The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative supermajority has banned affirmative action in higher education. On this BONUS episode, Taonga Leslie speaks with Bethany Li, Brianna McBride, and David Lewis, leaders in the battle to expand access to opportunity in higher education. They discuss the recent SCOTUS decisions and delve into what comes next and how we maintain hope in the fight for a more equitable future. 

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Taonga Leslie, ACS Director of Policy and Program for Racial Justice

Guest: Bethany Li, Legal Director, AALDEF

Guest: Brianna McBride, Community Builder

Guest: David Lewis, Co-Lead, Affirmative Action Coalition

Link: SCOTUS decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina

Link: "Being race-conscious is a necessary and effective tool to address racism and discrimination — including for Asian Americans," by Bethany Li

Link: "Texas Students for DEI create petition in support of inclusive policies in higher education," by Ireland Blouin

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

We cover a buffet of Supreme Court cases on this episode. Christopher Wright Durocher speaks with Professor Alexis J. Hoag-Fordjour about an array of criminal legal cases decided this term and the Court's persistent indifference to potential innocence. He later speaks with Lindsay Langholz about the Court's decision in Moore v. Harper, regarding the so-called independent state legislature theory.  

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Christopher Wright Durocher, ACS Vice President of Policy and Program

Guest: Alexis J. Hoag-Fordjour, Assistant Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center for Criminal Justice, Brooklyn Law School

Guest: Lindsay Langholz, ACS Senior Director of Policy and Program

Link: SCOTUS decision in Jones v. Hendrix

Link: SCOTUS decision in Cruz v. Arizona

Link: "After 29 Years on Death Row, Barry Jones Was Dumped at a Bus Station. But He Was Finally Free," by Lilana Segura

Link: SCOTUS decision in Moore v. Harper

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

This week, Lindsay Langholz speaks with Professor Wenona T. Singel to debrief the Supreme Court's decision in Haaland v. Brackeen about the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), long considered the "gold standard" of child welfare policies. The episode delves into the statute's history, the details of the case, and the sweeping impact of the Supreme Court upholding ICWA, for now. 

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Lindsay Langholz, ACS Senior Director of Policy and Program

Guest: Wenona T. Singel, Director, Indigenous Law & Policy Center at Michigan State College of Law

Link: "Lawyering the Indian Child Welfare Act," by Wenona T. Singel and Matthew L.M. Fletcher"

Link: National Indian Child Welfare Association

Link: The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Link: SCOTUS decision in Haaland v. Brackeen

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

Two episodes in one! This week, Jeanne Hruska speaks with Barbara McQuade about the federal indictment and arraignment of former President Trump. Additionally, Lindsay Langholz speaks with Jonathan Diaz to debrief the Supreme Court's decision in Allen v. Milligan and how it relates to Shelby County v. Holder and the status of the Voting Rights Act. 

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Lindsay Langholz, ACS Senior Director of Policy and Program

Today's Host: Jeanne Hruska, ACS Sr. Advisor for Communications and Strategy

Guest: Barbara McQuade, Professor, University of Michigan Law School

Guest: Jonathan Diaz, Director, Voting Advocacy and Partnerships, Campaign Legal Center

Link: "New indictment proves Trump is a triple threat to national security," by Barbara McQuade

Link: "Victory: Supreme Court Rejects Voting Map That Drowns Out Black Voices," by Paul Smith, CLC

Link: SCOTUS decision in Allen v. Milligan

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

In its recent decision in Glacier Northwest, Inc v. Teamsters, the U.S. Supreme Court favored employers over workers. Elizabeth Binczik speaks with Professor Charlotte Garden about the resulting impact on labor law and whether the decision will deter some unions from exercising the right to strike.  

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Elizabeth Binczik, ACS Director of Policy and Program for Economic Justice

Guest: Charlotte Garden, Professor of Law, Minnesota Law

Link: Brief of Amici Curiae Professors Matthew Bodie, Catherine Fisk, and Charlotte Garden et al. in support of respondent

Link: "Glacier Northwest Could Have Been Worse, But it’s Still Bad," by Andrew Strom

Link: ACS Statement about Glacier decision

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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The U.S. Supreme Court struck a devastating blow to the Clean Water Act in its recent decision in Sackett v. EPA. Elizabeth Binczik speaks with Patrice Simms and Sam Sankar from EarthJustice about the nonsensical decision and its potentially catastrophic impact on environmental protection going forward.

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Elizabeth Binczik, ACS Director of Policy and Program for Economic Justice

Guest: Patrice Simms, Vice President of Litigation for Healthy Communities, EarthJustice

Guest: Sam Sankar, Senior Vice President of Programs, EarthJustice

Link: "Supreme Court Catastrophically Undermines Clean Water Protections," by EarthJustice

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

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Recorded live at our 2023 ACS National Convention, Jeanne Hruska speaks first with TN State Rep. Justin J. Pearson about his and Rep. Justin Jones' expulsion from the TN state legislature and how we mobilize to advance the promise of democracy. She then speaks with Donald Sherman (CREW) and Mark Joseph Stern (Slate) about the biggest legal developments thus far in 2023 and what to expect in the second half of the year. 

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Jeanne Hruska, ACS Sr. Advisor for Communications and Strategy

Guest: Rep. Justin J. Pearson, Tennessee State Representative, 86th District

Guest: Donald Sherman, Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel, CREW

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Senior Writer, Slate

Link: "Mommy, What If I Die When I Go Back to School?" by Rep. Justin J. Pearson

Link: "Justice Thomas must resign," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Link: "The 5th Circuit Is Furious That the Supreme Court Put It in Timeout," by Mark Joseph Stern

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

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As our country races towards a financial cliff known as the debt limit, there is growing talk of President Biden invoking the 14th Amendment to defy the debt limit statute and continue to pay our nation's bills. Garrett Epps and Peter Shane join Jeanne Hruska to discuss the 14th Amendment and what could be the least worst option for the country. 

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Jeanne Hruska, ACS Sr. Advisor for Communications and Strategy

Guest:  Garrett Epps, ACS Board of Directors

Guest:  Peter Shane, ACS Board of Directors

Link: "Biden Can Raise the Debt Ceiling Without Congress," by Garrett Epps

Link: "Our National Debt 'Shall Not Be Questioned,' the Constitution Says," by Garrett Epps

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

Bradley Whitford (West Wing, The Handmaid's Tale, Get Out) stops by Broken Law to discuss his political activism, the state of our democracy, and why courts matter. 

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Jeanne Hruska, ACS Sr. Advisor for Communications and Strategy

Guest:  Bradley Whitford, Actor and Political Activist

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

“Any story of the Supreme Court that doesn’t include the shadow docket is a story that’s looking at an increasingly skewed and incomplete portion of the Court’s work," writes Professor Stephen Vladeck in his new book, "The Shadow Docket." Jeanne Hruska speaks with Professor Vladeck about his book, the Supreme Court's increasing use of the shadow docket, and what it means for the Court's legitimacy. 

Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org

Today's Host: Jeanne Hruska, ACS Sr. Advisor for Communications and Strategy

Guest:  Stephen Vladeck, Charles Alan Wright Chair In Federal Courts, University of Texas School of Law

Link: "The Shadow Docket," by Stephen Vladeck

Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast

Email the Show: [email protected]

Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

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Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t.
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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.