The Legal Geeks

Joshua Gilliland, Megan Hitchcock, and Thomas Harper, recorded their first reactions to our Star Wars double hitter at San Diego Comic Con. Josh moderated the Judges of Star Wars panel, which focused on The Last Jedi and Solo. Megan and Thomas were prosecution attorneys for the Mock Court Martial of Poe Dameron. All share their thoughts on the show and what it meant to them. Send us Fan Mail Suppo...

Is Kylo Ren a war criminal? Can Clones who followed Order 66 claim the Insanity Defense? What are the employee safety issues in Jabba the Hutt’s Palace? Join attorneys Joshua Gilliland, Sylvia La Rosa, Monte Cooper, and special guest Claudia Gray. Ms. Gray is a former practicing attorney from Louisiana and author of three Star Wars books. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording...

What lessons are there from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Enhanced Privacy Invasion Bill from the Clone Wars episode “Hostage Crisis”? Do Droids have Rights? Join Lisa Hawke and Joshua Gilliland as they discuss these issues and more at San Francisco Comic Con. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us on Faceboo...

Is the Wolf Man a Peeping Tom? Is Frankenstein a “person” under the law? Joshua Gilliland discussed these issues and more at San Francisco Comic Con. The audience had great legal questions on the creatures that go bump in the night. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegal...

Who pays for Acts of Godzilla? Is King Kong an endangered species? Attorneys Joshua Gilliland and Monte Cooper explored these issues and more at San Francisco Comic Con. A monster-sized thank you to the audience for excellent questions. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheL...

Joshua Gilliland and Thomas Harper explore the hard questions from Solo A Star Wars Story. Did the Empire conduct lawful use of military force in the MimbaneseCampaign? What is the punishment for impersonating military officers? Could Han Solo be prosecuted for desertion? Was Chewbacca’s prison diet in violation of the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment? What can cases from the Old West o...

Is Thanos a terrorist or war criminal? How could multiple planets prosecute Thanos for his crimes in Infinity War? Join Joshua Gilliland and Thomas Harper as they discuss these issues, plus whether the Vision is a “person,” and whether War Machine would be subject to a court martial. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us on Faceboo...

Joshua Gilliland, Esq., appeared at Nerd Nite SF for Solo Practitioner: The Law of Star Wars. The Nerd Nite presentation included Droid Rights, Employee Safety in Jabba the Hutt’s Palace, War Crimes of the Empire and First Order, and whether the Dark Side can be claimed as the Insanity Defense. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us...

2018 is the 85th Anniversary of King Kong. Monte Cooper shared family stories on his granduncle Merian Cooper, who created King Kong. Monte is an intellectual property attorney with Orrick in San Francisco. Monte is a bonafide monster kid and true geek. Monte and Josh Gilliland discussed Merian’s works including Son of Kong, Mighty Joe Young, and Merian’s military service. If you enjoy our podcast...

United States Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman joined Jessica Mederson and Joshua Gilliland to share her thoughts on Star Wars, the intersection of how she saw the film in 1977 and with her children today, thoughts on Droid Rights, and impressions of San Diego Comic Con. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram...

Can a parent leave Earth in the best interests of their children? What is the duty of the Resolute as a common carrier? Tune in to hear Jessica Mederson and Joshua Gilliland discuss the first episode of the new Lost in Space on Netflix. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheL...

Beth Accomando, KPBS Cinema Junkie moderated a Kaiju Panel at San Diego Comic Fest with Miguel Rodriguez, Horrible Imaginings Film Festival , Hiroshi Kanantani, Comic Artist, Monster Attack Team , Edward L. Holland, editor in chief of Monster Attack Team, and Joshua Gilliland, Esq. Tune in for a discussion on the history of Kaiju films, thoughts on what is required for a Kaiju movie, and the panel...

Law students from Golden Gate University and University of Oregon School of Law conducted a mock hearing at San Diego Comic Fest on whether Frankenstein’s Creature was legally competent to stand trial. Dr. Frankenstein also challenged the indictments against him for the deaths of three people and for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Tune in to hear their arguments, testimony from an exp...

Was the Death Star a floating war crime? Could C-3PO and R2-D2 sue the Cantina for discrimination? From child custody to due process, Star Wars is full of legal issues. Join attorney and Army JAG officer Thomas Harper for a breakdown of some of the biggest legal topics in the galaxy far, far away. Thomas Harper is a Lehigh Valley attorney with the firm Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo. Thomas s...

Jessica Mederson and Josh Gilliland review the second half of Jessica Jones season 2, focusing on Trish Walker kidnapping people to gain super powers, Jeri Hogarth blackmailing her partner, and Constitutional issues with the Raft. If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Fol...

Recorded live at WonderCon on March 23, 2018. United States Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman will hear arguments from Megan Hitchcock, Esq. and Christine Peek, Esq. (McManis Faulkner) representing R2-D2 and C-3PO, and Steve B. Chu, Esq. and Thomas Harper, Esq. (Army JAG officer) representing the Mos Eisley Cantina, to decide whether the droids can sue for Bartender Wuher’s refusal to serve them....

Recorded live at WonderCon on March 23, 2018. Is King Kong protected by the Endangered Species Act? Does Gamera have a duty to save children? Attorneys Monte Cooper, Esq. (Orrick and grandnephew of Merian C. Cooper, the creator of King Kong), Megan Hitchcock,Esq. (Esurance), Jeraline Singh Edwards, Esq. (Law Offices of Jeraline Singh Edwards), and Joshua Gilliland, Esq. (The Legal Geeks) do battle...

Attorneys Jessica Mederson and Joshua Gilliland discuss the legal issues in Jessica Jones season 2, including murder for hire, human medical experimentation, forgery of passports, and ethical violations to fill a law school exam. Tune in for when you can't tip the pizza boy. If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of thi...

Attorneys Thomas Harper and Joshua Gilliland discuss the series finale of Star Wars Rebels. Just how many war crimes were committed in “Family Reunion – and Farewell”? Thomas and Josh analyze the episode; share their thoughts on the series; and what they hope to see in the future. ​If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of t...

Are Ewoks War Criminals? Can Stormtroopers sue for defective body armor? Was the targeted killing of Galen Erso lawful? Hear Joshua Gilliland discuss these issue and more at Nerd Nite San Diego! ​If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part of this recording should be considered legal advice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twit...

Star Wars Law with Joshua Gilliland, Esq., recorded live at Nerd Nite East Bay on February 26, 2018. A big thank you to Scott and Rick for having Josh as a guest speaker. Tune in to discuss Droid Rights, the Insanity Defense, Hate Crimes, and Self Defense in the context of Star Wars. ​If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part o...

Are you ready for the Black Panther movie? Jessica Mederson and Joshua Gilliland celebrate their 175th podcast with World of Wakanda, the use of deadly force in the defense of others, and diplomatic immunity for super-hero kings. Check out Josh’s Black Panther diplomatic immunity post. ​If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us Fan Mail Support the show No part...

Did Star Tours fail in its duty of care in launching a ship with C-3PO as its captain? Should an interplanetary shuttle be armed? Is Batuu safe if IG-88 is hanging out there? Attorneys Joshua Gilliland and Thomas Harper discuss the common carrier issues in Star Tours while on a trip to Disneyland over churros. ​If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us Fan Mail...

Perennial holiday stories bring families together with a sense of joy. Movies, TV specials, and songs do more than inspire a sense of wonder, they also raise significant legal questions. Could Mr. Potter keep the Bailey Building & Loan’s $8,000? What were the OSHA violations at Marley and Scrooge? Is Santa committing a trespass when he enters a home to leave gifts, or does leaving Cookies crea...

Did Luke Skywalker have a duty to save the galaxy from the First Order? Could Poe be charged with insubordination and mutiny? What recourse does General Hux have for work place bullying? Join attorneys Joshua Gilliland, Jessica Mederson, and Thomas Harper for their legal analysis and review of Star Wars The Last Jedi. ​If you enjoy our podcast, please rate us and leave a review on iTunes. Send us...