Opening Arguments

Liz and Andrew cover two main stories: (1) the plea bargain agreed to by Ken Cheseboro in Fulton County, Georgia, and (2) the ruling out of bankruptcy court that certain debts are "non-dischargeable in bankruptcy." What does that mean? Listen and find out! In the Patreon bonus, Andrew and Liz deep dive into the specific jury instructions and more to figure out why the results were different for similar plaintiffs in Texas. Notes Heslin v. Jones, Docket via Court Listener https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66982798/heslin-v-jones/ Wheeler v. Jones, Docket via Court Listener https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66983329/wheeler-v-jones/ 11 U.S. Code § 523 - Exceptions to discharge https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/523 The Federalist, “Sidney Powell’s Plea Proves Fulton County Prosecutor Went Nuclear To Get Trump” https://thefederalist.com/2023/10/20/sidney-powells-plea-proves-fulton-county-prosecutor-went-nuclear-to-get-trump/ Justice Engoron Gag Order  https://iapps.courts.s

Liz and Andrew break down Sidney Powell's plea deal and much, much more! Notes Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment v SEC https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/21/21-60626-CV0.pdf ORDER ON DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS UNDER THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE AND FIRST AMENDMENT (Cheseboro & Powell) https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24040510-23sc188947-order-sc-1st-amend-denial Jack Smith DC indictment https://www.justice.gov/storage/US_v_Trump_23_cr_257.pdf Sidney Powell Waiver of Indictment https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24041662/sidney-powell-deft-waiver-of-indictment.pdf Sidney Powell Accusation https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24041649/23sc190370-criminal-accusation.pdf OCGA § 21-2-597. Intentional Interference With Performance of Election Duties https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-21/chapter-2/article-15/section-21-2-597/ Trump Lawyer Acknowledged Political Agenda in Election Suit, Emails Show https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/18/us/politics/kenneth-chesebro-t

Liz and Andrew break down the mechanics of the vote for Speaker of the House, explain the incredibly narrow gag order issued by Judge Chutkan in the DC insurrection case against Donald Trump, and finish with a hilarious story of how Mike Lindell can't keep his terrible lawyers. Notes Tweet re Hannity https://twitter.com/juliegraceb/status/1713694255841992765?s=46&t=-f7nMHlPqmL9yztYDAx_1g Jan 6th Committee Final Report https://www.jan-6.com/_files/ugd/acac13_ffa28ed6c2694272a265860e447122c7.pdf Lindell  Eric Coomer Reply Supporting Plaintiff’s Motion for Sanctions  https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cod.215068/gov.uscourts.cod.215068.210.0.pdf Written gag order Chutkan https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.105.0_2.pdf Powell Motion in Limine https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24032438/powell-motion-in-limine-on-legal-authority-issue.pdf -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Open

Liz and Andrew round up a bunch of stories, from the Speaker of the House race to the responses to various trans and drag show bans.  -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -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

Liz and Andrew cover a bunch of stories, from the hapless Republican effort to find a Speaker of the House to this week at the Supreme Court & much, much more! -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -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

Liz and Andrew tackle all the stories in the news, from the dysfunctional House of Representatives to the latest developments in Fulton County, Georgia. -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -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  

Liz and Andrew welcome back friend of the show Kel McClanahan to break down all of the national security developments in the Trump indictments. Find out what might be coming next in the document retention case.... -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -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

Liz and Andrew try to cover all the breaking news of the past two days, including Trump's civil and criminal trials, good news out of Alabama, and check out the tire tracks on Sidney Powell's back that seem to spell "Trump." Because it's Listener Friday, the duo answer a question about civil procedure and conflicts of laws that provides the perfect throughline to perhaps the dumbest Rudy Giuliani lawsuit yet. You won't want to miss it! Notes Trump MTD DC https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.74.0.pdf Sidney Powell MTD and general demurrer https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23994770/georgia-v-powell-demurrermotion-to-dismiss.pdf Judge Kaplan Order on Motion in Limine in Carroll III. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.543790/gov.uscourts.nysd.543790.217.0.pdf Trump-appointed US appeals judge calls social media 'dangerous'  https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-appointed-us-appeals-judge-calls-social-media-danger

Today, Liz and Andrew tackle the two biggest stories: Matt Gaetz having ousted Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, and Donald Trump’s civil trial in New York. All that AND an Andrew Was Wrong featuring more on the 14th Amendment. In the Patreon bonus, the two tackle a Liz Was Not Wrong about why Trump doesn’t have a jury trial in New York. Hint: yes you can still make fun of Alina Habba! Notes Justice Engoron Order https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=op8OyfqVHpc6eGTx9LOw3Q== OAG v. Trump appellate decision https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=ReQsiVyUL/PE7F5_PLUS_RuqoMw== CBS News story on Trump conceding to $27 million valuation for Mar-a-Lago https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/trump-mar-a-lago-1-8-billion-own-company-said-it-was-too-high/?espv=1 SCOTUS orders 10/2 https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/100223zor_5368.pdf Eastman petition for cert https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-1138/267263/20230519131455424_230516%2

Andrew and Liz explain the recent Congressional funding bill, what it means for the country (good things!) & what it means for Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (bad things). What's a motion to vacate? Listen and find out!   Then, of course, the duo return to discuss all the recent developments in the RICO indictment in Fulton County, Georgia, including the plea deal by bail bondsman & former Donald Trump co-defendant Scott Hall. What does it all mean? We tell you!   Notes Trump Fulton County docket https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/142   FC indictment  https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23909542/23sc188947-criminal-indictment.pdf -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -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

Liz and Andrew record a day early to discuss the breaking news out of state court in New York granting partial summary judgment to New York Attorney General Letitia James's civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, his kids, and his businesses over phony valuation statements. The upshot is that the Trump businesses will be dissolved as a matter of law. Mitchell Epner guests to help break down the nuances of New York law and procedure. It's not a criminal conviction, but it's a hell of a start! Notes Justice Engoron Order https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=op8OyfqVHpc6eGTx9LOw3Q== -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -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

Today, Andrew and Liz welcome back to the show National Security Counselor Kel McClanahan to break down a bunch of filings pursuant to the Classified Information Procedures Act, and tell us how to keep our eyes on Judge Cannon! Notes Chris Geidner "Law Dork" on the Fifth Circuit https://www.lawdork.com/p/fifth-circuit-adf-training-book-ban-social-media CIPA - Appendix 13 to Title 18 of the US Code https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18a/compiledact-96-456 Trump’s motion for CIPA Section 4 scheduling https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.160.0.pdf DOJ CIPA Section 3 Brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.162.0.pdf Nauta/DeOliveira CIPA Section 3 Brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.163.0.pdf DOJ CIPA Motion Under Seal in DC ( cover page) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656604/59/1/united-states-v-trump/ -Support us

Liz and Andrew break down the recent indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez plus much, much more. Notes Menendez indictment https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-09/u.s._v._menendez_et_al_indictment.pdf McDonnell v. US, 136 S.Ct. 2355 (2016) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7646544289520795258 -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law -Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs -Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/ -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

Liz and Andrew break down the week's developments before heading into a deep dive about baseball's antitrust exemption and a new petition for certiorari filed by... unicorns? Even if you're not a sports fan, you won't want to miss this one! Notes OA 696 https://openargs.com/oa696-in-which-james-okeefe-pretends-to-be-a-journalist/ Fulton County GA - DA Willis Motion notifying Judge McAfee of potential conflicts https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23986592/23-0920-notice-of-potential-conflicts-of-interest-concerning-attorneys.pdf Anna Bower, Fake Crocodiles and Fake Electors in Fulton County https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/fake-crocodiles-and-fake-electors-in-fulton-county Project Veritas Suspends All Operations Amid Devastating Layoffs and Fundraising Struggles https://www.mediaite.com/news/new-project-veritas-suspends-all-operations-amid-devastating-layoffs-and-fundraising-struggles/ Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, 259 U.S. 200 (1922

In this Episode, Andrew and Liz outline the issues underlying the recent law review article by Professors Will Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen suggesting that Trump can be disqualified from the Presidency by virtue of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. After that, the two return to the linkroll to discuss the many, many developments in and around Trumpworld, including whatever happened to that guy Ray Epps that Tucker Carlson insists is a federal agent plant? (Hint: he's not.) In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew describe more of the sad legal trevails of David Shafer, cosplay elector. Notes OA 35 https://openargs.com/oa35-emoluments-clause-wseth-barrett-tillman-part-1/ OA 36 https://openargs.com/oa36-emoluments-clause-wseth-barrett-tillman-part-2/ Baude & Paulsen, “The Sweep and Force of Section Three”, 172 U. Pa. L. Rev. (forthcoming 2024) https://deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=995103073068092081092071118086002065023073053045056031120084030066073022088005028078011036036121038023044082

Liz and Andrew talk about the surprising acquittal of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment before discussing the companion efforts to gum up the works in the attempt to hold Donald Trump and his co-conspirators responsible for trying to steal the 2020 Presidential Election. In the Patreon Bonus, Liz and Andrew set the record straight on Michael Flynn in light of the government's recent motion to dismiss Flynn's attempt to sue for wrongful prosecution. (Hint: he was not wrongfully prosecuted.) Notes Middlebrooks order dismissing Trump's motion to disqualify https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.610157/gov.uscourts.flsd.610157.342.0.pdf DOJ motion to dismiss in Flynn v. US https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523.38.0.pdf DOJ’s reply to Trump’s motion for Chutkan recusal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.54.0_2.pdf Trump reply brief supporting DQ

Hunter Biden was indicted; what does it mean? Liz and Andrew bring you that, plus an extra-length linkroll today to cover all the week's developments, all before tackling a listener question about the federal removal statute. In the Patreon bonus, the two talk more about the social media case of Missouri v. Biden, which heads to the Supreme Court. Notes SCOTUS administrative stay in Missouri v. Biden https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63290154/333/missouri-v-biden/ Trump SDFL Docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/ Cannon order granting protective order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.150.0.pdf Willis brief on federal removal https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca11.84175/gov.uscourts.ca11.84175.20.0_4.pdf 2018 GAO gun report https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-440.pdf  OA 778 https://openargs.com/oa778-geese-ganders-affirmative-action-are-we-overreacting-to-sffa-v-harvard-feat-guha-

Liz and Andrew begin with a discussion of Kevin McCarthy's efforts to impeach Ice Cream Joe before the linkroll roundup of all the major developments over the past few days. Then, in the main segment, the two discuss the fate of the right-wing nonsense suit in Missouri v. Biden, in which a Trump-appointed judge essentially prevented the Biden administration from reporting nonsense on social media. Did the Fifth Circuit save the day?? Listen and find out! In the Patreon bonus, the duo dive deeply into the Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jury report that Donald Trump tried so hard to disappear. What... good news for Trump might it hold?? Notes OA 713 https://openargs.com/oa713-state-ags-sue-anthony-fauci-for-booting-them-off-twitter/ OA 739 https://openargs.com/oa739-5-million-says-mike-lindell-is-full-of-stuffing/ OA 771 https://openargs.com/oa771-trump-judge-burns-down-first-amendment-to-save-free-speech/ In re Lindell Mgmt LLC Litigation Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6741

Liz and Andrew break down all the latest developments before taking a deep dive into the significance of Mark Meadows's stunning loss in trying to remove his criminal indictment from state court in Fulton County, Georgia to federal court. What does that mean for Donald Trump? Listen and find out! In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew discuss the testimony of a key upcoming witness who definitely has the goods on Donald Trump. Notes OA 785 https://openargs.com/oa785-all-gerrymandering-is-local-feat-joe-dye/ Coomer v. Lindell Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63296393/coomer-v-lindell/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc  State of GA v. Clark, Docket  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67713789/the-state-of-georgia-v-clark/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc  Order granting injunctive relief in Milligan v. Allen https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.alnd.179302/gov.uscourts.alnd.179302

Liz and Andrew try a lightning round segment, answer a listener question, and then update you on the travails of Trump's lawyers as defendants in Fulton County, Georgia and as conflicted-out scoundrels in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Notes Hunter Biden Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67511701/united-states-v-biden/?order_by=desc  US v. Abbott Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67630985/united-states-v-abbott/?order_by=desc Rejection Trump Boys’ Motion for Stay  https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=7VeIswUTaqJ_PLUS_2jqwndUGqQ==&system=prod Fulton County docket https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/Index/142 Chesebro Motion to dismiss https://www.fultonclerk.org/DocumentCenter/View/2159/MOTION-TO-DISMIS-UNDER-THE-SUPREMECY-CLAUSE---CHESEBORO DA Fani Willis letter to Jim Jordan https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23941366/jim-jordan-letter.pdf -Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/law