OA342: Why the Supreme Court Should Scare You Even More Than It Already Does
Opening Arguments
Opening Arguments Media LLC
4.3 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 17 December 2019
⏱️ 76 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today's episode takes a deep dive into something the Supreme Court didn't do last week -- namely, it declined to grant certiorari to reverse an obviously incorrect decision of the Sixth Circuit (EMW Women's Surgical Center v. Meier), in which that court upheld a blatantly unconstitutional Kentucky law mandating that women undergo a medically unnecessary ultrasound and listen to a script before undergoing an abortion.
We begin, however, with a delightful Frozen-themed listener question about the extent of copyright law and whether Josh Gad can start singing songs about how Brett Kavanaugh is a monster. (Hint: this is a fantastic idea.) We truly drill down on all the different ramifications of when you create an original character for yourself versus your employer.
After that, it's time for the main sequence deep dive on EMW Women's Surgical Center v. Meier and exactly why it's surprising -- and depressing -- that the Supreme Court declined to grant certiorari in this case.
Then, it's time to check in on #T3BE and see if Thomas can get this homebuying question right. Do you get to cancel a sale when the buyer hides water damages, and if so, why? Listen and find out!
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
- If you want to go down memory lane, check out "Larry 'Bud' Melman" advertising "Mr. Larry's Toast on a Stick" from the old Late Night With David Letterman show.
- You can read the 6th Circuit's opinion in EMW Women's Surgical Center v. Meier, 920 F.3d 421 (6th Cir. 2019) for yourself. The Kentucky law at issue is KRS 311.727.
- The 4th circuit decision we referenced is Stuart v. Camnitz, 774 F.3d 238 (4th Circ. 2014).
- Before the Supreme Court, check out (a) the cert petition; (b) the State's opposition; and (c) the petitioner's reply brief.
-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 | What's the first thing I want to do after we have a different president taking shower? |
| 0:10.0 | And Peachment is about cleansing the office. |
| 0:29.0 | I remind you the here-to-for document had dry ink on it for at least many fork nights |
| 0:37.0 | and here-to-yes. |
| 0:38.0 | We signed it a long time ago. |
| 0:39.0 | It was a long time ago, aside. |
| 0:47.0 | I thought you said the wall was powerless. |
| 0:49.0 | The powerless to help you. |
| 0:50.0 | Not punish you. |
| 0:52.0 | Welcome to Opening Arguments, the podcast that pairs an inquisitive interviewer with the |
| 0:59.0 | real-life lawyer. |
| 1:00.0 | This podcast is sponsored by the law offices of P. Antritora as LLC for entertainment purposes, |
| 1:05.0 | is not intended as legal advice and does not form an attorney-client relationship. |
| 1:09.0 | Don't take legal advice from a podcast. |
| 1:17.0 | Welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 342. |
| 1:21.0 | I'm Thomas Smith out over there as Andrew Torres. |
| 1:23.0 | How you doing, sir? |
| 1:24.0 | I am fantastic. |
| 1:26.0 | I am on pins and needles for the drastic, dramatic, OA fantasy football semi-finals tomorrow. |
| 1:34.0 | I'll be rooting for blank boxman since my team just narrowly missed. |
| 1:39.0 | This happens on Tuesday, so I'm already-so semi-finals already happened. |
| 1:44.0 | Oh yeah, well then there you go. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Opening Arguments Media LLC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Opening Arguments Media LLC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

