Did former President Trump’s rhetoric lead to an insurrection on January 6th, 2021? A court in Colorado has said it did. So, what constitutes rhetoric? And how powerful are words? In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guest Dr. Pete Simi, Professor of Sociology at Chapman University, to discuss the impact of rhetoric. Craig & Pete take a look at former President Trump's history of violent rhetoric, free speech and hate speech, and how extreme rhetoric can lead to political violen...
Dec 22, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 626
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released a report on U.S. life expectancy. Keren Landman, senior reporter from Vox, wrote an excellent piece on this report, detailing the takeaways including the impact of COVID 19, the rise of infant mortality, and how the States compared to other countries on life expectancy. In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guest Michael Ulrich, Assistant Professor of Health Law, Ethics, & Human Rights at Boston University...
Dec 08, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 625
As we near the end of our environmental law series, we turn to our beloved oceans. The Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 also known as MPRSA, is one of several key environmental laws passed by the US Congress in 1972. The Act regulates the disposition of any material into ocean waters, unless expressly excluded under the MPRSA. In this episode of our Environmental Law series, host Craig Williams is joined by Professor Robin Craig, the Robert C. Packard Trustee Chair in Law ...
Nov 24, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 624
According to the Georgetown Law Library, Art Law can be defined as “the body of law, involving numerous disciplines, that protects, regulates and facilitates the creation, use and marketing of art. Those involved in the practice of art law look to a variety of disciplines, such as intellectual property, contract, constitutional, tort, tax, commercial and international law to protect the interests of their clients.” In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guests, attorneys Gabrielle C. ...
Nov 10, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 623
In this episode of our Environmental Law series, host Craig Williams is joined by Professor Jody Freeman, the Archibald Cox Professor at Harvard Law School and a leading expert on administrative law and environmental law. Jody & Craig spotlight SCOTUS' Sackett v. EPA ruling, and its impact on the EPA's powers, Clean Water Act protections, and the regulation of wetlands. Mentioned in this Episode: CleanLaw Podcast...
Oct 27, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 622
In a recent incident in Columbus, Ohio, an 11 year old girl was manipulated into sending explicit photos to an adult. After law enforcement was called by the girl’s father, a police officer told the father his daughter could face child porn charges for her actions. So how do we protect our children who are victims of these kinds of crimes? And what needs to change within our laws? In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guest attorney Riya Saha Shah, Senior Managing Director of Juvenil...
Oct 13, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 621
In this episode of our Environmental Law series, host Craig Williams is once again joined by Alisha M. Winterswyk, an attorney from Best Best & Krieger, LLP, as they continue their discussion on NEPA & CEQA. The conversation moves into the specifics of how courts deal with decisions by city councils that dealing with environmental consequences, and on the other side, how citizens deal with this whole process by filing lawsuits.
Sep 29, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 620
With primaries set to start in spring of 2024, an upcoming presidential election, and a number of federal & state indictments against former President Trump, including the January 6th indictment, section 3 of the 14th amendment has taken center stage. It reads "no person who has taken an oath as an officer of the United States can hold office if they “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof”. So, will Section 3 of the 14th Am...
Sep 01, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 619
While Craig is away on a well-deserved vacation, we wanted to do things a little bit differently, and share with you one of our favorite episodes from the Chicago Bar Association’s @the Bar podcast. This episode is Defending Against Domestic Violent Extremism: A Discussion with Brian Michael Jenkins. We hope you enjoy it! ----- In this episode, host Jonathan Amarilio speaks with one of the world’s leading authorities on terrorism and the man famously known for predicting 9/11, Brian Michael Jenk...
Aug 18, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 618
In this episode of our Environmental Law series, host Craig Williams is joined by Alisha M. Winterswyk, an attorney from Best Best & Krieger, LLP, as they spotlight NEPA and CEQA, their impact, and purpose.
Aug 04, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 617
As SCOTUS wrapped in leadup to its annual summer recess, three controversial rulings, all with a 6-3 vote, created quite the stir: Biden v. Nebraska , Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, and 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis . So what sort of impact will these rulings have on society? In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guest Professor Steven D. Schwinn from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, as they spotlight the recent SCOTUS ...
Jul 21, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 616
The Clean Air Act also known as (CAA) is a comprehensive Federal law that regulates all sources of air emissions. The 1970 CAA authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment. In this episode of our Environmental Law series, host Craig Williams is joined by Trish McCubbin, a retired Professor of Environmental Law at the Southern Illinois University School of Law, as they spotlight C...
Jul 07, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 615
On September 30, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), also known as the Kenneth Ross, Jr. Police Decertification Act of 2021, establishing a statewide system to decertify or suspend officers who have committed serious misconduct. So what constitutes police misconduct? And how is SB 2 shaping police departments? In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guest Marshal Arnwine, Jr., an Advocate for the Criminal Justice Program at the ACLU of Northern Californi...
Jun 23, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 614
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) provided a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats both domestically and abroad. According to the Center for Progressive Reform, at an April 2023 hearing of the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, the conservative majority pushed no less than three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions aimed at blocking ESA protections. In this episode of our Environmental...
Jun 09, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 613
According to the League of Women Voters, “ Voting is a fundamental principle, and all Americans deserve the equal opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy. ” Yet over the years, various states have suppressed voters from reaching the ballot box through various methods like strict ID laws, purging voter rolls, and cutting early voting. Gerrymandering, defined as “to manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class” has taken center stage wh...
May 26, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 612
According to the EPA, “The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 -- otherwise known as CERCLA or Superfund -- provides a Federal "Superfund" to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. Through CERCLA, the EPA was given power to seek out those parties responsible for any release and assure their cooperation in the cleanup.” In this...
May 12, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 611
On April 6th, 2023, ProPublica released a report titled, Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire, detailing Justice Clarence Thomas’ failure to report years of lavish trips paid for by Republican billionaire Harlan Crow. Justice Thomas’ actions led U.S. Senate Majority Whip and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dick Durbin and other Senate Judiciary Committee Democratic members to send a letter to Chief Justice Roberts inviting him to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at...
Apr 28, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 610
Back on Oct. 21, 1976, President Gerald Ford signed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) into law, highlighting that this law “provides sound state and local programs to deal with ever increasing amounts of municipal solid wastes generated in this country.” In this episode of our Environmental Law series, we spotlight the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act better known as RCRA. We discuss regulations, goals, importance, impact, and how far we have come.
Apr 14, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 609
Artificial Intelligence has become one of the most discussed topics of our day. With the introduction of sophisticated chatbots like OpenAIs ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4, many have predicted that we're on the verge of a revolution in terms of how many industries operate, including the legal industry. So what do firms and attorneys need to do to stay ahead of the incoming AI wave? In this episode, host Craig Williams joins guest John Villasenor, professor of electrical engineering, law, public polic...
Mar 31, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 608
This year, we have created a new Environmental Law series on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, where wewill cover cradle to grave treatment of chemicals and our laws on environmental biology. In this episode, host Craig Williams joins Mark Squillace from the University of Colorado Law School, to discuss the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), wetlands protection, and habitat conservation plans.
Mar 17, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 607
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio starting a fire which spewed toxic fumes into the air, driving surrounding residents out of their homes. Since then, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a legally binding notice ordering Norfolk Southern to handle and pay for all necessary cleanup after this freight train derailment led to an intentional release of vinyl chloride. So what could be the long-term impact o...
Mar 03, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 606
This year, we have created a new Environmental Law series on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, where we will cover cradle to grave treatment of chemicals and our laws on environmental biology. In this episode, host Craig Williams joins LeRoy (Lee) C. Paddock, former associate dean for environmental law studies at George Washington University Law School, as they discuss the Pollution Prevention Act, the Clean Water Act, & the Clean Air Act, their intended impact on our environment, and a look ahead to future ...
Feb 17, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 605
Rule 8.4 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, dealing with Misconduct, is subtitled with the phrase “Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession”. When attorneys engage in unethical behavior, it is believed that their actions harm the industry. As such, disciplinary procedures are a key feature to maintaining the legitimacy of not only the profession, but the legal system as a whole. Usually, attorney disciplinary matters don’t enter the broader public discourse, but, in the wake of the 2...
Feb 08, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 604
This year, we have created a new Environmental Law series on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, where we will cover cradle to grave treatment of chemicals and our laws on environmental biology. In our first episode, we will spotlight the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA ) which addresses the manufacturing, processing, distribution, use, and disposal of commercial and industrial chemicals. Host Craig Williams is joined by Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C, Lynn L. Bergeson who will give us an over...
Jan 20, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 603
As part of his bid to secure the position of Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has made a series of proposals in an effort to garner party support. One notable proposal calls for the gutting of the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent, non-partisan entity created in 2008 and tasked with reviewing allegations of misconduct against members, officers, and staff of the US House of Representatives. In light of recent pressure to investigate some House Republicans in...
Jan 06, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 602
Originalism is a type of judicial interpretation of a constitution (especially the U.S. Constitution) that aims to follow how it would have been understood or was intended to be understood at the time it was written. With the addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the High Court, there are now 4 avowed originalists on the Supreme Court including: Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh. Originalism has been cited in recent landmark decisions including Dobbs & Bruen, but are these justices ...
Dec 23, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 601
On the last episode of our The Life of a Lawyer Start to Finish series, we discussed Retirement with Ida Abbott. In this episode, we move on to the final rung of the ladder: The Aging Lawyer: Exiting Gracefully. Host Craig Williams is joined by Tish Vincent, LMSW, Esq., Chair of the ABA Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs, as they spotlight the aging lawyer. Craig & Tish discuss senior lawyers, possible warning signs of cognitive decline to look out for if a co-worker is suffering, how...
Dec 09, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 600
On the last episode of our The Life of a Lawyer Start to Finish series, we discussed Money Management for Lawyers with L.J. Jones . In this episode, we move on to the next rung of the ladder: Retirement. Host Craig Williams is joined byIda O. Abbot, founder of Ida Abbott Consulting, as they tackle retirement. Ida & Craig take a look at when to start thinking about retiring as a lawyer, steps attorneys can take to prepare for retirement, and ultimately life post-retirement. Mentioned in This ...
Nov 25, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 599
Water is our most precious resource, but water, statewide and worldwide, is becoming scarce. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 55 million people globally are affected by droughts every year, and water shortages are the most serious hazard to livestock and crops in nearly every part of the world. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages, and by 2030, as many as 700 million people are expected to be at-risk of being displaced. In this episode, h...
Nov 11, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 598
On the last episode of our The Life of a Lawyer Start to Finish series, we discussed Lifelong Learning with attorney Kelli Proia . In this episode, we move on to the next rung of the ladder: Money Management. Host Craig Williams is joined by L.J. Jones, CPA, founder of Developing Financial to discuss money management for lawyers. Craig & L.J. explore common money management problems, and how lawyers can take steps to manage their money inside and outside of the law firm....
Oct 28, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 597
