Planes are going down over ABQ, as this is the finale of Season 2 of the Citizen's Guide to the Supreme Court. Much like last year, Brett and Nazim make podcast announcements, cover cases were cert. was denied, wrap up the historical value of this term, and laugh at their own jokes. Unlike last year, we're still coming back next week with more podcasts. Podcast announcement starts at (6:39) and law starts at (13:59).
This week's episode wraps up the 2015/2016 term, where Brett and Nazim almost come to blows over Spokeo v. Robbins, guess Thomas' complaints with Green v. Brennan, share a laugh over Nichols v. US, vet out the appellate process over Welch v. US, and ruminate about the government over McDonnell v. U.S. Law starts at (6:22).
This week's episode covers Fisher v. University of Texas, which held that UOT's affirmative action program was in compliance with the Constitution and the Equal Protection clause. Brett and Nazim vet out how and why this program was able to pass the seemingly high barrier of strict scrutiny and what that says for future programs implementing similar procedures. Law starts (08:21), following this episode's rendition of "This Week in Ravioli Talk".
This week's episode first covers Beylund v. North Dakota and Voisine v. U.S., two cases that deal with the viability of criminal statutes aimed at stopping drunk driving and preventing firearm possession by domestic violence offenders. Law starts at (03:26) but there is one tangent on summer movies and the other featuring a controversial take on hamburgers. It's a serious episode, so you can let your hair down a little.
In this mini-episode, Brett and Nazim spend 30 minutes breaking down a one-line order from the Supreme Court in the immigration case of U.S. v. Texas, including why there is no decision, what will/should happen next now that the Executive Order has been quashed by the 5th Circuit, and whether this decision rests on solid Constitutional grounds or is just revenge for Obamacare. Law starts (0:37).
This week's episode takes a deep dive into Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstadt, the case that invalidated a Texas law that set impossibly high medical standards on abortion clinics. Brett and Nazim discuss how/whether this case changed the undue burden standard, and in light of this decision, where a women's right to choose currently sits in regard to all of our Constitutional rights. The Law starts at (9:00), but the intro covers the results of the Fantasy League and introduces a new game involving the multi-state bar exam.