The Legal Geeks are proud to be attorneys and geeks. We have been recognized by the ABA Journal Web 100 for one of the best legal podcasts in 2017 and nominated for Best Podcast by the Geekie Awards in 2015. Please enjoy our podcasts exploring legal issues Sci Fi, comic books, and pop culture, from Star Wars to Captain America and all things geek. Our podcasts are not legal advice and for entertainment only.
Joshua Gilliland & Jessica Mederson
Review and analysis of “Ever Been to Ghorman?”, “I Have Friends Everywhere”, and “What a Festive Evening” Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our review of Andor's first arc, episodes One Year Later, Sagroona Teema, and Harvest. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our recap of Star Wars Celebration 2025! Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Review of Daredevil Born Again episode 9, “Straight to Hell.” Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our review of Daredevil Born Again, episode 8, "The Island of Joy." Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Review and analysis of Daredevil Born Again episode 7, "Art for Art's Sake." Join us for our discussion on whether Daredevil interfere with a police investigation; issues with assaulting police offices; when can a psychotherapist disclose a doctor-patient communication; the duty to rescue; threatening a journalist; and conspiracy to commit murder. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Recorded on March 28, 2025 at WonderCon: Yar, The Pirates of Star Wars Star Wars has had nearly 50 years of piracy, from child endangerment and property rights in Skeleton Crew, plundering Kyber Crystals in Clone Wars, smuggling puffer pigs in Star Wars Rebels, employment opportunities for the Bad Batch, and an open threat in Resistance. Join The Legal Geeks for an all-hands on deck adventure of the law of the high seas, as they search for lawful treasures of the Pirates of Star Wars in live action and animation. Featuring Judge Carol Najera, Los Angeles County Superior Court; Stephen Tollafield, Esq., Lieff, Cabraser, Heinmann, & Bernstein, LLP, Katrina Wraight, Esq., Best, Best & Krieger LLP, and moderated by Joshua Gilliland, Esq., Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally LLP. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our review of Daredevil Born Again episodes 5 and 6! Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Review of Daredevil Born Again episode 4, "Sic Semper Systema." Join us for our discussion of who should receive the White Tiger's belongings from the medical examiner, the administration of justice for a suspect who stole Fiddle Faddle, Bail Reform, Redevelopment in local governments, the morality discussion between Daredevil and Punisher, False Imprisonment and Torture. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Daredevil Born Again episode 3 is a trial episode! Join us for our review of "The Hollow of His Hand," where we discuss whether Matt Murdock is a good lawyer, whether he had a duty to tell the court about the attempted murder by the corrupt detective, the admissibility of character evidence, if police reports could be admitted without witnesses, and the charges against the White Tiger. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Judge Matthew Sciarrino (Retired) and Joshua Gilliland, Esq., discuss the first episodes of Daredevil Born Again. Join them for a discussion of murder, attempted murder, victim statements, sentencing, ethical concerns with motions in limine that discuss client confidences, defense of others, and self-defense. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
From continuity of government from pirate invasion to false impersonation, the Skeleton Crew finale asked the question, did the New Republic have a duty to rescue At Attin? Join us for our legal analysis of Star Wars, Skeleton Crew, episode 8, "The Real Good Guys." Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our review of Skeleton Crew, episode 7, “We're Gonna Be In So Much Trouble.” From communications security that allowed for non-lethal force to pirate summary executions, episode 7 raised issues of seizing vessels, inadequate security checks, whether being a captain means you own a ship, child endangerment, and creative contract interpretation. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
The sixth episode of Skelton Crew has the third trial in Star Wars (and second in live action). Join us for our trial analysis, plus whether Jod could claim treasure he found on the Spa's property; whether KB's Augments be protected by the ADA; if Wim have a Duty to Treat/Rescue KB; and more. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Skeleton Crew, episode 5, "You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates," raises issues of computer crimes, property rights, land grants, lawfulness of banning children from spas, fraud, and defense of property with lethal force. Join Josh Gilliland, Judge Matthew Sciarrino, and Stephen Tollafield for their analysis. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
From "What Flag Do You Fly?" to "Rip Them Limb from Limb," episode 4 of Skeleton Crew had kidnapping, false imprisonment, child soldiers, theft, and bartering for freedom. Join Josh Gilliland, Judge Matthew Sciarrino (Retired), Kris Butler, and Stephen Tollafield for their review of, "Can't Say I Remember No at Attin"Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Recorded live at SF Fan Expo 2024! It was the best of times for Star Trek fans, especially for lawyers celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Star Trek III The Search for Spock. Can you steal the USS Enterprise to save your friend's immortal soul? Was Admiral Kirk justified in destroying the Enterprise to use death as a fighting chance for life? Did the crew of the Enterprise engage in piracy for taking over the Klingon Bird of Prey? And just how do you legally bring someone back from the dead? Find out from our away team featuring Joshua Gilliland, Esq., and Angela Storey, Esq., as they explore multiple generations of Star Trek. Presented by The Legal Geeks. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join the crew with Josh Gilliland and Kris Butler (TheStarWarsLawyer) for their analysis of Skeleton Crew episodes This Could Be a Real Adventure, Way, Way Out Past the Barrier, and Very Interesting, As an Astrogation Problem. Who is the owner of the Onyx Cinder? Can a test determine your career? Would prohibiting travel beyond the Barrier violate the Constitution? Was there a Duty to Rescue SM-33? Join Josh and Kris for their analysis. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us on the Witch's Road as we take on issues of Witches and Custodial Interrogations, Accidental Kidnapping, Public Nudity, Attempted Murder, the difference between Partnerships and Joint Ventures, and the Fiduciary Duties to Partners. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Can Jedi read a suspect's mind without violating the right against self-incrimination? What are the use of Force concerns in law enforcement? Is it legal for Jedi detain someone and question them without informing the suspect of their right to counsel and right to remain silent? Do witches have a religious freedom to use the Force? Join us and find out with Circuit Judge John Owens, Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman, Magistrate Judge Stan Boone, Christine Peek, Esq., Stephen Tollafield Esq., and Joshua Gilliland, Esq. (Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally LLP). Presented by The Legal Geeks. Support the Show.No part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Do Autobots need to be registered with the DMV and get a driver's license? Did Megatron and Ratchet have an enforceable contract? Was it child endangerment to send Spike out on missions? See how law is more than meets the eye with our analysis of the Transformers, featuring Kate Bridal (The Legal Burnouts Podcast), Katrina Wraight, Esq., (Best Best & Krieger LLP), Kathy Steinman, Esq., (San Diego City Attorney's Office), Michael Dennis Esq., (Crabtree Schmidt), Mark Zaid, Esq., and Joshua Gilliland, Esq., (Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally LLP). Presented by The Legal Geeks.Support the Show.No part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Our analysis of Bad Batch Season 3, covering contracts with bounty hunters, prison breaks, mayhem, and more!Support the Show.No part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Legal analysis of Bad Batch Episodes Confined, Paths Unknown, Shadows of Tantiss, and A Different Approach, including prisoner experiments, Abandonment of Children, Experiments with Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Environmental Contamination. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Nothing says legal analysis about Kaiju like inverse condemnation, Godzilla cleanup costs, and bigamy! Join our panel of lawyers as they discuss lessons from the disasters such as the 1906 Earthquake and Hurricane Katrina for how the world would pick up the pieces after a shadowy government organization's plan for Kaiju in San Francisco was "Let Them Fight." Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
What was your favorite pop culture event from 2023? Gabby Martin and Josh Gilliland discuss movies and series from Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and Godzilla in the epic review from 2023. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join the away team with Angela Storey and Josh Gilliland for their Star Trek Law presentation at Fan Expo San Francisco! Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Monte Cooper, IP lawyer and grand nephew of Merian Cooper, joined Joshua Gilliland to discuss Monarch Legacy of Monsters. The monster legal issue in the series is bigamy, with Hiroshi Randa having families in Tokyo and San Francisco. Who is his employer? What are the spousal rights of his wives? Who was Randa married to first? What are the rights of his adult children? Join Monte and Josh for their discussion Monarch. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Melinda Snodgrass is an accomplished science fiction writer whose credits include the Star Trek The Next Generation episodes "The Measure of a Man," "Pen Pals," "Up the Long Ladder," "The Ensigns of Command," and "The High Ground." She is also a graduate from University of New Mexico School of Law. Before the writer's strike in the summer of 2023, Ms. Snodgrass shared stories from her time writing for Star Trek and inspirations for the episode "The Measure of a Man." Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Our review of Ahsoka, part 8, "The Jedi, The Witch and The Warlord." Should building lightsabers be a regulated activity? Is there a Second Amendment right to having a lightsaber? Did the Great Mothers really give Morgan Elsbeth a "gift" and not contractual obligations? Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Ahsoka, part 7, began with our second trial proceeding in Star Wars! Or was it a Congressional hearing? Or Administrative? Can Senators make evidentiary objections? Join us for our analysis of "Dreams and Madness"! Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our review and analysis of Ahsoka, part 6, "Far, Far Away." We take on whether there was a valid contract with Sabine and Baylon, if Thrawn was a third-party beneficiary who assumed the contractual obligations of Baylon, and if the Night Troopers had a legal duty to continue to serve the Empire. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
We address the issues of the Jedi and Child Soldiers, whether Anakin committed Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress with Ahsoka's Final Lesson, Hera and disobeying lawful orders, whether there was a Duty to Rescue Ahsoka, and if riding a space whale would violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Our legal analysis, and just nerding out, over "Fallen Jedi." Was using the Eye of Sion to ram the Ghost and its X-wing escort Vehicular Homicide? Is Sabine a collaborator? Plus the differences between self-defense, mutual combat, and dueling. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
We are back for our analysis of Star Trek Lower Decks! Is there a toxic tort case against the curator for the flower that caused transporter mergers? Would damage to Voyager be a violation of CA Art Preservation Act? Could the Macrovirus be protected under the Endangered Species Act? Plus, hazarding a vessel, strict liability for wild animal attacks, and why humans don't go in zoos. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
How does the New Republic's use of force compare to the War Powers Act? Is Morgan Elsbeth an Imperial or Non-State Actor? Join us for our legal analysis (and a lot of historical comparisons) of Ahsoka, part 3, "Time to Fly." Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our legal analysis of "Master and Apprentice" and "Toil and Trouble." From false impersonation of Jedi to reckless driving, we take on the legal issues from the first two episodes of Ahsoka. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Recorded on July 20, 2023 at San Diego Comic Con! Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Lawsuit You throw me the idol, I throw you the whip, is the beginning of legal analysis for Dr. Indiana Jones. Did Indy and Marion Ravenwood have a valid partnership agreement to find the Ark of the Covenant? Did Satipo breach his fiduciary duty to Indiana at the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors? Does the insanity defense apply to anyone who drank the Blood of Kali? Did Germany actually declare war on Dr. Jones Senior and Junior? And if the US Government classifies the Ark of the Covenant as Top Secret, what is necessary to declassify it for a FOIA request? This is the time when a fedora is proper courtroom attire, so join our team of lawyers and judges for fortune and glory, featuring Circuit Judge John B. Owens (9th Circuit Court of Appeals), US Magistrate Judge Steve Chu, Christine Peek, Mark Zaid, Michael Dennis, and Joshua Gilliland. Presented by The Legal Geeks. Room: Grand 12, Marriott Marquis San Diego MarinaSupport the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Nothing says, "Let's talk about Secret Invasion," like the discussing the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution. Join us for our analysis murder, burial requirements, and self-defense. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Let's start with the basics from episode 4: Assassinations are illegal. Framing a foreign country in order to start a war is fraud. Join us for our analysis of Secret Invasion, "Beloved." Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Did Nick Fury abandon his marriage? Sure, the heroes needed to stop a war, but did they unnecessarily take hostages and commit murder? Plus, issues of maintaining classified records and acts of genocide. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Did Nick Fury have legal authority to promise to find a new Skrull homeworld? Is the Skrull governing Council comprised of Skrulls impersonating humans or were they given their own identifies? If so, did a Skrull work her way up through British politics to become Prime Minister? Was Nick Fury fired from a government position without due process? And just why was torture nominalized by the British MI6 station chief? Join us for our legal and geek analysis. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Our legal analysis of Secret Invasion, episode 1, "Resurrection." What is Nick Fury's legal authority for conducting a mission in Russia? Are the radical Skrulls a terrorist group? Are the Skrulls a nation state? Join us for our review and analysis of Secret Invasion.Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Record live on June 20, 2023! Josh Gilliland on Star Trek, from Data's fundamental rights in Measure of a Man, to Refugees in Deep Space Nine, to Assumption of Risks for Red Shirts in TOS. Join Josh on his Away Mission to Nerd Nite San Francisco! Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
What does Star Wars teach us about alternative dispute resolution? What can we learn about negotiation? Join Josh Gilliland for his interview with Judge Scott Maravilla, one of the authors of "Star Wars and Conflict Resolution: There Are Alternatives To Fighting." About Judge C. Scott MaravillaC. Scott Maravilla is an administrative judge with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and an adjunct professor of law at American University Washington College of Law. Judge Maravilla received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and is a member of the American Law Institute. His work has appeared in Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law, The Ohio State Journal of Dispute Resolution, and The University of Baltimore Law Review. Many Bothans died to bring us this information.For more on Star Wars ADR, please visit https://www.starwarsconflictresolution.com Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our legal and fan analysis of the season three finale of The Mandalorian! What can The Mandalorian fighting off two Commandos tell us about resisting resist? Did Moff Gideon meet the requirements for adverse possession to outright own his lair on Mandalore? Can The Mandalorian adopt Grogu? Find out as we discuss these issues and more. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Can Admiral Picard take the restored Enterprise-D out of mothballs to save the Earth? Can a lawyer argue the necessity defense with a straight face? Could Jack be held against his will on a 5150 hold based on his Borg connections? Join us for our legal analysis for the final two episodes of Star Trek Picard. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
What is Espionage? Are those on the Shadow Council war criminals? What can the tribes of Mandalorian teach us about the First Amendment? Join us for our analysis of The Mandalorian episode, "The Spies." Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for review of Star Trek Picard episodes, The Bounty, Dominion, Surrender. We cover from trespassing on a military installation, stealing the cloaking device from the Bird of Prey, torture, the right to counsel, piracy, law of war, and many other topics from these three great episodes. Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Is winning the Darksaber in a combat in a Mandalorian unwritten constitution? What are the differences between a direct democracy and a representative democracy? Join us for our analysis of "Guns for Hire."Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
Join us for our review of “The Pirate,” where we take on piracy, the duty to rescue, Statute of Frauds, and lots of foreign policy discussions.Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks
We are catching up with our legal analysis of Star Trek Picard with episodes, Seventeen Seconds, No Win Scenario, and Imposters. False impersonation and Changelings! Hazarding a vessel! Racketeering Vulcans! And more! Support the showNo part of this recording should be considered legal advice.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok @TheLegalGeeks