Next Witness...Please

The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on presidential immunity raises as many questions as it answers. It requires trial judges in Trump’s pending criminal cases to hold evidentiary hearings to determine if his actions fall outside official acts, which are not protected by immunity. Trial courts must also assess what evidence can be used to support the remaining charges. The Supreme Court has ruled...

A week has passed since the U.S. Supreme Court's monumental ruling on presidential immunity, leaving everyone grappling with its implications. · Did the Court grant presidents unchecked power to break laws under "official acts"? · Has our democracy shifted towards a monarchy or autocracy where the president is above the law? · Are lower court judges now tasked with the impossible job of distinguis...

The U. S. Supreme Court has hit an all-time low in public trust and confidence. In this episode of "Next Witness...Please," retired judges Gayle Williams-Byers and Tom Hodson explore the reasons behind this decline and the immense power wielded by Supreme Court justices. They delve into why the public sees the court as more political than judicial, eroding faith in the rule of law. The episode als...

After a guilty verdict and before sentencing of a criminal defendant, the judge usually orders the probation department to conduct a presentence investigation to help guide the judge in sentencing. As in the New York cases against Donald Trump, the probation department will assemble information from numerous sources to prepare a written report for Judge Juan Merchan to use as he prepares to render...

In this riveting episode of “Next Witness…Please,” retired judges Gayle Williams Byers and Tom Hodson take you on an eye-opening journey through the often-misunderstood world of jury instructions and deliberations. Following Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 state felony counts in New York, the air is thick with rumors and conspiracy theories about Judge Juan Merchan’s jury instructions and the deli...

This episode of “Next Witness…Please” dives into different kinds of motions filed by defendants in criminal cases and why they are so important. Retired judges Tom Hodson and Gayle Williams-Byers guide you through the strategies behind filing “pre-trial” and “during trial” motions in a criminal case. They talk about motions in limine, motions to suppress evidence, motions for mistrials and motions...

Join us as we unravel the complexities of burdens of proof and witness examination, guided by our seasoned experts - the "Judicial Twins." With the New York trial of Donald Trump drawing to a close, it's prime time to explore the intricacies of criminal and civil cases, along with equity matters. From the formidable standard of "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" to the more straightforward "prepond...

Join us on “Next Witness... Please” for an exclusive deep dive into the high-profile Trump New York trial, where jury selection, opening statements, and contempt hearings have taken center stage. Led by the dynamic 'Judicial Twins,' retired judges Gayle Williams-Byers and Tom Hodson, this episode serves as your guide to understanding the legal intricacies of the case. Discover how jury selection u...

Hello everyone! We're thrilled to invite you to join us on a captivating journey through the legal world with our brand-new podcast, "Next Witness... Please," produced by WOUB Public Media. Ever found yourself lost in legal jargon? Fear not! Our mission is to decode complex legal concepts into everyday language, making them accessible to all. Meet your hosts, the dynamic duo known as the Judicial...