Season 5, Episode 18 (Show 227): The Merits of The Merits

May 21, 2025

The Supreme Court heard arguments on the executive order on birthright citizenship, specifically on national injunctions issued when the order was challenged at federal district courts.  We analyze the argument.

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

The Trump executive order on birthright citizenship has been banging around the lower federal courts for months now, with court after court opining on its unconstitutionality and issuing injunctions against it that span the nation.  The Supreme Court took cert on the question of whether such national injunctions are appropriate, and if not, how the relief that appears indicated can be offered.  Along the way questions of the merits poked their way through, with interesting results.  In this episode you will hear from the justices and the attorneys, and you will hear Professor Amar doing his Howard Cosell halftime highlights imitation, opining on their arguments, responses, and questions, and offering a holistic approach to the case as well as some new theories on how to think about citizenship in this context.  A “clip episode” as only Amarica’s Constitution does it. 

(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

Trump et al v. New Jersey and v. Casa and v. Washington et al, oral argument transcript

The oral argument in the birthright citizenship case, ostensibly to concern itself with the issue of national injunctions, but inevitably ranging into the merits and other issues.

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