Short Circuit

If I express myself through designing a new house, is that expression protected by the First Amendment? Last week the Eleventh Circuit avoided that question through a couple dodges for which Paul Sherman takes it to task. And why do defendants enter into plea deals? We often don’t know, but Justin Pearson tells us about an Eighth Circuit case where a man may have had little choice to take one after (perhaps unwittingly) funding terrorist groups in Syria. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Short-Circuit-178_otter-FINAL.pdf Burns v. Town of Palm Beach, https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201814515.pdf United States v. Harcevic, https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/21/06/192755P.pdf Justin Pearson, https://ij.org/staff/justin-pearson/ Paul Sherman, https://ij.org/staff/psherman/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

How many pop culture references can a judge make in an opinion before we start to cringe? “Dean” of #AppellateTwitter Raffi Melkonian joins us to give his thoughts on a recent Ninth Circuit case that perhaps broke the all-time record for “coolness,” perhaps to such an extent that it got in the way of its own underlying legal argument. Plus, Diana Simpson looks at another case from the Left Coast, trying to thread the needle on whether “Your right to remain silent” is a “constitutional right” or merely a “constitutional rule.” What’s the difference? We’re not really sure. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Short-Circuit-177_otter.ai-FINAL.pdf Tekoh v. County of Los Angeles (en banc), https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/06/03/18-56414.pdf Tekoh v. County of Los Angeles (panel opinion), https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/01/15/18-56414.pdf Briseno v. Henderson, https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/06/01/19-56297.pdf McCaughtry v. City of Red Wing (Phil Simms quote), https://casetext.com/case/mccaughtry-v-city-of-red-wing-3 Raffi Melkonian, https://www.wrightclosebarger.com/attorneys/raffi-melkonian/ Diana Simpson, https://ij.org/staff/diana-simpson/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

There’s this mysterious word in English that courts love to talk about, the Notorious A-N-D. Does it, in fact, mean “and?” Or does it mean “or?” The correction interpretation of the First Step Act—and a lot of years in prison for a lot of people—ride on the answer. Wesley Hottot explains how the Ninth Circuit and the Eleventh Circuit recently disagreed on this fundamental question. And can you sue over an unsolicited text message? Alexa Gervasi tells us what the Fifth Circuit said about this question, including how it relates to a public nuisance. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Short-Circuit-176_otter-FINAL.pdf United States v. Garcon, https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201914650.pdf United States v. Lopez, https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/05/21/19-50305.pdf Cranor v. 5 Star Nutrition, LLC, https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/19/19-51173-CV0.pdf Justice Paul Thissen, When Rules Get in the Way of Reason: One judge’s view of legislative interpretation, https://cdn.ymaws.com/mcaa-mn.org/resource/resmgr/files/mcaa_news/J_Thissen_article_in_Bench_a.pdf Alexa Gervasi, https://ij.org/staff/alexa-gervasi/ Wesley Hottot, https://ij.org/staff/whottot/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

Can the county foreclose on your house because you haven’t paid your taxes, and then just keep the rest of your equity? In Ohio, yeah, they can. That kind of sounds like a taking without just compensation, which is why Ohio attorney Emily White joined us to talk about her recent case at the Sixth Circuit. Then Kirby Thomas West of IJ takes us “up north” where a band of Native Americans argued their land is a reservation under some often-neglected, and often-dishonored, agreements with the federal government. It’s an all Sixth Circuit, all Big Ten, property rights edition of Short Circuit. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/short-circuit-175_otter.ai-FINAL.pdf Harrison v. Montgomery County, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/21a0103p-06.pdf Oral argument in Harrison v. Montgomery County, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/internet/court_audio/aud2.php?link=audio/04-29-2021%20-%20Thursday/20-4051%20Alana%20Harrison%20v%20Montgomery%20County%20OH.mp3&name=20-4051%20Alana%20Harrison%20v%20Montgomery%20County%20OH Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians v. Whitmer, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/21a0109p-06.pdf McGirt v. Oklahoma, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-9526_9okb.pdf Thread on Oklahoma history, https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1288098856346034179.html Emily White, https://www.dannlaw.com/attorney-profile/emily-white/ Kirby Thomas West, https://ij.org/staff/kirby-thomas-west/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

Second Amendment scholar David Kopel sits down with us to set the stage for a big issue we’ll hear a lot about over the next year: What “keep and bear arms” means outside of the home. Whether it’s conceal carry or open carry, does the Constitution protect that right, and if so, how? There’s a case at the Supreme Court from the Second Circuit challenging New York’s conceal carry law, and another case waiting in the wings from the Ninth Circuit. We get into some history, some legal tactics, and some judicial speculation—although only of a healthy kind. Click here for the transcript.

Legal raconteur and writer David Lat joins us for some underneath-their-robes hijinks. David talks a bit about his new venture and his battle with COVID-19. Then he examines a disability case from the Eleventh Circuit which tries to figure out the relationship between a “public accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act and a website. After that, Bob McNamara tells us a tragic story from the Ninth Circuit involving some “Snaps” and how they relate to Section 230. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/short-circuit-173_otter.ai-FINAL.pdf Gil v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/winn-dixie-ca11.pdf Lemmon v. Snap, Inc., https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/05/04/20-55295.pdf David’s “Original Jurisdiction,” https://davidlat.substack.com/ Bob McNamara, https://ij.org/staff/robert-mcnamara/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

What does Sir Walter Raleigh have to do with a Tennessee murder trial? You’ll learn from Rob Johnson, as he confronts his witness with a devastating cross-examination while presenting a unique habeas case from the Sixth Circuit. And does 50 years seem a long time for a case to last? Even in Cook County, Illinois it’s a bit of a stretch. But, as Jeff Rowes explains, given the county’s, and its most famous city’s, Untouchable history of corruption, the case can go on. For now. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Short-Circuit-172_otter.ai-FINAL.pdf Miller v. Genovese, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/21a0086p-06.pdf Shakman v. Clerk of Cook County, http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2021/D04-16/C:20-1828:J:Scudder:aut:T:fnOp:N:2691064:S:0 Hemphill v. New York, https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/hemphill-v-new-york/ Rob Johnson, https://ij.org/staff/rjohnson/ Jeff Rowes, https://ij.org/staff/jrowes/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

On a special Short Circuit, professors Christopher Green and Evan Bernick join your host Anthony Sanders to examine one of the great questions of the Fourteenth Amendment: When courts apply the Bill of Rights to the States, should they give those provisions the meaning they had when they were adopted, in 1791, or how they were understood when the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted, in 1868? The question is important, argue our guests, both methodologically and practically. Among other things, using the meaning the Bill of Rights had in 1868 might better fulfill the promise of Reconstruction, which was largely lost when the Supreme Court buried much of the Fourteenth Amendment in the years following the Civil War. And speaking of Reconstruction, click here to see our 150th anniversary celebration of Section 1983, that we held earlier this week! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlrAK4OXvPQ Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/short-circuit-171_otterFINAL.docx Torres v. Madrid, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/19-292_21p3.pdf McDonald v. City of Chicago, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1521.pdf Graham v. Connor, https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/490/386/ Ramos v. Louisiana, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-5924_n6io.pdf Christopher Green, https://law.olemiss.edu/faculty-directory/christopher-green/ Evan Bernick, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2547295 Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

What can a court say in 325 pages? So much that we don’t have much of a clue. Diana Simpson slices and dices the Fifth Circuit’s analysis of a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act as it gets set for a highly likely trip up to the Supreme Court. And did you know you can sue the Federal Election Commission if they don’t investigate someone you don’t like? Well, you could, until the D.C. Circuit found some magic words. Adam Shelton pulls a rabbit out of a hat in explaining this prosecutorial discretion case. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/short-circuit-170_otter.ai-FINAL.docx Brackeen v. Haaland, https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/18/18-11479-CV2.pdf CREW v. FEC, https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/2E3A562AA93DFCDA852586B2004F2355/$file/19-5161-1893809.pdf Diana Simpson, https://ij.org/staff/diana-simpson/ Adam Shelton, https://ij.org/staff/adam-shelton/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

If you’re not a major party candidate it can be really hard to get on the ballot. So hard it’s sometimes unconstitutional. Paul Sherman explains how a Michigan candidate fought the elections bureaucracy in the Sixth Circuit and won (well, at least got on the ballot). Plus, can the City of New York sue to stop global warning? Actually, no. Andrew Ward walks us through a case from the Second Circuit on federal common law, this thing lawyers call Erie, and international relations. Register here for the April 20th event on the 150th anniversary of Section 1983, https://ij.org/event/outragelegislation/ Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Short-Circuit-169-FINAL.pdf Graveline v. Johnson, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/21a0072p-06.pdf City of New York v. Chevron Corp., https://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/63c19c68-c35d-4c5f-9962-aee09bd4e76f/1/doc/18-2188_opn.pdf Ballot Access News, https://ballot-access.org/ Paul Sherman, https://ij.org/staff/psherman/ Andrew Ward, https://ij.org/staff/andrew-ward/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

Can the police stop and frisk your person based on their “training and experience?” Not if that training and experience is simply that drug dealers like to shake hands, says the Fourth Circuit. Ari Bargil provides the details of a drug dealer that the police were a tad too impatient to lock-up. And can an assistant football coach for a public high school publicly pray at the 50 yard line right after a game? The answer is it depends. Not every penitent man will pass the Ninth Circuit’s analysis. Plus, there’s a circuit split update on bump stocks and the CDC. Register here for the April 20th online event on the 150th anniversary of Section 1983: https://ij.org/event/outragelegislation/ Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/short-circuit-168-FINAL.pdf United States v. Drakeford, https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/194912.P.pdf Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist., https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/03/18/20-35222.pdf Gun Owners of America v. Garland, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/21a0070p-06.pdf Tiger Lily, LLC v. HUD, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/21a0074p-06.pdf Aril Bargil, https://ij.org/staff/ari-bargil/ Josh House, https://ij.org/staff/joshua-house/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

We get a little high-tech this week. Techdirt founder Mike Masnick joins us to explain how Section 230 actually works, and how it was somewhat unusually applied in a recent Second Circuit case. (Mike’s explanation may differ from what a multitude of “experts” have recently been saying in Congress and elsewhere.) And have you seen any drones above your house? IJ attorney Josh Windham tells a story about a drone that flew above someone’s property, and thereby committed a “search” under the Fourth Amendment (well, the government in charge of the drone did). This very interesting case from the Michigan Court of Appeals allows us to talk about drones, reasonable expectations of privacy, and whether the air above your house is an “open field.” Click here for Transcript

The 10th Circuit just can’t make up its mind. You might say it doesn’t know a hawk from a handsaw. Listen to a tale from IJ attorney Jeff Redfern of judicial deference to the government, waiver (or not) by the government, and “vacation” of en banc review. Plus, the case is about machine guns (or not). Then IJ attorney Diana Simpson explains how the 5th Circuit packed an entire federal courts textbook into one little case about a ranch in Louisiana. The plaintiff scored a hit, but not a very palpable one. Register for the April 20th event on the 150th anniversary of Section 1983, https://ij.org/event/outragelegislation/ Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Short-Circuit-166.pdf Aposhian v. Wilkinson, https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/19/19-4036.pdf Grace Ranch, LLC v. BP America Production Company, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/20/20-30224-CV1.pdf Hamlet, Act. III, Sec. 1, ln. 51, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/27761/27761-h/27761-h.htm#tagIII_8 Josh Blackman, In Bump Stock Case, Tenth Circuit Dismisses Grant of Rehearing En Banc As Improvidently Granted, https://reason.com/volokh/2021/03/06/in-bump-stock-case-tenth-circuit-dismisses-grant-of-rehearing-en-banc-as-improvidently-granted/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Jeff Redfern, https://ij.org/staff/jeffrey-redfern/ Diana Simpson, https://ij.org/staff/diana-simpson/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

How much power does the CDC have during the pandemic? Surprisingly, that was not the issue before a district court considering the constitutionality of the CDC’s eviction moratorium. Instead, it was how much power does the federal government have, virus or not. As Michael Bindas explains, that might have tipped the scales when the court interpreted the scope of the Commerce Clause. Out West, Alexa Gervasi walks us through the latest challenge to mandatory bar association dues. The Ninth Circuit says a Supreme Court precedent is on pretty shaky grounds these days, but as it’s the Supremes’ job to sort its own cases out, the lower court’s hands are tied. That’s true for the free speech claim, but on freedom of association there’s more wriggle room. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Short-Circuit-165.pdf Terkel v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://files.texaspolicy.com/uploads/2021/02/25160210/045-Opinion-and-Order.pdf?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_yj38m8dsqQuMMefjgKOjTMn-r345C5gtARN0qLZ_Yb3dh8Eo_3Ifdh6baGpsGd07pTnKW Crowe v. Oregon State Bar, https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/02/26/19-35463.pdf Michael Bindas, https://ij.org/staff/mbindas/ Alexa Gervasi, https://ij.org/staff/alexa-gervasi/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

New York police disciplinary records were a black box, until the state changed the law. Then the union sued to keep the lid on—but lost. We speak to Tiffany Wright of the Howard University Civil Rights Clinic, who argued the case at the Second Circuit on behalf of the reforms. Also, did you know the government can search your smartphone with absolutely no suspicion when you cross the border? That’s what the First Circuit says, at least. Adam Shelton breaks down this alarming ruling, which we’ll all want to keep in mind when leaving the country becomes a thing again. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/short-circuit-164.pdf Uniformed Fire Officers Association v. De Blasio, https://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/81f5056a-e0f0-4128-9e1d-99a2c60ac224/1/doc/20-2789_so.pdf#xml=https://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/81f5056a-e0f0-4128-9e1d-99a2c60ac224/1/hilite/ Alasaad v. Mayorkas, http://media.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/20-1077P-01A.pdf Tiffany Wright, https://www.orrick.com/en/People/2/6/8/Tiffany-Wright Adam Shelton, https://ij.org/staff/adam-shelton/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

For once living up to the 1980s-movie-sense of our name, we’re talking about robots. How should the law treat robots? What do we analogize to, the law of traditional machines? Animals? Something else? How should that law be “made,” by courts or by legislatures? And how does the Constitution interact with artificial intelligence? When a robot writes a novel is it “speech?” In a special Short Circuit, we look into all of these questions with our guest Ed Walters, founder and CEO of Fastcase, and an adjunct professor who teaches robot and artificial intelligence law at Georgetown Law School. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/short-circuit-163_otter.ai_.pdf Copyrighting all the melodies to avoid accidental-infringement, https://www.ted.com/talks/damien_riehl_copyrighting_all_the_melodies_to_avoid_accidental_infringement I, Robot, http://ekladata.com/-Byix64G_NtE0xI4A6PA1--o1Hc/Asimov-Isaac-I-Robot.pdf Ed Walters: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/edward-j-walters/ Anthony Sanders: https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

If you’re the State, what do you get when you put money owed to a prisoner in a special account, and then take most of that money out for yourself? You lose in federal court. Bob McNamara walks us through a particularly outrageous civil rights lawsuit from Connecticut. Plus, Anya Bidwell describes what happens when a judge is so involved in a case that he shows up at a deposition and also tells the plaintiff he will “crush” her. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Short-Circuit-162_otter.ai_.pdf Williams v. Marinelli, https://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/349211bb-2587-4c52-abe9-9be0f369fb1b/1/doc/18-1263_opn.pdf#xml=https://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/349211bb-2587-4c52-abe9-9be0f369fb1b/1/hilite/ Miller v. Sam Houston State University, https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/19/19-20752-CV0.pdf Anya Bidwell, https://ij.org/staff/anya-bidwell/ Bob McNamara, https://ij.org/staff/robert-mcnamara/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

A triad of important things in life are tweets, stateless vessels, and fonts. IJ attorneys Tatiana Pino and Patrick Jaicomo join your host Anthony Sanders to outline how a politician in the Eighth Circuit almost turned her Twitter account into a public forum, which would have prevented her from blocking anyone based on a viewpoint she disagrees with. Also, ever wanted to sail your own boat onto the high seas, free from any nation’s sovereign arm? Too bad. At least says the First Circuit to an unlucky mariner who happened to be transporting quite a lot of cocaine. Finally, Anthony takes us on a tour of the fonts of the federal circuits. Will others follow the Fifth Circuit’s lead and not pretend they issue opinions with typewriters anymore? Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Short-Circuit-161.pdf Campbell v. Reisch, https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/21/01/192994P.pdf United States v. Aybar-Ulloa, http://media.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/15-2377P2-01A.pdf Patrick Jaicomo, https://ij.org/staff/patrick-jaicomo/ Tatiana Pino, https://ij.org/staff/tatiana-pino/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

Even though ex-President Trump is off of Twitter, his tweets are still abundant in federal legal filings. IJ Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes explains the First Amendment defenses (spoiler: he thinks there aren’t many) Rudy Giuliani might have to the new lawsuit filed against him by a Canadian voting machine company. But if that’s not international enough for you, IJ attorney Kirby Thomas West shares the saga of a family that thought they were free from diplomatic immunity, but instead failed to obtain citizenship for a women who went on to fight for ISIS, and lost her passport in the process—a decision affirmed by Presidential Tweet. In the process your host Anthony Sanders explains how he never really thought about the “Reception Clause” before (which, unfortunately, has nothing to do with football). Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/short-circuit-160.pdf Complaint in US Dominion, Inc. v. Giuliani, https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20463220/dominion-v-giuliani-complaint.pdf Muthana v. Pompeo, https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/97F4C9BA474983DE8525866200567816/$file/19-5362-1880558.pdf Anthony’s Twitter thread about US citizens born abroad, https://twitter.com/IJSanders/status/1127307781139308549 Jeff Rowes, https://ij.org/staff/jrowes/ Kirby Thomas West, https://ij.org/staff/kirby-thomas-west/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

When a judge asks you a question, it’s best to give an answer. We briefly discuss an oral argument that IJ Senior Attorney Rob Frommer had last week on South Carolina’s civil forfeiture laws, and listen to some non-answers his opposing counsel gave. Then it’s on to the Fifth Circuit where the court wrestles with a COVID-19 order shutting down Louisiana’s bars, and the Seventh Circuit where both the plaintiff and defendant have some unconventional positions on standing. If you’re playing Short Circuit bingo this episode has got you covered: “Lochner,” “rational basis,” “civil forfeiture,” “Twitter Laureate,” and “subtreasury.” Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Short-Circuit-159.pdf South Carolina Civil Forfeiture, https://ij.org/case/south-carolina-civil-forfeiture/ Big Tyme Investments, LLC v. Edwards, https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/20/20-30537-CV0.pdf Thornley v. Clearview AI, Inc., http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2021/D01-14/C:20-3249:J:Hamilton:con:T:fnOp:N:2644794:S:0 A Tale of Two Cases and Two Pandemics, https://ij.org/cje-post/a-tale-of-two-cases-and-two-pandemics/ Rob Frommer, https://ij.org/staff/rfrommer/ Josh Windham, https://ij.org/staff/joshua-windham/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

The Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges or Immunities Clause resurfaces in the Seventh Circuit, where the State of Indiana treated some newcomers differently from some long-time residents. Meanwhile, an Arkansas school district augments a consent decree from the days of school desegregation. But there’s a question of whether it did so for the right reasons. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/short-circuit-158.pdf Hope v. Commissioner of Indiana Department of Correction, http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2021/D01-06/C:19-2523:J:Rovner:aut:T:fnOp:N:2640105:S:0 Junction City School District v. Arkansas Department of Education, https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/20/12/191340P.pdf Saenz v. Roe, https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/526/489/ Justin Pearson, https://ij.org/staff/justin-pearson/ Robert Peccola, https://ij.org/staff/rpeccola/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

How do you put together a campaign of litigation under various state constitutions across the country? And how to you get state courts to take their own constitutions seriously? On this special Short Circuit we explored these questions through the history of marriage equality litigation in state courts before the issue went to the U.S. Supreme Court. Joining host Anthony Sanders were Professors Lee Carpenter and Ellie Margolis of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law who recently wrote an article on this subject. They recount the history of marriage equality litigation and more broadly examine what to think about when litigating under state constitutions. Whatever the issue is that you’re fighting for—including a few we fight for at the Institute for Justice, such as eminent domain abuse and economic liberty—this is a fun “how to” conversation for public interest lawyers of all kinds. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Short-Circuit-157-transcript.pdf One Sequin at a Time: Lessons on State Constitutions and Incremental Change from the Campaign for Marriage Equality, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3693109 Lee Carpenter, https://www.law.temple.edu/contact/leonore-f-carpenter/ Ellie Margolis, https://www.law.temple.edu/contact/ellie-margolis/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

Is it time for the Supreme Court to spread some privileges or immunities cheer? Michael Bindas discusses a cert petition pending at SCOTUS on navigating the navigable waters, one of the few rights the Court has said the Privileges or Immunities Clause protects. He also tells us about a Ninth Circuit case on COVID orders and religious liberty. Meanwhile, Diana Simpson digs into a very deep dive of a First Circuit opinion on recording the cops in Massachusetts. Turns out the First Amendment protects it. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/short-circuit-156.pdf Courtney v. Danner, https://ij.org/case/lake-chelan-ferries/ Project Veritas Action Fund v. Rollins, http://media.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/19-1586P-01A.pdf Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak, https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/12/15/20-16169.pdf Michael Bindas, https://ij.org/staff/mbindas/ Diana Simpson, https://ij.org/staff/diana-simpson/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

The first two items in the Bill of Rights get top billing. Does a nine-year-old felony conviction for tax fraud justify continuing to deny someone their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms? That’s something the Third Circuit addressed, with a spirited dissent. Patrick Jaicomo discusses this case about the Second in the Third. Meanwhile, the Fifth Circuit recognizes that new law has come to light regarding the First Amendment, and that changes everything for Dr. Ron Hines, in his quest to bring telemedicine to our animal friends. Without the aid of a fifth, Ari Bargil gives us the history of quite a bit of speech and rational basis action over the last few years in Circuit Number Five. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Short-Circuit-155-Edited.pdf Folajtar v. Attorney General (2d Amendment case in the 3d Cir.), https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/191687p.pdf?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT1RjNU56ZzVZVGhoWXpkayIsInQiOiJwbkE1NUdDNmN4ZStQQmlNQWxlUEQ0QWUwanY0ZVp6QWF3ZCtGWGI1ajRqa2t2TzhTTkZUcFhzNWw1XC9qcnpuamJVWXhybnhUc2ZmaHZYdnlnd2RodkxiODlCdVB1ZkJGOUJVZXJaVkYwZzNBRUVCUFJSbU00TUNnRjNpeHpLVFcifQ%3D%3D Hines v. Quillivan, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/19/19-40605-CV0.pdf Engblom v. Carey (3d Amendment case in the 2d Cir.), https://casetext.com/case/engblom-v-carey St. Joseph Abbey v. Castille, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions%5Cpub%5C11/11-30756-CV1.wpd.pdf Facts, Not Fantasy, https://ij.org/cje-post/facts-not-fantasy/ Bound By Oath podcast, https://ij.org/boundbyoath Deep Dive podcast, https://ij.org/podcasts/deep-dive-podcast/ Brownback v. King, https://ij.org/case/brownback-v-king/ Tim Sandefur, Rational Basis and the 12(b)(6) Motion: An Unnecessary “Perplexity”, https://pacificlegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Sandefur12b6.pdf Patrick Jaicomo, https://ij.org/staff/patrick-jaicomo/ Ari Bargil, https://ij.org/staff/ari-bargil/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected]

Class action expert Ted Frank joins to discuss a Ninth Circuit case where the court didn’t think giving class members crummy coupons warranted almost $15 million in attorneys fees. IJ Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes then gets some religion about land use and how the Alabama Constitution protects Buddhists in starting a meditation center. iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Short-Circuit-Episode-154-Edited.pdf Chambers v. Whirlpool Corp., https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/11/10/16-56666.pdf Thai Meditation Association of Alabama v. City of Mobile, https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201912418.pdf Ted Frank, https://hlli.org/ted-frank/ Jeff Rowes, https://ij.org/staff/jrowes/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/

Ever seen The Wire? Do you think those cops could have seriously used a team of drones taking photos of Stringer Bell for 12 hours a day? Turns out so does the city of Baltimore itself, whose drone surveillance program was reviewed (yet upheld) by the Fourth Circuit last week. Also, the team discusses what the Washington State Constitution has to do with privileges or immunities in the dairy industry. iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Short-Circuit-Episode-153-Edited.pdf Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department, https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/201495.P.pdf Martinez-Cuevas v. Deruyter Brothers Dairy, http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/962677.pdf Courtney v. Danner, https://ij.org/case/lake-chelan-ferries/ Dan Alban, https://ij.org/staff/dalban/ Wesley Hottott, https://ij.org/staff/whottot/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/

What is with up with the torrent of election law cases coming out these days? IJ’s Diana Simpson and Anthony Sanders are here to give you the scoop. Actually, quite a few scoops, served up in the circuit courts of appeals the last few weeks, and even a couple Supreme Court cases, and a state supreme court case, thrown in. Cut down on just a smidgen of election confusion while time for that is running short. iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Diana Simpson, https://ij.org/staff/diana-simpson/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/ Wise v. Circosta, https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/202104R1.P.pdf Texas League of United Latin American Citizens v. Hughs, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/20/20-50867-CV0.pdf The New Georgia Project v. Raffensperger, https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202013360.pdf Richardson v. Hughs, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/20/20-50774-CV0.pdf Texas Democratic Party v. Abbott, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/20/20-50407-CV1.pdf Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute v. Hargett, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/20a0331p-06.pdf Priorities USA v. Nessel, https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/20a0336p-06.pdf Democratic National Committee v. Wisconsin State Legislature, https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/democratic-national-committee-v-wisconsin-state-legislature/ Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar, https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-542.html

We don’t recommend converting apartments into condos in San Francisco. But if you do, it might be hard to bring a takings claim, as we find out why from a recent denial of en banc review in the Ninth Circuit. Meanwhile, the question at the D.C. Circuit is whether butterflies mix with walls. Specifically, The Wall. Turns out, the National Butterfly Center is an open field, so the Fourth Amendment doesn’t have much of a butterfly effect. But the butterflies do have a due process claim, at least for butterfly procedures. Also, next week stay tuned for our election law extravaganza. iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Short-Circuit-Episode-151-Edited.pdf Pakdel v. City and County of San Francisco, https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/10/13/17-17504.pdf National American Butterfly Association, https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/0/EEB0F5AB2D921F4685258600004FBB76/$file/19-5052-1865847.pdf Jeff Redfern, https://ij.org/staff/jeffrey-redfern/ Kirby West, https://ij.org/staff/kirby-thomas-west/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/

On October 16, 2020 the Center for Judicial Engagement is hosting a special online event, our forum on judicial engagement and the Pennsylvania Constitution. Register today at the link below to join in the state constitutional fun! (Plus free CLE for PA bar members.) In the meantime, we discuss a few recent Pennsylvania cases as the warm-up act for the forum next week. Recent cases on economic liberty and separation of powers under the Pennsylvania Constitution get co-equal time, and we also hypothecate (but only hypothecate) on whether a governor can veto a legislature’s attempt to appoint Presidential electors. iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnNvdW5kY2xvdWQuY29tL3VzZXJzL3NvdW5kY2xvdWQ6dXNlcnM6ODQ0OTMyNDcvc291bmRzLnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTsdf7z5bsAhXbhXIEHWCfCZwQ9sEGegQIARAM Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] October 16, 2020 Pennsylvania Constitution State Forum registration, https://ij.org/event/145311-2/ Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/short-circuit-150.pdf Ladd v. Real Estate Commission, https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PPM-Decision.pdf Wolf v. Scarnati, https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/2020/104-mm-2020-0.html Josh Windham, https://ij.org/staff/joshua-windham/ Adam Shelton, https://ij.org/staff/adam-shelton/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/

For the fourth year in a row, the Institute for Justice has teamed up with the University of North Carolina Federalist Society Chapter to preview cases for the Supreme Court’s upcoming term. IJ’s Justin Pearson and Erica Smith join with UNC Professor Andy Hessick to share their wisdom on what’s interesting, and what may get even more interesting, in the months to come. iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnNvdW5kY2xvdWQuY29tL3VzZXJzL3NvdW5kY2xvdWQ6dXNlcnM6ODQ0OTMyNDcvc291bmRzLnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTsdf7z5bsAhXbhXIEHWCfCZwQ9sEGegQIARAM Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/short-circuit-149.pdf Justin Pearson, https://ij.org/staff/justin-pearson/ Erica Smith, https://ij.org/staff/esmith/ Andy Hessick, https://law.unc.edu/people/andrew-hessick/ Brownback v. King, https://ij.org/case/brownback-v-king/

Will former White House Counsel Don McGahn ever testify to the House Judiciary Committee? That partly depends on how you squint when reading the Declaratory Judgment Act. University of Texas law professor (and Twitter Laureate of federal jurisdiction) Steve Vladeck checks off the justiciability boxes and tells us it didn’t use to be so complicated. Meanwhile, cities continue to hate billboards, and the Supreme Court continues to not speak as clearly as it could, even in cases involving content-based restrictions on speech. Bob McNamara explains why you have to read a sign to see if it’s “on premises.” iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#…odkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Short-Circuit-147-Transcript.pdf IJ Legal Intensive: https://ij.org/ijs-legal-intensive/ Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn, https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/6402FB14D0F73EDD852585D5005DA953/$file/19-5331-1859039.pdf Reagan National Advertising v. City of Austin, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/19/19-50354-CV0.pdf Steve Vladeck, https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/stephen-i-vladeck Robert McNamara, https://ij.org/staff/robert-mcnamara/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/

Rejoining us after a very long break is Rob Johnson, who has some things to say about the Anti-Riot Act and a case finding part of it overbroad and unconstitutional. The case comes out of a prosecution of some racist rioters who attended a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017. Also, Rob Frommer tells us a tale about a woman who spent a decade in prison for a crime she did not commit, and that there was plenty of evidence she did not commit before she was imprisoned. Despite all this, prosecutorial and qualified immunity do their best to bar her access to justice. Plus, learn a bit about what happened when the Hanoverians took over from the Stuarts. iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#…odkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Short-Circuit-146-transcript-1.pdf United States v. Miselis, https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/194550.P.pdf Weimer v. County of Fayette, https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/191823p.pdf The Riot Act, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/8142/8142-h/8142-h.htm Robert Frommer, https://ij.org/staff/rfrommer/ Robert Johnson, https://ij.org/staff/rjohnson/ Anthony Sanders, https://ij.org/staff/asanders/

Can a city hold on to your car for three years for no reason? Unfortunately, the Sixth Circuit seems to think the answer is “yes,” although over a fiery dissent. This week Wesley Hottot presents Nichols v. Wayne County and the team muses about the application of a case from 1978 and whether it even applies in Detroit anymore. Also, Paul Sherman takes us into campaign season with a campaign through campaign finance (and administrative) law with CREW v. FEC. Click here for a transcript.

What brings all lawyers together? Hatred of PACER. Some nonprofits challenged the fees the federal courts charge for accessing court filings on the electronic records system. And they won. Kind of. But this doesn’t mean you get to stop paying to see legal documents. This week Diana Simpson explains the history of accessing court documents via modem, where those fees go, and how the Federal Circuit interpreted some obscure statutory language. Also, Congress has never defined the term, but for well over a century Congress has barred immigrants who are likely to become a "public charge." Can the Department of Homeland Security adopt a definition of the term that will render way more people inadmissible? The Fourth Circuit said yes, and went on to opine on the continuing controversy over “nationwide injunctions.” Adam Shelton discusses that case, as well as a couple other recent cases from the Second Circuit—on the exact same issue—and a different injunction case from Puerto Rico. iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#…odkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Short-Circuit-144-Transcript.pdf National Veterans Legal Services Program v. United States, http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/19-1081.OPINION.8-6-2020_1631951.pdf A Week of Universal Injunctions, https://ij.org/cje-post/a-week-of-universal-injunctions/

Religious freedom v. anti-discrimination and a promise not to do bad things. iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#…odkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/short-circuit-143.pdf Jamison v. McClendon: http://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2020/images/08/04/jamison-v-mcclendon.pdf New Hope Family Services v. Poole: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-1715_opn_formatted.pdf?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTURBeU1qWTJNalUxTURrMyIsInQiOiJOR3BaVTdkZFFDbndIbWJ1T0VtSmp2N1wvQmVienRrVXQ3YnN5N1wvSTJzZVY4S2R3YjBNUDZBTk5pUXFXT3dYRExVKzBkWXdcLzhJNDIzRFY2QjhwbmhXeEdFaDlrNTlSTlROZlcwNGxwbkhKOXEzaUN2ckl1eVJRZjZRdGRPdWMwUyJ9 Speech First v. Killeen: http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2020/D07-28/C:19-2807:J:Brennan:condis:T:fnOp:N:2554247:S:0 Walter Olson: https://www.cato.org/people/walter-olson

Excessive home foreclosures and parking fines. iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#…odkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Short-Circuit-142-edited.pdf Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County, https://courts.michigan.gov/Courts/MichiganSupremeCourt/Clerks/Recent%20Opinions/19-20-Term-Opinions/156849.pdf Pimentel v. Los Angeles, https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/07/22/18-56553.pdf Christina Martin, https://pacificlegal.org/staff/christina-martin/

A police pizza raid and Fourth Amendment fireworks in the Fourth Circuit iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shor…uit/id309062019 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCq…Ehed/overview Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/institut…ce/short-circuit Google: play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#…odkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Short-Circuit-141-edited.pdf Chicago Freedom School complaint: https://peopleslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1-CFS-Complaint-Filed.pdf 4A fireworks: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/184233A.P.pdf

End times at the sheriff's department and Euclidean policing. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/short-circuit-140.pdf iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Sheriff case: https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/20/06/191213P.pdf Police brutality case: https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/20a0185p-06.pdf

A Week of Heavy Lifts: Closing Down Gyms in Michigan and a High-Profile Prosecution in DC. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Short-Circuit-139_otter.ai-final.pdf iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Gym Injunction: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/09915820907.pdf Gym Injunction stayed: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Document.pdf Mike Flynn: https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/79798A0FA0633B7985258591004DD3E7/$file/20-5143-1848728.pdf

A bunch of bad apples. Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Short-Circuit-138.pdf iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Case 1: http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/19/19-40217.0.pdf Case 2: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/182142.P.pdf Case 3: http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201812061.pdf Case 4: https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/20a0161p-06.pdf

Qualified Immunity and George Floyd iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-circuit/id309062019 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/1DFCqDbZTI7kIws11kEhed/overview Sticher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/institute-for-justice/short-circuit Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iz26kyzdcpodkfm5cpz7rlvf76a Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Qualified immunity FAQ: https://ij.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-ending-qualified-immunity/ Cato Institute on QI: https://www.unlawfulshield.com/ Anya's USA Today op-ed on QI: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/30/police-george-floyd-qualified-immunity-supreme-court-column/5283349002/ West: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/west-v-winfield/ Baxter: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/baxter-v-bracey/

Ever wonder what it's like to argue at the Supreme Court? In a special episode, Anya Bidwell interviews four IJ attorneys who have been in the hot seat. Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/short-circuit-136_otter.ai-FINAL.pdf Kelo: https://ij.org/case/kelo/ Bennett: https://ij.org/press-release/arizona-campaign-finance-release-6-27-2011/ Espinoza: https://ij.org/case/montana-school-choice/ Timbs: https://ij.org/case/timbs-v-indiana/

Constitutional guarantees during emergencies. Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Right to counsel: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/19-1778_opn.pdf Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order https://www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/DisplayDocument.pdf?content=pdf&seqNo=260868

Is the Supreme Court finally going to do something about qualified immunity? Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Is Qualified Immunity Unlawful? https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=13555&context=journal_articles West: https://ij.org/case/west-v-city-of-caldwell/ King: https://ij.org/case/brownback-v-king/ Zadeh: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/zadeh-v-robinson/ Jessop: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/jessop-v-city-of-fresno-california/ IJ's Jessop amicus: https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-1021/138419/20200317143611916_39525%20pdf%20Gammon.pdf

Forcing kids to attend crummy schools and forcing prisoners to stay in a COVID-infested prison. Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] The right to a basic minimum education: https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/20a0124p-06.pdf Medically vulnerable inmates (district court order): https://www.acluohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-04-21-022-PI-Order.pdf Medically vulnerable inmates (Sixth Circuit ruling): https://www.acluohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020-05-04-023-Order.pdf

A prostitution sting, alcohol, and government debt collectors. Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Arresting a reporter: http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2020/D04-20/C:19-1945:J:Rovner:aut:T:fnOp:N:2504353:S:0 Arresting the flow of alcohol: https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/20a0119p-06.pdf Robocalls: http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/181588.P.pdf IJ's robocall amicus: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barr-v-AAPC-Amicus.pdf

The Real RBT and the King's Bench (in Pennsylvania) Approves COVID-19 Restrictions. Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] SSI benefits in Puerto Rico: http://media.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/19-1390P-01A.pdf Pennsylvania COVID restrictions: http://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Supreme/out/68MM2020mo%20-%2010439399799476700.pdf

No suing the feds for hiding Jeffrey Epstein’s non-prosecution deal, no suing the feds for killing cows in a quarantine, and no suing over government speech. Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Transcript: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Short-Circuit-130.pdf Non-prosecution agreement: http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201913843.pdf Fever tick quarantine: http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/19/19-40077-CV0.pdf Janus table turning: http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2020/D04-07/C:19-1349:J:Rovner:aut:T:fnOp:N:2498138:S:0 Lynching grand jury records: http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201715016.enb.pdf Anthony Pitch's book on the Moore's Ford lynching: https://smile.amazon.com/Last-Lynching-Anthony-S-Pitch/dp/1543627471?sa-no-redirect=1

Fines & fees, completed misdemeanors, and jail debit cards. Use iTunes? itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/short…cuit/id309062019 Use Android (RSS)? feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…247/sounds.rss Newsletter: ij.org/about-us/shortcircuit/ Want to email us? [email protected] Sherwood, Ark fines and fees: https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/20/01/182982P.pdf IJ's Sherwood en banc petition: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Williams-Petition-File-Stamped.pdf Completed misdemeanors: https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/20a0088p-06.pdf Jail debit cards: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/03/16/18-35735.pdf