Season 5, Episode 13 (Show 221): Wisdom From Breyer To Pryor – Special Guest Judge William Pryor

March 27, 2025

Judge William Pryor, Chief Judge of the 11th Circuit, joins us for a wide ranging conversation in two appearances, on the life, work, and tales of a prominent judge.

CLE Credit Available for this episode from podcast.njsba.com.

We’re a bit late this week, because following our recent conversation with Justice Breyer, we had the opportunity to speak at length with Judge William Pryor, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, former Alabama Attorney General, and an important member of the Judicial Conference the “national policymaking body for the federal courts.” Judge Pryor has had a colorful career, having effectively prosecuted another judge for misconduct, had a contentious confirmation hearing, clerked for a titan among judges in Judge Wisdom, and served at the highest level short of the Supreme Court for many years.  We discuss a wide range of matters from judicial safety, to the importance of following Court orders, to enforcing civil rights laws, and much more.  The discussion took place in two parts;  with an audience of undergraduates, and then with an audience of Yale Law School students, many from the Federalist Society chapter at Yale; this produced a great variety of topics. We also have timely information on a new EverScholar program where registration is about to open; be among the first to know about this!

(LAWYERS AND JUDGES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CREDIT by visiting podcast.njsba.com after listening.)

Show Notes:

How to get Continuing Legal Education Credit for listening!

Virtually all lawyers and judges admitted to practice anywhere in the USA can obtain CLE (Continuing Legal Education) credit after listening to this episode by visiting podcast.njsba.com.  You do not have to be a New Jersey lawyer or resident or admitted to the NJ Bar; essentially every state has reciprocity arrangements with New Jersey.  When you visit the site you fill out a form and provide the code Andy read during the episode, pay a small fee, and within two weeks you will receive the certificate from New Jersey.  It couldn’t be easier.  Thanks to the New Jersey Bar Association for making this possible!  Note, too, that other podcast episodes from our “back catalog” now qualify for this credit as well.

Click to go to the website for CLE credit

United States v. Cox - excerpt from Casebook

Judge John Minor Wisdom, for whom Judge Pryor clerked, authored an important concurrence in the case of United States v. Cox (1965), which Professor Amar found to be of particular significance, to the point that he included it in his Casebook.  Here, excerpts from the opinion along with the professor’s commentary; used by permission of the author.

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Confirmation Hearing On The Nominations Of William H. Pryor, Jr. To Be Circuit Judge For The Eleventh Circuit

Transcript from the confirmation hearing for Judge Pryor’s appointment to the 11th circuit, complete with questioning about controversial comments the Judge had made regarding Roe v. Wade, among other things.

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Submit a Question for Professor Amar
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