There are over 1 million attorneys in America. Almost none of them will ever get to argue a case before the US Supreme Court. But for those who do, it is a high honor. Some of the Court's own members have had that honor, including four current Justices.

Extra Scrutiny: Before the Court

An episodic podcast taking a closer look at landmark civil rights decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court. Host Joe Dunman walks listeners through the arguments and decisions of each case.

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Maverick Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers sued the state legislature to stop the practice of paying a chaplain to deliver prayers during each session. In 1983, the Supreme Court took up his case, and ruled that such a practice, long a part of American history, should receive a First Amendment pass.

Episode 10: Marsh v. Chambers

In 1990, a St. Paul, MN teenager was arrested for burning a cross in the yard of a black family and charged with violating a city ordinance banning hate speech. Two years later, the US Supreme Court ruled that the ordinance violated the free speech clause of the First Amendment.

Episode 9: R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul

In the early 1960s, Jackson, Mississippi was ordered by a federal court to desegregate its swimming pools. It closed them all down instead. The Supreme Court ruled that closing all the public pools, even if for a racist reason, was not a violation of the Constitution. The social impact would be felt for generations.

Episode 8: Palmer v. Thompson

Justice Stephen Breyer likes to ask very long questions. Law professor Josh Blackman tracks those questions in an archive called the Breyer Pages. Listen as Extra Scrutiny briefly explores Justice Breyer's record-setting verbosity.

Extra Scrutiny: Before the Court

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