Lawyer Talk: Off the Record

If you value your rights—and your record—this episode is a must-listen. Steve Palmer and Troy unpack situations where responsible gun owners unintentionally find themselves facing felony charges simply by keeping a firearm in their car while out drinking—even if they didn’t intend to break the law. Drawing on real-life stories and recent court cases, Steve Palmer explains how Ohio’s “constitutiona...

Public Service Announcement: Don't Miss Your Appeals Deadlines! Why Are Deadlines Such a Big Deal? So many defendants (and, shockingly, many lawyers) overlook or misunderstand appeals deadlines. As we discuss on the show, these timelines—like the one-year post-conviction deadline in Ohio—are strict, and missing them can mean you lose the chance to ever raise your issue again. Troy learned first-ha...

Welcome back to Lawyer Talk, where we break down legal topics so you don’t have to go to law school! In this episode, Steve Palmer and Troy dive deep into the ins and outs of the "speedy trial" right—the constitutional and statutory protections, why the clock isn’t as simple as it sounds, and what it all means for people caught up in the criminal justice system. What Is a Speedy Trial… REALLY? The...

We look into the legal nuances of sexual harassment in the workplace, all sparked by a real-life lawsuit against an executive at JPMorgan. Key Topics Covered 1. Unpacking the Case: A sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against a female executive at JP Morgan—turning conventional scripts and gender stereotypes upside down. Drawing parallels with pop culture references such as Michael Crichton'...

Lawyer Talk: Police Entering — The Realities Behind the Locked Door Welcome to another raw and insightful episode of Lawyer Talk , where we peel back the curtain on real-life legal situations and debunk the myths you see on TV. In this follow-up segment, Brett, our seasoned producer, raises the essential question: “How does it actually play out when a lawyer tries to intervene with the police at t...

When Can Police Question You Without a Lawyer? – Moran v. Burbine Explained Welcome back to Lawyer Talk ! In this deep-dive episode, host Steve Palmer and law student Troy unpack the realities of a suspect’s right to counsel during police interrogations. Contrasting popular TV drama depictions with what really happens when the police want to question someone in custody. What Really Happens When th...

Is joking about violence ever just a joke, or can it cross the line into a criminal threat? Could this case become a precedent-setting decision? We unpack the legal standards, the real-life impact on those involved, and the ongoing debate about where free speech ends and criminal liability begins. Steve Palmer and Troy talk about a controversial case out of Florida involving a student who made a j...

After a hard-fought trial, sometimes the jury simply can’t agree. Speaker A shared a personal story about his very first trial resulting in a deadlocked jury (01:12). Here’s what happens step-by-step: The Wait: Both sides anxiously await, sometimes for days, as the jury deliberates (02:40). The Howard/Allen Charge: If the jury is stuck, Ohio courts use the “Howard charge” (federally known as the “...

If you’re curious about quirky legal history, how society dealt with its lawbreakers, or you just love some good old banter, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started! Welcome back to Lawyer Talk! It’s Steve Palmer here, and on this episode, I take you on a little side trip back to medieval times to uncover the roots of branding criminals—yes, physically marking people as a record of their crim...

I break down the legal layers, privilege, and free speech controversies swirling around Colorado’s statute. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk, off the record and on the air. I'm Steve Palmer, and today, I'm taking you on a deeper dive into Chiles v Salazar —a Supreme Court case that’s got Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy in the spotlight and raises big questions around the First Amendment. Brett fro...

Whether you’re studying law or just curious about how these cases unfold, I’ll help you understand the real steps, strategy, and legal framework that govern state and federal lawsuits. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk! I’m Steve Palmer, and in this episode, Troy and I look into a great listener question: According to the Constitution, if a state is a party in a case, does the Supreme Court have origina...

If you’ve ever wondered what happens if you fail a polygraph, whether it can ever help your case, or why a test you take privately doesn’t have to be shared with the government, you’re in the right place. I’m Steve Palmer, and in this episode, I’m joined by Troy as we talk about the world of polygraphs, or as most people call them, lie detector tests. With all the legal myths and pop-culture legen...

So whether you’re concerned about wrongful convictions, fascinated by courtroom strategy, or just curious about how the law really works, join Troy and me for an honest, practical look at how much “say so” is really enough to change a person’s life. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk. I’m Steve Palmer, and in this episode, I’m joined by Troy to dig into a question that comes up all the time, both in the...

If you’re curious about the behind-the-scenes challenges of criminal defense or just want to understand why open discovery matters, this episode gives you an inside look at both the history and the practical realities of justice in Ohio. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk! I’m Steve Palmer, and in this episode, Troy and I talk about the history and evolution of Ohio’s open discovery rules in criminal law...

If you’ve ever wondered who holds the real power in criminal cases, federal authorities or state courts, this episode is for you. Welcome to Lawyer Talk! In this episode, I dig into the age-old debate of federal versus state law, joined by Troy Henricksen, a sharp law student who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. We kick things off with a real case where police violated Miranda rights duri...

Whether you’re curious about legal strategies or just want a better understanding of the system, join me as I dive into the realities and nuances of DUI law. And, as always, I’ll remind you—never drink and drive. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk—I’m Steve Palmer, and today I’m tackling the Tiger Woods DUI arrest. As a veteran DUI defense attorney with over thirty years in the trenches, I know these cas...

If you’re curious about how the law works behind the scenes, why this case matters for free speech, and what the Supreme Court’s decision could mean going forward, stick around for the breakdown right here on Lawyer Talk. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk. I’m Steve Palmer, and today I’m breaking down one of the hottest Supreme Court cases out there: Chiles v. Salazar. Everyone’s been talking about Colo...

How do you make sure every defendant gets a fair trial when the stakes couldn’t be higher? Welcome back to Lawyer Talk. I’m Steve Palmer, and today I’m taking on a question that comes up all the time—both in my legal practice and right here on the podcast: when can the state link up, or consolidate, separate criminal cases into one trial? And, maybe more importantly, when should they be kept apart...

If you want the straight legal scoop on family conflict and kidnapping statutes, you’re in the right place. On this episode of Lawyer Talk, I tackle a question that comes up more often than you’d think: Can you kidnap your own kids? Joining me at the table is Troy Henricksen, a law student with some excellent insights into the complexities of Ohio law. We dig into how these situations usually play...

If you’re interested in the real-life impact of legal procedures or just love a good deep dive into true crime and courtroom drama, you’re in for a treat with this episode. Welcome to Lawyer Talk! In this episode, I take you through the fascinating and sometimes controversial topic of venue in criminal trials—specifically, when and why cases get moved out of their original county. Using some of th...

If you want to know what goes on behind the scenes when determining where your day in court will actually happen, you don’t want to miss this episode. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk, where I tackle your legal questions with straight talk and real answers. In this episode, I take on a question that comes up more often than you might think—where should a criminal trial actually be held? A listener wrot...

If you’ve ever wondered who really makes the rules, why legal definitions never seem absolute, or how law adapts to fit a changing society, you’ll want to stick around for this discussion. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk! In this episode, I’m tackling a question I hear all the time: what’s the real difference between laws, statutes, and “black robe law”—that case law everyone loves to debate? This all...

If you’re curious about how evidence is handled, how the system balances the rights of the accused and the challenges faced by victims, or you just want to understand the nuts and bolts of courtroom testimony, this episode is for you. Welcome back to Lawyer Talk. I’m Steve Palmer, and in this episode, I’m digging into a question that really seems to bug people—can someone actually be convicted bas...

If you’re curious about how AI is changing criminal defense, attorney-client relationships, and the law itself, you’ll want to listen in. I’m Steve Palmer, and I’m digging into a topic that’s becoming increasingly important in the legal world—"AI is NOT Your Attorney." In this episode, I start by reflecting on a classic lesson from law school: a lawyer isn’t a bus, and now, more than ever, a lawye...

This episode will have you rethinking the boundaries of attorney-client relationships. Steve Palmer and Troy tackle a listener follow-up that blurs the lines between legal advice, ethical dilemmas, and real-world drama. Prompted by an actual late-night client question, they dig into the complexities of attorney-client privilege—especially when the lawyer suddenly finds themselves not just the advi...