May It Please the Court

Alex Akhavan
  • 5.0 (15)
  • History
  • Updated Weekly

May It Please the Court immerses listeners in the dramatic history of the Supreme Court’s most consequential rulings and unpacks how the same constitutional sentence has been reinterpreted across generations, shaping the world we live in today.

  1. Centennial Crisis (The Election of 1876)

    2d ago

    Centennial Crisis (The Election of 1876)

    Alex discusses the chaotic 1876 Presidential election, involving disputed ballots, voter suppression, and political brinkmanship that led to end of Reconstruction Era and turned the tide against racial equality.

    32 min
  2. Radical Republicans (The Reconstruction Amendments)

    May 26

    Radical Republicans (The Reconstruction Amendments)

    Alex retells the story of Abraham Lincoln navigating the Civil War, Radical Republicans, and a divided nation to abolish slavery and secure equal rights. From the abolition of slavery to the drafting of the 14th Amendment, this episode explores the fierce political, legal, and military battles that reshaped the Supreme Court, transformed the South, and paved the way for the first African Americans to hold office in Congress.

    31 min
  3. A House Divided (Dred Scott v. Sandford) | The Equal Protection Clause

    May 19

    A House Divided (Dred Scott v. Sandford) | The Equal Protection Clause

    Alex retells the dramatic story of Charles Sumner’s fiery Senate speech, the brutal caning that followed, and the Supreme Court’s infamous Dred Scott decision, showing how these events set the stage for Abraham Lincoln, the 14th Amendment, and the fight for equality in America.

    30 min
  4. Introduction to Season 2 | The Equal Protection Clause

    Season 2 Trailer

    Introduction to Season 2 | The Equal Protection Clause

    Creator and host Alex Akhavan introduces Season 2 of May It Please The Court: the story of the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.  Effectively the story of race and discrimination in the United States from the lens of the US Supreme Court, the season will be told in two parts.  Part 1 begins shortly before the Civil War through the end of segregation while Part 2 will delve into the evolution of how the Supreme Court reviews discrimination cases on the basis of race, sex, and sexual orientation. Streaming on May 19, 2026!

    3 min
  5. #LoveWins (Obergefell v. Hodges) | The Due Process Clause

    May 12

    #LoveWins (Obergefell v. Hodges) | The Due Process Clause

    In the season finale of May It Please The Court, the justices decide the issue of same-sex marriage. In 2015, twelve years after the Court's landmark decision that had invalidated anti-sodomy laws, Justice Anthony Kennedy is once again the tiebreaker needed to expand the scope of the 14th amendment's fundamental right to privacy...one more time. [Originally Aired September 12, 2018]

    27 min
  6. A Lover's Quarrel (Lawrence v. Texas) | The Due Process Clause

    May 12

    A Lover's Quarrel (Lawrence v. Texas) | The Due Process Clause

    It's a new millennium, and gay rights advocates take another stab at invalidating anti-sodomy laws in the landmark case of Lawrence v. Texas. The mainstream public's views on homosexuality have evolved considerably as the legal world waits to find out whether Justice Anthony Kennedy will be the swing vote needed to legalize homosexual conduct nationwide. [Originally Aired September 5, 2018]

    26 min
  7. The O'Connor Burden (Planned Parenthood v. Casey) | The Due Process Clause

    May 11

    The O'Connor Burden (Planned Parenthood v. Casey) | The Due Process Clause

    It’s a Roe v. Wade rematch when the Supreme Court hears the case of Planned Parenthood vs. Casey in 1992. As a new split forms among the Court’s conservatives, Sandra Day O’Connor, the country’s first female justice, is the deciding vote to determine the future of abortion rights in the United States. [Originally Aired August 27, 2018]

    25 min
  8. No Conceivable Limit (Bowers v. Hardwick) | The Due Process Clause

    May 11

    No Conceivable Limit (Bowers v. Hardwick) | The Due Process Clause

    Substantive due process is now a political issue. Republicans start appointing justices willing to reverse or limit the doctrine responsible for Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, progressives try to expand interpretations of the 14th amendment to start protecting gay rights. [Originally Aired August 20, 2018]

    26 min
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About

May It Please the Court immerses listeners in the dramatic history of the Supreme Court’s most consequential rulings and unpacks how the same constitutional sentence has been reinterpreted across generations, shaping the world we live in today.

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Akhavan
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 May It Please the Court
  • Show Website
    May It Please the Court

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