Lawyer 2 Lawyer

As we approach the midterm elections, we wanted to spend this episode reviewing the most controversial ways that the current Administration has interacted with the law. We’ve had no shortage of choices to pick from, but we’ve narrowed it down to the top seven headline-grabbing issues over the last two years that stood out to us.  On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, producer Kate Nutting highlights the top 7 and turns to past episodes to cover the legal issues at the forefront of the nation today.  Mentioned in this Episode: Trump’s Tariffs: SCOTUS, and the Impact on International Trade Law & the American People The Legalities Behind ICE, The Constitution, Minnesota, & the Impact on the Rule of Law Voting & Election Law: Current Issues Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections Birthright Citizenship, a SCOTUS Ruling, & the Impact on Immigration Policy The Summer of SCOTUS: Big Decisions & Impact RFK Jr. and Public Health: Vaccine Policy, Outbreaks, and Funding Cuts Actions of the DOJ, Threats to the Judiciary, & Judicial Independence

Naturalized citizens have served as federal judges, including as Justices of our Supreme Court, for more than two centuries, many with great distinction. Recently Representative Nancy Mace introduced a joint resolution calling for an amendment to our Constitution that would require that federal judges, alongside members of Congress, be born in the United States. Previously, Representative Pete Stauber proposed legislation requiring that all American judges be “natural born citizens” and require sitting judges with dual citizenship to renounce foreign ties. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Judge Jeremy D. Fogel, formerly of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, as they discuss these proposals that would require federal judges to be born in the United States or qualify as “natural born citizens, and the opposition by a group of bipartisan judges,  Keep Our Republic's Article III Coalition, who are leading the charge against these proposals which create hateful rhetoric and go against the framers of our Constitution’s ideals.   Mentioned in this Episode: Keep Our Republic's Article III Coalition 

Since the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), public health has been surrounded by controversy. To start, billions of dollars in public health funding were slashed by the Trump administration. With Kennedy at the helm, and these cuts to federal funding, the handling of vaccine recommendations, food safety, and the restructuring of federal public health agencies have all been impacted.  On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Michael R. Ulrich, an Associate Professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health and School of Law, as they spotlight the current state of public health under RFK Jr.'s leadership. Craig & Michael take a look at HHS' overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule, current outbreaks (measles & cyclospora), and the impact of federal funding cuts to public health.

Lawyers. Defenders of our Constitution, but in our current political climate, they are fighting more than ever. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Lauren Stiller Rikleen, executive director of Lawyers Defending American Democracy. Craig & Lauren spotlight the legal community and how lawyers are defending our democracy through initiatives and how they are seeking accountability for those in our profession who have violated their ethical obligations.

Summer is upon us and the Supreme Court of the United States is set to rule on a number of landmark cases including birthright citizenship, transgender athletes, campaign finance limits, and mail-in ballots. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Steven D. Schwinn, professor of law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, as they spotlight the summer of  SCOTUS. Craig & Steve discuss the major SCOTUS decisions happening this summer and the potential impact of these rulings.

At the end of June, early July of 2026, the Supreme Court will make a decision on President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Paul Finkelman, legal historian and professor of law at Albany Law School, as they spotlight birthright citizenship. Craig & Paul discuss the Trump administration’s efforts to end birthright citizenship, the legality of the executive order, the 14th amendment, amicus briefs, and the potential impact of the upcoming SCOTUS ruling on immigration policy.   Mentioned in this Episode: Brief for Professors Gabriel J. Chin, Paul Finkelman, and Erika Lee as Amici Curiae In Support of Respondents

Back in 2025, the Department of Justice issued a legal opinion stating that presidents may have authority not only to create but also to revoke national monuments established by prior presidents. So what does this mean for protections for national monuments and public lands like the Grand Staircase and Bears Ears National Monument? On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes professor of law, Mark Squillace from the University of Colorado Law School, as they spotlight national monuments, public lands, and presidential power. Craig & Mark discuss the DOJ’s legal opinion on national monuments, monument and public land protections, Congressional authority, the Antiquities Act of 1906, conservation law, and federal land management.

On July 4th, 2026, the United States will celebrate its  250th anniversary. Americans will reflect not only on our history, but on the institutions that have carried us through. Among the most important of those institutions are our courts and the justice system. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Judge Jeremy D. Fogel, the first Executive Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute. Craig & Judge Fogel discuss the Department of Justice’s recent overall actions, threats to the judiciary, judicial independence, and why this all matters as we approach our nation's 250th. Mentioned in this Episode: Keep Our Republic

The rise of artificial intelligence has created new legal challenges around identity and consent, especially for public figures like Taylor Swift. In response, Taylor has recently taken matters into her own hands by filing trademark applications to protect her voice and image from AI. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Attorney Daliah Saper, Principal at Saper Law Offices. Craig & Daliah discuss spotlight trademark law, AI, trademarking voice and image, and how AI has changed the game when it comes to trademark protection for celebrities and non-celebrities. Mentioned in this Episode: Legal Issues Surrounding Social Media Featuring Daliah Saper (2010) Attorney Daliah Saper is Principal at Saper Law Offices. Daliah’s practice focuses on a number of practice areas including trademark, copyright, and entertainment law.