Beyond the Bench

Mountain States Legal Foundation

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NON-PROFIT
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Mountain States Legal Foundation presents, Beyond the Bench. In this podcast you will receive insights into MSLF's advocacy approaches and successes. You will hear from our expert attorneys and outside guests from the liberty movement.

JAN 27

Beyond the Bench: Episode 9 with Will Trachman, Cause and Character: The Future of Equal Protection

The U.S. Supreme Court hears fewer than 1% of the cases appealed to it each year. That means the promise of equal protection under the law lives, or dies, in lower courts, far from the spotlight. That’s exactly where our latest Beyond the Bench episode takes you. In this episode, we break down Young v. Colorado Department of Corrections and Brigida v. U.S. Department of Transportation, two cases that expose what happens when government officials treat one person differently from others without a lawful reason. In Young, selective punishment raises serious equal protection concerns about retaliation and unequal treatment. In Brigida, uneven enforcement by a federal agency shows how bureaucratic discretion can quickly turn into the power to pick winners and losers. These cases make one thing clear: equal protection isn’t about special treatment, it’s about equal application of the law. And it only works when it’s actively defended. About MSLF: Mountain States Legal Foundation is a non-profit law firm based in the American West. We go to court to fight for your constitutional rights. Your freedom is under attack. To learn what you can do to fight back, visit: Website: http://www.mslegal.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainstateslegalfoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSLF

26 min
JAN 19

Beyond the Bench: Episode 8, Kristi Brown, Constitutional Collisions: Free Speech and Equal Protection in the Modern Court

Free speech and equal protection are two of the Constitution’s most powerful promises, and two of its most contested battlegrounds. In this episode of Beyond the Bench, we sit down with constitutional attorney and policy leader Kristi Burton Brown to examine how courts are shaping the future of the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause. From ongoing legal battles to the limits of judicial power, this conversation explores what happens when speech, equality, and the courts collide, and what’s at stake if judges get it wrong.

26 min
12/29/2025

Beyond the Bench: Episode 7 Kathleen Sgamma on Power, Public Lands, and Who Decides

Kathleen Sgamma has spent decades inside the battles over public lands, energy policy, and federal authority. In our latest episode, we sit down with the longtime energy advocate and former nominee for Director of the Bureau of Land Management to unpack how power is actually exercised in Washington, and what happens when precedent starts to shift. We cover: The unprecedented use of the Congressional Review Act to overturn BLM land-use plans How litigation has tied up thousands of oil and gas leases EPA climate regulation and its ripple effects across the industry The growing pressure on energy companies from regulators and financial institutions What her BLM nomination revealed about the future of public lands governance This is a conversation about WHO decides, HOW rules change, and WHY institutional stability matters, regardless of politics. About MSLF: Mountain States Legal Foundation is a non-profit law firm based in the American West. We go to court to fight for your constitutional rights. Your freedom is under attack. To learn what you can do to fight back, visit: Website: http://www.mslegal.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainstateslegalfoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSLF

46 min
12/08/2025

Beyond the Bench: Episode 6 Ivan London on Land, Law & Overreach: The Battle for Balance

In this episode of Beyond the Bench, we dig into the hidden battles shaping your constitutional rights, federal overreach, state authority, property rights, and the real-world consequences when the government goes too far. Attorney Ivan London breaks down how seemingly small legal disputes can set massive national precedents, why regulatory power keeps expanding, and what’s at stake for everyday Americans when agencies push past their limits. Whether you’re passionate about constitutional law, curious about how landmark cases are made, or just want a clearer understanding of the liberties that affect your life, this episode delivers insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

1h 3m
11/24/2025

Beyond the Bench: Episode 5 Joseph Greenlee, Scholarship, Litigation, and Second Amendment

On episode 5 of Beyond the Bench, Mountain States Legal Foundation sits down with Joseph Greenlee, the Director of Litigation Counsel at the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) and one of the nation’s leading Second Amendment attorneys. With more than 100 constitutional cases and over 30 U.S. Supreme Court briefs to his name, Greenlee brings unmatched insight into how the courts are shaping the future of the Second Amendment — and what strategic litigation looks like in a post-Bruen world. If you care about constitutional liberty, strategic litigation/scholarship, and the future of the Second Amendment, this episode is a must-listen. 🔗 Learn more about Mountain States Legal Foundation: https://mslegal.org 🔗 Follow MSLF on social media: @MountainStatesLegal 👍 Like, save, and share to support our work defending freedom in the courts.

40 min
11/10/2025

Beyond the Bench: Episode 4 Michael McCoy, Inside Colorado’s Self-Defense Laws

In this episode, we sit down with the attorney defending the Second Amendment in Garcia v. Polis and Del Toro v. Polis, two cases challenging Colorado’s latest gun restrictions. From 10-day waiting periods to sweeping bans on “assault weapons,” we unpack the legal strategies, constitutional stakes, and what these cases could mean for the future of the Second Amendment nationwide. 📺 Subscribe for more episodes on Second Amendment, Constitutional law, and the cases shaping American liberty. About MSLF: Mountain States Legal Foundation is a non-profit law firm based in the American West. We go to court to fight for your constitutional rights. Your freedom is under attack. To learn what you can do to fight back, visit: Website: http://www.mslegal.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainstateslegalfoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSLF

57 min
10/27/2025

Beyond the Bench: Episode 3 Todd Scott, Social Media, and Free Speech

In this episode, we sit down with Todd Scott, Counsel on U.S. Supreme Court litigation defending free speech, to unpack one of the most important free speech cases of our time: Murthy v. Missouri. This landmark case questions whether the federal government crossed a constitutional line by pressuring social media platforms to suppress certain speech online. Todd brings insider insight from his direct involvement in the litigation and breaks down what the case means for free expression, government overreach, and the future of digital discourse in America. In this episode, we cover: The background and stakes of Murthy v. Missouri How government “jawboning” can blur the line between persuasion and coercion The First Amendment’s role in the age of Big Tech What’s next for free speech and online regulation If you’ve ever wondered who truly controls what we see online, and where the Constitution fits into that, this is the episode for you. 📺 Subscribe for more episodes on free speech, constitutional law, and the cases shaping American liberty. About MSLF: Mountain States Legal Foundation is a non-profit law firm based in the American West. We go to court to fight for your constitutional rights. Your freedom is under attack. To learn what you can do to fight back, visit: Website: http://www.mslegal.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainstateslegalfoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSLF

55 min
10/13/2025

Episode 2: Jim Kerwin & Free Speech

We know that liberty must be defended in the courtroom, and in the culture. That’s why we’re excited to share a brand-new episode of Beyond the Bench, featuring our own Senior Counsel and First Amendment Attorney, Jim Kerwin. In this conversation, Jim takes you behind the scenes of two pivotal cases: Young America’s Foundation v. UCLA — a fight to protect student expression on campus. Danielle Johnson v. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality — a stand against government retaliation when citizens speak out. Both cases underscore a timeless truth: the First Amendment exists to protect speech that challenges authority. These battles are about more than individual lawsuits, they are about preserving the freedoms that define America.

34 min
10/13/2025

Beyond the Bench Episode 2: Jim Kerwin and Free Speech

We know that liberty must be defended in the courtroom, and in the culture. That’s why we’re excited to share a brand-new episode of Beyond the Bench, featuring our own Senior Counsel and First Amendment Attorney, Jim Kerwin. In this conversation, Jim takes you behind the scenes of two pivotal cases: Young America’s Foundation v. UCLA — a fight to protect student expression on campus. Danielle Johnson v. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality — a stand against government retaliation when citizens speak out. Both cases underscore a timeless truth: the First Amendment exists to protect speech that challenges authority. These battles are about more than individual lawsuits, they are about preserving the freedoms that define America. About MSLF: Mountain States Legal Foundation is a non-profit law firm based in the American West. We go to court to fight for your constitutional rights. Your freedom is under attack. To learn what you can do to fight back, visit: Website: http://www.mslegal.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainstateslegalfoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSLF

34 min
09/29/2025

Episode 1: Cristen Wohlgemuth & MSLF

In the inaugural episode of Beyond the Bench, I sit down with Kristin, President and CEO of Mountain States Legal Foundation. Kristin shares her journey from a small-town upbringing in Texas to leading a nonprofit dedicated to defending constitutional liberties. We delve into the mission of the foundation, which focuses on protecting individual rights, advocating for limited government, and promoting responsible natural resource usage. Kristin discusses the importance of civil discourse and coalition-building in effecting change, as well as the foundation's initiatives to inspire the next generation of legal advocates. Join us as we explore the vital role of law in preserving freedoms and the exciting future of Mountain States Legal Foundation.

42 min

Mountain States Legal Foundation presents, Beyond the Bench. In this podcast you will receive insights into MSLF's advocacy approaches and successes. You will hear from our expert attorneys and outside guests from the liberty movement.

Creator

Mountain States Legal Foundation
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

11
Rating

Clean