U.S. Supreme Court 2024 Term    

The U.S. Supreme Court begins its new year (October 2024 term) the first Monday in October. NPR's Nina Totenberg gives us a preview of what the term might hold here. 4 min. transcript available.

One of the cases argued in that first week involves "ghost guns", guns that can be bought in kits and easily assembled. Are they "firearms" and therefore regulated by statute? Totenberg presents the case before oral argument here, (4 min. transcript available) and reports what happened during oral arguments here (4 min, 10 sec., transcript available).

 Interview with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan

The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently released a video of a conversation with Justice Elena Kagan who answered questions for an hour about decisions and events in the Court over the last year. She spoke clearly and candidly. Interestingly, she revealed that she tries to avoid adjectives when writing dissents.

The Law Show

BBC's Radio Four has a new programme, The Law Show, presented by Dr Joelle Grogan, replacing Law in Action with Joshua Rozenberg whose last episode was in March. It includes an overview of changes in the law over the last 40 years covered by the programme, followed by a look to the future in the law and a tribute to Rozenberg.

The first episode of the new programme appeared at the end of May and this first series ended in June, promising it will be back in the autumn. Links to Law in Action programmes can still be found on the site of The Law Show. 

 SCOTUS on Presidential Immunity    

On the last day of this term (2023), the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a landmark opinion (6-3) expanding presidential immunity. The dissent by Justice Sonia Sotomayor is fiery. 

NPR's coverage includes a 4 minute episode on All Things Considered by Nina Totenberg - transcript available, a 10 minute one on Morning Edition - transcript available and a 16 minute one on Consider This.

PBS NewsHour has an interview with historian Heather Cox Richardson who explains what a revolution this decision is in American law. 6 min. transcript available.

 End of Term for SCOTUS

This term the U.S. Supreme Court has decided several landmark cases. The most important one so far overturned what is known as the doctrine of Chevron deference. The courts now, not regulatory agencies, will have the final word interpreting federal laws. NPR's Nina Totenberg explains here the history of the question and what a revolution this decision is. Totenberg also presents another decision about one of the laws applied to some January 6, 2021 insurrectionists. 7 min., transcript available. 

More about the criminal law case (January 6th) can be found here. 3 min., transcript available.

More about the case overruling the Chevron doctrine can be found here. 4 min. 43 sec. transcript available.

Coming on Monday, the decisions about presidential immunity and social media. 

More U.S. Supreme Court - Abortion News

The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on March 26 about restrictions on the use of mifepristone, the medication that accounts for almost 2/3 of all U.S. abortions.

PBS Newshour has an interview with law professor Mary Ziegler about the role executive branch agencies can play in the availability of medication abortions, highlighting the potential consequences of the 2024 election for reproductive rights. 6 min. 34 sec., transcript available.

U.S. Supreme Court Ethics

The main story on John Oliver's Last Week Tonight program on February 25 was the U.S. Supreme Court and its ethics. Funny, with a spectacular end - "how is this legal?". 30 min. no transcript.