital caselaw, of which there is much," Liz and Andrew welcome back actual national security law expert and friend of the show Kel McClanahan to discuss what will actually happen under the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) in the Trump documents trial. Notes Trump Less Redacted Search Warrant https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23867738/trump-search-affidavit-highlghted-2023-07-05-192253.pdf DOJ Synopsis of Classified Information Procedures Act https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-2054-synopsis-classified-information-procedures-act-cipa -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew break down the absolutely bonkers ruling by Judge Terry Doughty enjoining the Biden Administration from talking to social media. Yes, it's even worse than you think! Notes Missouri v. Biden docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63290154/missouri-v-biden/ Doughty opinion in Louisiana v. Becerra (COVID vaccine mandate injunction) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.lawd.185837/gov.uscourts.lawd.185837.28.0_1.pdf OA 551 https://openargs.com/oa551-trump-may-out-of-office-but-his-federal-judges-are-not/ -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki -And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com

Liz and Andrew break down the Supreme Court's gutting of what little remained of affirmative action in the just-released decision of SFFA v. Harvard. Notes SFFA v. Harvard https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf SFFA complaint http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Harvard-lawsuit-11-17-14.pdf OA 93 https://openargs.com/oa93-affirmative-action-best-legal-brief-ever-written/ OA 219 - you may be surprised just how minor affirmative action was https://openargs.com/oa219-harvard-and-affirmative-action/ Henry Etkowitz et al, “The Paradox of Critical Mass for Women in Science” https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/uzzi/ftp/paradox.pdf African American wealth https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/06/19/why-racial-wealth-gap-persists-more-than-years-after-emancipation/ -Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -For show-related questions, check out the Openi