Opening Arguments

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

Liz and Andrew catch you up on all the news breaking surrounding the Trump indictments, including potential new charges, new cooperating witnesses, and much, much more. Notes Trump docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490070/united-states-v-trump/ Indictment https://www.justice.gov/storage/US_v_Trump-Nauta_23-80101.pdf Kastigar v. United States, 406 U.S. 441 https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4825377966245261401 NARA statement https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2022/nr22-001#June-9-2023-statement Giuliani Jan 6 depo https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23559233/transcript-of-rudy-giulianis-interview-with-house-january-6-committee.pdf Independent article re superseding indictments https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-giuliani-more-charges-b2366597.html Exclusive: CNN obtains the tape of Trump’s 2021 conversation about classified documents https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/26/politics/trump-classified-documents-audio Trump weighs in

Today, Andrew and Liz take a deep dive into the Supreme Court's recent decision in Moore v. Harper rejecting the independent state legislature theory & why we still need to be on guard against John Roberts and the Supreme Court. Notes Moore v. Harper https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-1271_3f14.pdf OA 618 https://openargs.com/oa618-the-case-that-could-allow-republicans-to-steal-2024/ -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

Today, Liz and Andrew welcome back First Amendment expert Ari Cohn to break down Texas HB 1181, an anti-porn bill that will require websites to verify your age and also append a bunch of lies in the form of made-up "disclaimers" about the supposed harms of pornography. We also break down the latest in the Trump documents case and make fun of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for more than just the porn thing.  You won't want to miss it! NotesTexas HB 1181 https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB1181 -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 First Amendment lawyer Ari Cohn to help break down an important lawsuit involving Kathy Griffin, personal jurisdiction, and frivolous SLAPP lawsuits. NOTESJohnson v. Griffin Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63264613/johnson-v-griffin/ Johnson v. Griffin Complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.tnmd.90242/gov.uscourts.tnmd.90242.1.0.pdf Trial Court Opinion https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.tnmd.90242/gov.uscourts.tnmd.90242.32.0.pdf TechFreedom writeup https://techfreedom.org/protect-internet-users-from-slapps-techfreedom-tells-sixth-circuit/ -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 bombshell ProPublica article about Samuel Alito's corruption, and along the way remind you of the right wing's complicity in the false narrative that abortion violence is a "both sides" issue. It isn't. Notes OA 749 https://openargs.com/oa749-clarence-thomas-grifts-kari-lake-sinks-stewart-rhodes-comes-to-the-end/ OA 739 https://openargs.com/oa739-5-million-says-mike-lindell-is-full-of-stuffing/ ProPublica, “Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation With GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court,” https://www.propublica.org/article/samuel-alito-luxury-fishing-trip-paul-singer-scotus-supreme-court ProPublica on Thomas/Crow  https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow DOJ, Recent Cases on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers https://www.justice.gov/crt/recent-cases-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers DOJ, Anti-Abortion Violence Movement Increases (1996) https://www.

Liz and Andrew lead off with the blockbuster Washington Post story that the FBI and DOJ had to be browbeaten into investigating Donald Trump. After that, the duo tackle a bunch of stories surrounding the Trump indictments, including developments in both the Florida and New York cases, Rudy Giuliani being a jerk, and much, much more. In the Patreon bonus, Andrew and Liz duo answer one of your burning questions: how exactly is the Trump documents case going to go to trial if only a handful of people can see the documents he's charged with having willfully retained? The answer is the Classified Information Procedures Act, and we start to break it down for you! Notes FBI resisted opening probe into Trump’s role in Jan. 6 for more than a year https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/06/19/fbi-resisted-opening-probe-into-trumps-role-jan-6-more-than-year/ Freeman/Moss Motion to Compel https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720/gov.uscourts.dcd.238720.65.0.pdf Giuliani May 30

Liz and Andrew first discuss developments in the other Trump indictment -- remember that one in New York? After that, they break down the breakdown in Trump's legal team. Happy Father's Day! Notes  NY Penal Law 175.10 https://casetext.com/statute/consolidated-laws-of-new-york/chapter-penal/part-3-specific-offenses/title-k-offenses-involving-fraud/article-175-offenses-involving-false-written-statements/section-17510-falsifying-business-records-in-the-first-degree GA Code 21-2-562 https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-georgia/title-21-elections/chapter-2-elections-and-primaries-generally/article-15-miscellaneous-offenses/section-21-2-562-fraudulent-entries-unlawful-alteration-or-destruction-of-entries-unlawful-removal-of-documents-neglect-or-refusal-to-deliver-documents Bragg Motion to Remand https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311/gov.uscourts.nysd.598311.19.0.pdf Trump Lawyers Consider Revenge for Former Colleague https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-lawyers-consider-reveng

It's a grab bag of stories, mostly Trump-adjacent. After some great news on judges, Liz explains that the House GOP is so desperate to smear President Biden they've made like Rudy Giuliani and leaked. Stick around for the end, when the duo breaks down exactly what can (and can't!) be done about Judge Aileen Cannon, FSW. In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew discuss a recent Judge Cannon order in some detail. Notes Dep’t of Commerce v. New York, 139 S.Ct. 2551 (2019) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2540889926931166997 Ho Letter https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/gdpzymywgvw/ho-letter-lawfirms.pdf  Trump search warrant docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/64872441/united-states-v-sealed-search-warrant/ Trump Mar-a-Lago search warrant https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/Reinhart-Mar-a-Lago-less-redacted-affidavit.pdf Sample Warrant https://evawintl.org/wp-content/uploads/18-Appendix-B-Search-Warrants.pdf Comer Subpoena Wray https://oversight.house.gov/wp-cont

Liz and Andrew welcome back Mitchell Epner to the show to break down today's indictment of Donald Trump & Walt Nauta... and also figure out just how much mischief Judge Aileen Cannon can cause. -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