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Opening Arguments

OA308: Faithless Electors

Opening Arguments

Opening Arguments Media LLC

Atheist, Law, Politics, News, Harvard, Supremecourt, Legal, Opinion, Liberal

4.33.7K Ratings

🗓️ 23 August 2019

⏱️ 81 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today's Rapid Response Friday breaks down a just-released decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit that has produced a ton of alarming media. Is that alarm warranted? (No.) What did the court actually decide, and how will it affect the 2020 Presidential Election? And what does any of this have to do with Lawrence Lessig?? Listen and find out!

We begin, however, with a grab-bag of questions arising out of Episode 307 on apportionment and revisit an issue that Andrew predicts will hang over the next Presidency. Are there any "quick fixes" to the problem or are we destined to be hung up in litigation?

Then, it's time for our deep dive into Baca v. Colorado, understanding (a) how this case came about, (b) what it says, and (c) what the implications are for the 2020 Presidential election. Is it some crazy ruling in favor of Trump? What's "the saddest Hamilton?" Listen and find out!

After that, it's time for a quick update on the emoluments clause litigation, this time examining a recent ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. What's the future for individual lawsuits against the President? (Hint: it's not good.)

And then it's time for a brand-new banana law-themed #T3BE! Will this slip-and-fall question be enough to get Thomas back in the win column? Listen, and then play along!

Appearances

None! If you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. Check out Laurence Tribe's "Optimist Prime" article in the Raw Story.
  2. For more on apportionment, you can read 2 U.S.C. § 2a and catch up on Franklin v. Massachusetts, 505 U.S. 788 (1992), the controlling Supreme Court precedent.
  3. Click here to read the 10th Circuit's decision in Baca, and for an example of unwarranted freakout over the Baca decision, check out this wildly-misleading NBC article.
  4. If you love the deep dive, don't forget to refresh your memory by re-reading Coleman v. Miller, 307 U.S. 433 (1939).
  5. We last updated you on emoluments in Episode 299 and in this fabulous Patreon-only bonus. You can also check out the latest DC ruling.

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

-And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The jury is like, oh snap, a twist, like they love twist.

0:06.5

Any great trial has a twist.

0:19.8

I suggest that we give him 10 years and 11 years and 12 years.

0:23.0

I'll tell you what I'll do.

0:24.2

I'll take 5 and 10 and 1 way.

0:31.0

Well, it was like this Mr. Codd.

0:32.8

I pressed the judge as your honor.

0:35.0

Well, it was like this, my honor.

0:36.6

Your honor, not my honor.

0:39.0

Why? Don't you like him?

0:45.0

You all meant to come down here and defend me against these characters.

0:48.0

And the other one I've got on my side is the bloodsoaked lawyer.

0:55.0

Welcome to Opening Arguments, the podcast that pairs an inquisitive interviewer with the real-life lawyer.

0:59.8

This podcast is sponsored by the law offices of P Andrew Torres, LLC for entertainment purposes,

1:04.8

is not intended as legal advice and does not form an attorney-client relationship.

1:08.8

Don't take legal advice from a podcast.

1:17.8

Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments.

1:18.8

This is episode 308.

1:20.8

I'm your host Thomas Smith.

1:21.8

That over there is Andrew Torres.

1:23.8

How are you doing, Andrew?

1:24.8

I'm doing fantastic, Thomas.

...

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