Amicus: A Law Review

Dive into the high-stakes legal landscape as we explore the U.S. Supreme Court's docket, including pivotal cases on religious liberty and labor laws. Witness the workings of grand juries, spotlighting a non-indictment saga. Navigate the election maze with Alaska's Sullivan ballot confusion and California's voter fraud claims, both tangled in legal skirmishes. While Alaska debates ballot stacking,...

This episode dives into unexpected alliances at the Supreme Court, with Justices Sotomayor and Gorsuch questioning the government's pursuit of a double jeopardy case against a Mexican national. The discussion then shifts to the FCC's political advertising rules, where a recent Supreme Court ruling favors the Trump administration, potentially amplifying pre-election ad blitzes. The episode also exp...

The episode dives into the U.S. Supreme Court's latest term, spotlighting upcoming cases like Beard vs. United States on sentencing guidelines and Salazar vs. Paramount Global on video privacy. It explores the Suncor Energy vs. Boulder County case, examining state vs. federal law on environmental issues, with Chief Justice Roberts' unexpected stance raising eyebrows. The shadow docket emerges with...

A pivotal case questions if bans on high-capacity weapons, like AR-15s, infringe on constitutional rights, reigniting the Second Amendment debate with historical context. Meanwhile, voter rights take center stage as Arizona's proof-of-citizenship requirement faces scrutiny for potential discrimination, challenging the National Voter Registration Act. ERISA fiduciary duties are under fire with Inte...

This episode dives into a federal court order challenging the President's attempt to ban CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from the White House, citing First Amendment and due process violations. The judge's decision mandates reinstating press credentials, dismissing national security claims as baseless. We also unravel the Supreme Court's contentious green-lighting of an expansive voter screening tool ahe...

On the 25th anniversary of September 11, Jim Santelle reflects on the events of that tragic day and its profound aftermath. Sharing his personal experiences as an interim U.S. Attorney, he recounts the chaos and unity that followed the attacks, including the grounded plans of Attorney General John Ashcroft. Santelle explores the enduring impact on American law and governance, and his later involve...

In a landmark legal settlement, Meta agrees to pay $17.1 billion to resolve allegations it endangered children through its addictive platforms, marking a major victory for state attorneys general. The Washington Post's arbitration ruling orders the reinstatement of an opinion writer, fueling debates on press freedom and free speech. Meanwhile, an ICE agent dodges extradition between Texas and Minn...

Dive into the legal whirlwind as our host unpacks a guilty plea in a federal stalking case, while he contests murder charges in state court. The Supreme Court's docket heats up with a pivotal religious rights case about Catholic preschools and same-sex couples. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's contentious mail-in ballot and White House ballroom orders face judicial scrutiny. Harvard scores a...

In the final installment of his four-part series on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2025–2026 term, Jim Santelle examines the Court’s most consequential rulings on elections and voting rights. He recaps key statistics from the term before diving into major decisions involving mail-in ballots, campaign finance, and the landmark Louisiana v. Callais ruling, which reshapes how race can be considered in cong...

In this episode of Amicus: A Law Review , host Jim Santelle continues his summer series examining the most significant U.S. Supreme Court decisions from the 2025–2026 term. This week, the focus turns to the Second Amendment and the evolving constitutional landscape surrounding gun rights in America. Drawing from landmark cases such as District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & P...

Federal district court judges are making waves! Jim Santelle dissects Judge Dudek's fiery rebuke of the DOJ's mishandling of an immigrant's right to due process, leading to the detainee's release. Judge Sorokin's takedown of a $100,000 visa fee for skilled workers as an illegal tax showcases judicial pushback against executive overreach. Judge Bosberg denies DOJ's request to erase a ruling that ex...

In a captivating two-hour finale of Amicus, Jim Santelle dissects the judicial pulse of America, spotlighting federal district courts as bulwarks against executive overreach. From Judge Brinkma's demand for clarity on a controversial anti-weaponization fund to Judge Kelly's stand against historical censorship in national parks, judges are calling the shots. Santelle scrutinizes pivotal Supreme Cou...

The Supreme Court is in high gear, clearing Alabama to redraw its congressional map, slashing a majority-black district, signaling a restrictive future for voting rights. Regulatory bodies like the SEC and FCC score major wins, affirming their enforcement powers. Meanwhile, the President’s grand ballroom plans hit a skeptical appeals court. Federal district courts are busy, too—halting Trump's asy...

This episode dives into the legal chaos surrounding President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, halted by a federal judge for potential constitutional breaches. Jim Santelle explores the fallout from this fund, including its questionable legality and the reopening of a dismissed $10 billion lawsuit involving Trump's tax records. Also on the docket: the DOJ's dubious crimi...

Jim Santelle delves into the legal mayhem surrounding the establishment of a controversial $1.8 billion Weaponization Reimbursement Fund by the Trump administration. This unauthorized fund, allegedly compensating victims of 'lawfare' and government weaponization, raises eyebrows as it's carved from the Judgment Fund, a congressional creation meant for litigation judgments. Santelle critiques the f...

This episode dives into unexpected twists in criminal cases across America. Jim Santelle reviews the South Carolina Supreme Court's reversal of Alex Murdoch's murder convictions due to jury interference, a mistrial declared in Harvey Weinstein's rape case in Manhattan, and the commutation of sentence for Colorado election denier Tina Peters. The podcast also covers a dropped fraud case against Ind...

This episode dives into recent legal battles shaping America's political landscape. The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana vs. Callais has ignited redistricting wars, allowing states like Tennessee to redraw congressional maps, potentially disenfranchising minority voters. Meanwhile, Virginia's Supreme Court struck down a Democratic referendum on procedural grounds, highlighting the ongoing tug...

Jim Santelle dives into the Supreme Court's landmark decision in the Callais case, which reshapes the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Court's ruling diminishes Section 2, demanding proof of intentional racial discrimination for gerrymandering claims, empowering states to redraw districts without federal oversight unless blatant racial bias is shown. Santelle reviews historical strides in voting rig...

Host Jim Santelle delves into the tumultuous world of justice and politics, dissecting investigations of political figures like John Brennan and Jerome Powell, which raise eyebrows for their seemingly partisan motives. Santelle critiques the Department of Justice's handling and misuse of subpoenas, highlighting the troubling trend of investigations serving as punishment. The episode shifts focus t...

This episode of Amicus dives into pivotal legal happenings shaping America and beyond. The U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of oil companies, allowing them to move environmental lawsuits from state to federal courts, spotlighting corporate influence in environmental justice. Meanwhile, a New York jury brands Live Nation a monopoly, igniting antitrust debates. Abroad, a French court finds cement g...

Todd Blanche steps into his role as Acting Attorney General amidst a storm of controversies and policy shifts. Asserting DOJ's allegiance to President Trump, Blanche inherits a slew of legal quagmires, including the politically charged investigation into Cassidy Hutchinson and the rescission of civil rights settlements for transgender students. The DOJ's credibility takes a hit with repeated court...

The U.S. Supreme Court took center stage this week, striking down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy, citing free speech concerns, while skepticism loomed large over President Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship. Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized that the Constitution remains unchanged despite modern issues like birth tourism. Simultaneously, drama unfolded at the Departm...

The episode dives into a whirlwind of legal battles and courtroom decisions. A California jury holds Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young user with addictive features, marking a landmark case in tech liability. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rules that Cox Communications isn't responsible for piracy by its users, raising questions on internet providers' roles. The Wisconsin S...

In this episode, Jim Santelle tackles the crucial role of federal district courts in upholding the rule of law, highlighting recent cases where judges blocked Trump administration actions on vaccines, press restrictions, and governance at the Kennedy Center. The episode also delves into Trump's lawsuit against Harvard and a civil suit by former FBI agents alleging political retribution. Supreme Co...

Jim Santelle dives into the tumultuous legal landscape, spotlighting grand jury subpoenas and their pivotal role in DOJ investigations. Highlighting figures like Jerome Powell and Letitia James, he scrutinizes politically charged probes deemed baseless by federal judges. The episode unravels the chaos surrounding 120-day interim U.S. Attorney appointments and their legal pitfalls. Santelle critiqu...