Shortly before his death in May, Judge Richard Matsch, best known as the judge who presided over the Oklahoma City bombing trials, had finished a series of interviews for an oral history of his life and career by the 10th Circuit Historical Society.

The 240-page transcript is a remarkably thorough record of Matsch’s early life, career and judicial philosophies given his reclusive and unapproachable reputation. The oral history is part of a renewed effort by the 10th Circuit Historical Society to document the careers of well-known judges within the circuit’s six states. This month, reporter Julia Cardi sits down with the judge who interviewed Matsch to talk about the historical society's oral histories and his sessions with Matsch.

Most people probably don't pay much attention to how judges in Colorado get selected, and it's tough to get voters engaged in judicial retention elections. But a high school presentation series seeks to change that. Students participate in a mock nominating commission process to learn about picking judges in Colorado, right as they are getting close to voting age.

Reporter: Julia Cardi

What do gun regulations and Colorado’s Open Meetings Law have in common? They’re both issues in cases the state Supreme Court has taken on for the new session. This month, reporter Julia Cardi discusses a few significant cases with Sherman & Howard's Chris Jackson. One looks at whether the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is subject to the Open Meetings Law. Another takes on the constitutionality of the state's high-capacity firearms magazine ban.

Reporter: Julia Cardi

Managing editor: Tony Flesor

For prosecutors and public defenders, the measure of an effective office is a matter of perspective. They don't even agree on the fundamentals of what makes each side’s job complicated, and each seems to think their responsibilities are more burdensome than the other side has.

Reporter: Julia Cardi

Managing editor: Tony Flesor

Cultural norms for professional dressing aren't just about what a person wears. This month, reporter Julia Cardi talks with two consultants about the messages clothing can send a message about gender stereotypes, corporate hierarchy and a company’s culture.

Reporter: Julia Cardi

Managing editor: Tony Flesor

With another Colorado appellate court session behind us, we look back at a controversial case over oil and gas regulations that the Colorado Supreme Court decided in January. The court separated the decision from political rhetoric. Less than two months later, the state legislature came up with a major overhaul of oil and gas regulations. So what does the case tell us about how Colorado's court system and legislature relate to each other?

Reporter: Julia Cardi

Managing editor: Tony Flesor

Colorado's counties are responsible for most of the funding district attorney offices get. So offices in different judicial districts don't have proportionally equal funding, leading to disparities in staffing, workloads and specialty court programs. But even if counties and districts agree they want the state to contribute more funding, it's a thorny issue in the legislature.

Reporter: Julia Cardi

Managing editor: Tony Flesor

Would most attorneys who represent individual people be able to afford their own rates? Two family law attorneys realized the answer was no, not if they used the traditional billable hour. This month, Doug Chartier talks with Erika Holmes and Lauren Lester about the rise of "modern law," a model that allows clients to choose what particular components of their cases they want representation for and pay fixed fees. The attorneys discuss what modern law is, but also what it isn't.

Producer: Julia Cardi

Managing editor: Tony Flesor

After someone dies at the hands of law enforcement, officers rarely face criminal charges. And going through the civil court system in a wrongful death lawsuit takes a punishing emotional toll on everyone involved. So then how might victims' families pursue justice? This month on HearSay, we look at approaches to policing policy reform aimed at reducing preventable use of force.

Reporter: Julia Cardi

Producers: Hannah Blatter, Julia Cardi

Managing editor: Tony Flesor

How might Konstantin Stanislavski, probably the best-known acting teacher in modern history, coach a lawyer on writing a motion to dismiss? For this month's episode of HearSay, Law Week sat down with Joe Daniels, a business litigator and theater buff, to talk about how acting theory can apply to litigation.

Reporter: Doug Chartier

Producers: Julia Cardi, Scott Hicken

Managing editor: Tony Flesor