Oral Arguments, with Context

Oral Arguments, with Context
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Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context. Court recordings can be difficult to follow, and many suffer from poor audio quality. This podcast enhances the audio, provides a brief introduction to each case, and explains legal concepts that may be unfamiliar to some listeners. We hope these enhancements make oral argument recordings easier to understand, more accessible, and more enjoyable to listen to. Recordings come from the courts' own public releases; Supreme Court timing is derived locally from the Court's official transcript and audio.

  1. 24m ago

    New Civil Liberties Alliance v. SEC — D.C. Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)

    The D.C. Circuit reviews a Freedom of Information Act dispute over an SEC control deficiency that allowed enforcement staff to access adjudication memoranda. The New Civil Liberties Alliance says the agency's Vaughn index and declarations did not justify withholding forensic records or employee names, or show foreseeable harm from disclosure. The SEC says releasing the names could expose staff to stigma and harassment, while the forensic material is protected attorney work product. The district court granted summary judgment to the SEC; the alliance asks the court to reverse. New Civil Liberties Alliance v. SEC (No. 25-5383) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 8, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/25-5383.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit: https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9 SEC statement on the adjudication control deficiency — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/commission-statement-relating-certain-administrative-adjudications Brief for appellant — New Civil Liberties Alliance: https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FILING_NCLA-v.-SEC_Brief-for-Plaintiff-Appellant_02172026.pdf District court opinion — U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (PDF via Justia): https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2022cv03567/249607/28/0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/25-5383 Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 — Office of the Law Revision Counsel: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A5+section%3A552+edition%3Aprelim%29

  2. 1h ago

    Chen v. Mamdani — 2d Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)

    The Second Circuit hears Yi Fang Chen's emergency request to admit her son to Stuyvesant High School while she appeals the denial of a preliminary injunction. He scored 558 on the SHSAT, three points below Stuyvesant's cutoff. Chen says New York City expanded the Discovery Program to twenty percent of seats and added a school-level Economic Need Index rule to change racial enrollment, violating equal protection. The city and student intervenors say the criteria are race-neutral and target economic and geographic disadvantage. The court must decide whether Chen has shown likely success, irreparable harm, and favorable equities—and whether strict scrutiny or rational-basis review governs. Chen v. Mamdani (No. 26-2066) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 8, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/26-2066%20mtn.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/oral_arguments.html Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca2/26-2066 Order denying preliminary injunction — U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.: https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2026/07/057-Order-Denying-Motion-for-Preliminary-Injunction.pdf Emergency motion for injunction pending appeal — U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.: https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2026/07/059-Plaintiffs-Emergency-Letter-Motion-to-Expedite-and-for-an-Injunction-Pending-Appeal.pdf City defendants' opposition — U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.: https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2026/07/031-Defendants-First-Memorandum-Of-Law-In-Opposition-To-MPI.pdf Intervenor-defendants' opposition — U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.: https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2026/07/051-Intervenor-Defendants-Memorandum-Of-Law-In-Opposition-To-MPI.pdf Fall 2026 SHSAT guide — New York City Public Schools: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/specialized-high-schools/fall-2026-shsat-guide Discovery Program eligibility — New York City Public Schools: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/specialized-high-schools/discovery-programs Chinese American Citizens Alliance v. Adams — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca2-22-02649/pdf/USCOURTS-ca2-22-02649-0.pdf Chen v. Mamdani case page — Pacific Legal Foundation: https://pacificlegal.org/case/chen-nyc-specialized-high-schools/ Complaint — U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.: https://pacificlegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Yi-Fang-Chen-v.-Zohran-Mamdani-Complaint-4.23.26.pdf Dean McGee — Pacific Legal Foundation: https://pacificlegal.org/staff/dean-mcgee/ Chen v. Mamdani case page — ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/cases/yi-fang-chen-v-zohran-mamdani-et-al Stefanie Coyle — New York Civil Liberties Union: https://www.nyclu.org/about/our-people/stefanie-coyle

  3. 2h ago

    Walker v. Collins — Fed. Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)

    The Federal Circuit considers whether the VA's 2010 grant of Johnny Walker's PTSD claim also fulfilled the agency's duty to reconsider his 1996 claim under 38 C.F.R. Section 3.156(c). That rule requires the VA to reconsider a denied claim when relevant service-department records later enter the file. Walker says the grant addressed only his 2008 reopening request, leaving the 1996 claim pending because the decision gave no notice that it had been reconsidered. The government says the VA considered the new records in 2010, which was enough. The Veterans Court agreed and affirmed the Board. Walker v. Collins (No. 25-1503) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 8, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1503_09082026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/ Argument calendar and counsel — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/OralArguments/PublicCalendar-September2026.pdf Veterans Court decision — Walker v. McDonough, No. 23-3703: https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011004431 Veterans Court docket — Walker v. Collins, No. 23-3703: https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/cmecf/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=CaseSummary.jsp&caseNum=23-3703&incOrigDkt=Y&incDktEntries=Y 38 C.F.R. § 3.156 — U.S. Government Publishing Office: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title38-vol1/pdf/CFR-2025-title38-vol1-part3.pdf Kenneth H. Dojaquez — Carpenter Chartered: https://carpenterchartered.com/our-team/ Counsel record for Kenneth H. Dojaquez — Veterans Court docket: https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012011979049 Counsel record for Matthew J. Carhart — U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-11/vandermark.opp_-_final.pdf

  4. 3h ago

    National Association of Home Builders of the United States v. District of Columbia — D.C. Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)

    The District of Columbia Circuit considers whether the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, or EPCA, preempts Washington's Clean Buildings Act. The local law requires certain new or substantially renovated buildings to meet a net-zero-energy standard and generally bars on-site fossil-fuel combustion. The home builders and allied groups say the ban effectively sets covered gas appliances' energy use at zero. The District says it regulates fuel source, not appliance performance. The district court agreed with the District and granted it summary judgment. National Association of Home Builders of the United States v. District of Columbia (No. 26-7050) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 8, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/26-7050.mp3 Argument listing and counsel — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit: https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9 District-court opinion — U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2024cv02942/273899/48/0.pdf Appeal docket and counsel record — D.C. Circuit: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/26-7050 Clean Buildings Act — Code of the District of Columbia: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/6-1453.01%28Perm%29 EPCA preemption provision — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section6297 J. Mark Little — Baker Botts: https://www.bakerbotts.com/people/l/little-j-mark Counsel record for Charles E.T. Roberts — U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/d9/2026-08/fcmc_complaint-filed.pdf

  5. 1d ago

    Gordon v. Collins — Fed. Cir. (argued July 10, 2026)

    The Federal Circuit considers whether it may review a veteran's challenge to a zero-percent VA hearing-loss rating. Vaughn Gordon says the dispute concerns how a regulation was applied; the Secretary says it attacks the disability-rating schedule, which federal law places beyond judicial review. The Veterans Court rejected Gordon's claim. On August 20, 2026, the Federal Circuit dismissed the appeal. Gordon v. Collins (No. 25-1461) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued July 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1461_07102026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/ Opinion — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/25-1461.OPINION.8-20-2026_2742006.pdf Veterans Court memorandum decision — U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012010947581 Case docket — U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/cmecf/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=CaseSummary.jsp&caseNum=23-5047&incOrigDkt=Y&incDktEntries=Y Federal Circuit judgment — received by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: https://efiling.uscourts.cavc.gov/docs1/012012916597 Counsel profile — Jeff P. Johnson, Troutman Pepper Locke: https://www.troutman.com/professionals/jeff-p-johnson/

  6. 2d ago

    Doumitt v. Bisignano — 9th Cir. (argued July 10, 2026)

    The Ninth Circuit hears Jason Doumitt's appeal from the denial of Social Security disability benefits. A state psychologist said he could follow short and simple instructions, but not detailed or complex ones. Yet the administrative law judge found that he could perform simple and detailed tasks learnable within thirty days. Counsel for Doumitt will argue that this translation improperly broadened the psychologist's restriction. Doumitt v. Bisignano (No. 25-3243) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued July 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/07/10/25-3243.mp3 Argument page — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-3243&hearingDate=2026-07-10 Appellate memorandum — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2026/07/29/25-3243.pdf District-court opinion — U.S. Courts via GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ord-3_24-cv-00048/pdf/USCOURTS-ord-3_24-cv-00048-0.pdf Appellate docket — Docket Alarm: https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/US_Court_of_Appeals_Ninth_Circuit/25-3243/Doumitt_v._Bisignano/ District-court docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/oregon/ordce/3%3A2024cv00048/177443

  7. 3d ago

    Johnson v. Tarrant County — 5th Cir. (argued August 31, 2026)

    The Fifth Circuit hears an appeal over Trelynn Wormley's death after a fentanyl overdose in Tarrant County Jail. His family sued the county and the Keefe commissary companies. The district court dismissed the claims. The appeal concerns allegations of an unofficial county policy allowing dangerous drugs into the jail, and negligence claims against the commissary companies. Kelly Holt Rodriguez, of Jones Day, represents the family. Johnson v. Tarrant County (No. 25-10923) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 31, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-10923_8-31-2026.mp3 Argument date and advocates — Fifth Circuit recording index: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings/results?from=2026-08-31&to=2026-09-05 Counsel appearances and parties — Fifth Circuit docket, public mirror: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-10923 Case background and reported dismissal — KERA: https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2025-07-17/tarrant-county-jail-trelynn-wormley-fentanyl-overdose-lawsuit Kelly Holt Rodriguez — Jones Day: https://www.jonesday.com/en/lawyers/h/kelly-holt Stephen Lund — State Bar of Texas profile: https://www.texasbar.com/attorneys/member.cfm?id=334050 Lund office affiliation — independent Becket Fund amicus certificate, page ii: https://becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com/20251008102736/McCutchan-Amicus-Brief-of-The-Becket-Fund.pdf Joshua Bennett — BakerHostetler: https://www.bakerlaw.com/professionals/joshua-j-bennett/ Bennett firm move — Texas Lawbook reporting: https://texaslawbook.net/dallas-litigators-courtney-barksdale-perez-and-joshua-bennett-jump-to-bakerhostetler/ Pleading plausibility — Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, Supreme Court: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-550/pdf/USREPORTS-550-544.pdf Facts and legal conclusions — Ashcroft v. Iqbal, Supreme Court: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-556/pdf/USREPORTS-556-662.pdf What Restatements are — American Law Institute: https://www.ali.org/faq Restatements as secondary authority — Library of Congress: https://guides.loc.gov/law-secondary-resources/restatements Restatements are not controlling Texas law — Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 5.001: https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/CP/htm/CP.5.htm#5.001

  8. 3d ago

    Interstate Fire v. Murco Wall — 5th Cir. (argued August 31, 2026)

    The Fifth Circuit hears an insurance dispute over asbestos claims against Murco Wall Products. The district court held that coverage required asbestos exposure during two insurers' policy periods. Murco argues that injury or internal exposure during those periods can trigger coverage even after inhalation has ended. The court will also consider how those policies handle reimbursement of legal-defense costs. Andrew Guthrie, of Haynes and Boone, represents Murco and will seek reversal of that coverage ruling. Interstate Fire v. Murco Wall (No. 25-10958) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 31, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-10958_08-31-2026.mp3 Argument date and advocates — Fifth Circuit recording index: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings/results?from=2026-08-31&to=2026-09-05 Case and appellate role — Fifth Circuit calendar: https://www-dev.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-information/court-calendars/Details/1974/ District court insurance-coverage opinion — N.D. Texas, Doc. 228: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txnd-4_22-cv-01137/pdf/USCOURTS-txnd-4_22-cv-01137-2.pdf Andrew Guthrie — Haynes and Boone: https://www.haynesboone.com/people/guthrie-andrew Andrew Guthrie professional registration — Western District of Texas: https://ecf.txwd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/addrbook.cgi?LT=G Stephen Melendi and firm — Tollefson Bradley Mitchell & Melendi: https://www.tbmmlaw.com/about Stephen Melendi professional registration — Western District of Texas: https://ecf.txwd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/addrbook.cgi?LT=M Canal counsel appearance — reported district court opinion: https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20250407726 Jason Boatright — Duane Morris: https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/jasonboatright.html Jason Boatright background — Texas Governor appointment announcement: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-appoints-three-to-risk-management-board Erie prediction — Chaney, Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/Opinions/pub/08/08-60555-CV0.wpd.pdf Erie prediction — McGlothin, Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/18/18-60338-CV0.pdf Certification — Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 58: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1463134/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure-02062026.pdf Certification in practice — Austin, Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/12/12-10772-cv1.pdf Eight-corners rule and exceptions — Monroe, Texas Supreme Court: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1453575/210232.pdf Eight-corners comparison — Copart, Fifth Circuit: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/21/21-10938-CV0.pdf

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Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context. Court recordings can be difficult to follow, and many suffer from poor audio quality. This podcast enhances the audio, provides a brief introduction to each case, and explains legal concepts that may be unfamiliar to some listeners. We hope these enhancements make oral argument recordings easier to understand, more accessible, and more enjoyable to listen to. Recordings come from the courts' own public releases; Supreme Court timing is derived locally from the Court's official transcript and audio.

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