In this short clip from Episode 47, Professor Stephen Vladeck introduces the concept of the "shadow docket"—a little-known but powerful practice the U.S. Supreme Court uses to make major legal decisions without transparency. Find out why these rulings matter, and how they quietly shape the laws that affect us all.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kfK3Fl1_Qgw

Why is the Supreme Court making some of its most impactful decisions behind closed doors?

In this episode, Robin Frazer Clark and Lester Tate welcome Professor Stephen Vladeck, author of the bestselling book The Shadow Docket, to discuss the rise of stealth rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. Learn why unsigned and unexplained decisions—affecting everything from immigration to abortion—are becoming more common and why every American should be paying attention.

👨‍⚖️ Guest: Prof. Stephen Vladeck, Georgetown Law

This episode is brought to you by the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation. Learn more at https://fairplay.org

🔖 Don’t forget to follow us and leave a review to support Georgia’s leading legal podcast!

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction & Baseball Banter

05:00 - Meet Professor Stephen Vladeck

07:30 - What Is the Shadow Docket?

10:00 - Real-World Supreme Court Examples

13:00 - Is the Court Still a Court?

17:30 - Chief Justice Roberts & Leadership

20:30 - Political Appointments and Judge Perception

26:30 - Law Firms, Retaliation & Executive Orders

32:30 - The Role of the Legal Profession

38:00 - Deportations and Due Process Concerns

42:00 - What If the Court Is Ignored?

44:30 - Supreme Court Immunity Ruling

50:00 - District Court Judges as Rule of Law Heroes

53:30 - The Supreme Court Bar's Silence

56:30 - What Lawyers Can Do Now

1:02:00 - Defining Justice & Baseball Wrap-Up

1:04:00 - Legal News & Podcast Closing

#ShadowDocket #SCOTUS #StephenVladeck #SeeYouInCourt #GeorgiaLaw #CivilJustice #RuleOfLaw #RobinFrazerClark #LesterTate

Guest Bio

Stephen I. Vladeck is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic,” which won the 2023 Writers’ League of Texas Book Award for Non-Fiction and was a finalist for the 2024 ABA Silver Gavel Award for Media and the Arts. He is a professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center and is a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts; the Supreme Court; national security law; and military justice. 

Vladeck is also a highly regarded appellate advocate, having argued three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and over a dozen before various lower federal civilian and military courts. Amazingly, his very first oral argument ever was before the United States Supreme Court and Justice Kennedy asked him “Was Marbury v. Madison correctly decided

Vladeck is CNN’s Supreme Court analyst and editor and author of “One First,” a popular weekly newsletter about the Supreme Court. Together with Bobby Chesney, Vladeck co-hosts the popular and award-winning “National Security Law Podcast.” 

Vladeck graduated from Yale Law School in 2004—where he was executive editor of the Yale Law Journal. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Marsha S. Berzon on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Honorable Rosemary Barkett on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He earned a B.A. summa cum laude with Highest Distinction in History and Mathematics from Amherst College in 2001. A native New Yorker and hopeless Mets fan, Vladeck lives in the District of Columbia with his wife, Karen (Founder and Managing Partner of Risepoint Search Partners); their daughters, Madeleine and Sydney; and their eleven-year-old pug, Roxanna.

Links:

Stephen I. Vladeck | Georgetown Law

Lester Tate - http://www.akintate.com/

Robin Frazer Clark - https://www.gatriallawyers.net/

See You In Court (seeyouincourtpodcast.org)

To learn more about the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, visit fairplay.org

Please note: The information provided on this website and within our blog posts is intended solely for educational and informational purposes as a public service by the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation. 

Legal issues can be complex and individualized. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide legal guidance that suits your particular situation.

The Shadow Docket 👀 a Supreme Court practice you’ve probably never heard of... But it's changing American law behind the scenes.

🎧 On Tuesday, April 8, See You In Court welcomes Stephen Vladeck—CNN Supreme Court analyst, bestselling author, and leading appellate expert—for a deep dive into the Shadow Docket and its growing influence on justice and democracy.

📌 Don’t miss this exclusive episode—dropping April 8 right here on our YouTube channel.

🔔 Subscribe now so you don’t miss it: https://www.youtube.com/@seeyouincourtpodcast?sub_confirmation=1

👉 Stay connected for updates:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/seeyouincourtpodcast

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/see-you-in-court-podcast

#SCOTUS #ShadowDocket #StephenVladeck #LegalPodcast #SeeYouInCourt #JusticeMatters #ComingSoon 

Please note: The information provided on this website and within our blog posts is intended solely for educational and informational purposes as a public service by the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation. Legal issues can be complex and individualized.

If you are seeking legal advice, please contact a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide legal guidance that suits your particular situation.

#seeyouincourt #seeyouincourtpodcast #robinfrazerclark #lestertate #georgiaciviljusticefoundation #civiljustice

🔎 How do squatters know which homes to break into?

🎧 For more episodes and full interviews, visit https://seeyouincourt.podbean.com/e/the-georgia-squatter-reform-act-with-david-metzger/

Or watch the interview on YouTube @: https://youtu.be/pZUgllqxpHQ

#GeorgiaLaw #CivilJustice #SquatterReform #DavidMetzger #SeeYouInCourt

In this concise yet critical clip from See You In Court, real estate attorney David Metzger explains Georgia's new Squatters Reform Act, detailing how it empowers law enforcement to address squatting cases swiftly and effectively.

You'll learn about:

✅ How the law specifically targets unlawful squatting

Stay informed and protect your property rights under Georgia law!

🎧 Listen now and explore more episodes: https://seeyouincourtpodcast.org/

#GeorgiaLaw #SquatterReform #RealEstateInsights #PropertyRights #SeeYouInCourtPodcast

Real estate attorney David Metzger joins See You In Court to break down the Georgia Squatters Reform Act—what it changed, how it's enforced, and whether it’s helping frustrated homeowners.

Learn:

✅ Why 2023 saw a spike in squatting

🎧 Tune in now and visit https://seeyouincourtpodcast.org/ for more episodes and resources.

#GeorgiaPodcast #RealEstateLaw #SquatterReform #HomeownerRights #CivilJustice #SeeYouInCourt

Before Georgia’s new law, just one squatter removal could consume an entire day for the sheriff’s department.

In this clip, attorney David Metzger details the real-world strain on law enforcement—and how the Squatter Reform Act is helping everyone move faster and more safely.

🎧 Watch the complete interview: https://youtu.be/pZUgllqxpHQ

or Listen on Podbean: https://seeyouincourt.podbean.com/e/the-georgia-squatter-reform-act-with-david-metzger/

🌐 Discover more: https://seeyouincourtpodcast.org

Squatters taking over homes—it sounds unbelievable, but it's a growing issue in Georgia. In this episode, we sit down with real estate attorney David Metzger to break down the Georgia Squatter Reform Act and what it means for property owners. David shares eye-opening insights on how squatters gain access, the legal loopholes they've exploited, and how the new law is changing the game.

💡 Can homeowners take action without going to court?

Listen in as David unpacks real-life cases, explains the legal process, and offers crucial advice for property owners. Don't miss this deep dive into one of the most talked-about real estate issues today!

🔗 Watch the full episode and explore more legal insights: SeeYouInCourtPodcast.org Or Listen on Podbean @ https://seeyouincourt.podbean.com/e/the-georgia-squatter-reform-act-with-david-metzger/

📲 Follow us for more updates:

#RealEstateLaw #SquatterRights #LegalReform #GeorgiaLaw #SeeYouInCourtPodcast

In 2023 and early 2024, Metro Atlanta property owners faced an alarming rise in squatter activity. Homeowners, real estate agents, and property managers couldn’t get help from law enforcement or the courts. The frustration led to major pressure on the Georgia legislature—resulting in the Georgia Squatter Reform Act.

In the complete episode clip, real estate attorney David Metzger breaks down:

If you own property in Georgia, this episode is a must-watch! Don’t wait until it happens to you—know your rights now.

🔗 Listen to the complete episode here: https://seeyouincourt.podbean.com/e/the-georgia-squatter-reform-act-with-david-metzger/

#GeorgiaLaw #SquatterReform #RealEstateLegal #PropertyRights #LegalPodcast #SeeYouInCourt

🎙️ The Georgia Squatter Reform Act: What Homeowners Must Know

🏡 What happens when someone unlawfully occupies your property?

In this episode of See You In Court, real estate attorney David Metzger joins us to discuss the Georgia Squatter Reform Act—a new law designed to protect property owners from squatters and accelerate the removal process.

📌 What We Cover:

If you own property, work in real estate, or want to stay informed on Georgia law—this episode is a must-listen!

#LegalPodcast #RealEstateLaw #GeorgiaSquatterReform #HomeownerRights

Guest Bio

David is a real estate attorney and litigator whose practice concentrates on nearly all aspects of real estate law. As a partner at Williams Teusink, LLC, David has experience in a variety of areas within real estate law, including landlord-tenant disputes, title issues, easement and boundary disputes, land-use and zoning matters, property tax valuation and appeals, and more. David received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Georgia. 

Prior to attending law school, David served as a legislative aid in the Virginia House of Delegates. He later received his J.D. with honors from Georgia State University and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2011. Since then, he has represented clients in state and federal courts, as well as before municipal boards and local governments.

He has been featured on several television news programs discussing real estate issues impacting the Atlanta area, and he has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and Atlanta Magazine. David has really stood out as an expert on real estate issues, particularly on housing and landlord-tenant matters, and he is here today to talk with us about the current state of homeowner rights in Georgia as they relate to “Squatters”.

Links:

Atlanta Real Estate & Business Attorneys - Williams Teusink

http://www.akintate.com/

https://www.gatriallawyers.net/

See You In Court (seeyouincourtpodcast.org)

To learn more about the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, visit fairplay.org