The Verdict Podcast : Inside Criminal Court Cases

In this episode, we examine the case of Marissa Alexander — a Florida woman who fired a warning shot during a domestic dispute and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She claimed self-defense. Prosecutors argued otherwise. We break down the trial, Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, and the legal questions at the heart of one of the most debated courtroom decisions in recent history — including how race, gender, and prosecutorial discretion shaped the outcome.

In this episode, we examine the case of Deanna Laney — a mother who killed two of her sons and seriously injured a third, claiming God told her to do it. What followed wasn’t a debate over guilt, but a legal examination of criminal responsibility and mental illness. Through expert testimony, psychiatric evaluations, and the courtroom’s handling of the insanity defense, we break down how the justice system responded to one of Texas’s most controversial verdicts.

What happens when teenagers are charged with first-degree murder? In this episode, we break down the Seath Jackson case, following the investigation, courtroom proceedings, and appeals while examining how juvenile sentencing laws shaped the outcome.