Too Many Lawyers goes beyond the headlines about laws and court cases to tell listeners what developments in the law really mean, and how the stories impact real people. The hosts are each lawyers and legal analysts, but beyond that couldn’t be more different. One, Royal Oakes, is a libertarian, baby boomer and dad, who’s been offering analysis on network radio and television for decades; the other, Connor Oakes, is a progressive millennial and son of Royal Oakes, who offers a fresh take on the legal world. TML knows what podcast listeners want to hear about, and delivers – subjects include: --- Should America embrace Pete Buttigieg’s view, legalization of every drug, from grass, to meth, to heroin? --- Should the feds be bumping the tobacco purchase age to 21? --- Can we trust Twitter and Facebook to censor political opinions? --- Your devices are spying on you – should you go through life not trusting Alexa? --- The gig economy – do laws saying everybody with a side hustle is an “employee” help, or hurt? --- Should colleges be dumping SAT and ACT tests as a tool to fight discrimination? --- How can governments regulate “ghost guns” made by 3-D printers? --- Is facial recognition just another tool like fingerprints, or does it spell the end of privacy? --- Should Amazon face lawsuits for sales of unsafe products, when they just collect a slice as middleperson?
Royal F. Oakes and Connor M. Oakes
Should Ivy League Palestine protesters lose their fancy Wall Street jobs? And, will Biden and Trump really get together on the debate stage?
It's an all “Guess the Verdict” episode, with one wacky lawsuit after another. May a city sue a professional clown for feeding expired parking meters? A guy wins five grand by sending a nude photo of his ex to an adult magazine's “Girl Next Door” contest – is he in trouble?
Will Donald Trump welcome a jail sentence for contempt? Incarceration doesn't sound enjoyable, but Trump's campaign ad will write itself: Here I am behind bars courtesy of a Democrat judge and a Democrat DA, while Biden jets around, campaigning. And, will Michael Cohen survive cross-examination? Without a smoking gun document to help show Trump KNEW his company's records were falsified, the jury could see the case as “he said/he said,” with no clear winner.
A Trump criminal trial is on. But, did the DA commit a huge blunder by getting the judge to let the DA use a laundry list of Trump sins, IF he takes the stand? The order may keep him from testifying, which may prevent his conviction. On the lighter side, Disneyland's beloved “Goofy” has been sued for battery. ALL BREAK TIMES: 13:59; 19:00; 35:02; 40:54
Does Donald Trump have a secret weapon? If the jury splits the baby in the Stormy Daniels trial and finds him guilty of a misdemeanor, but acquits him on the felony charge, will he walk, since the statute of limitations on the lesser charge ran 4 years before the case was filed? ALL BREAK TIMES: 13:58; 19:00; 35:02; 40:54
Bernie Sanders wants Congress to give everybody a 4-day workweek – 32 hours of work, and 40 hours of pay! Claims he's not trying to buy votes, he just wants folks to get more out of life. And, some want Congress to legalize the sale of human organs – should you be able to sell a kidney for fifty grand?
New York City's voters rendered a verdict against Trump in 2020 – Biden 87%, Trump 12%. How will the 12 Manhattan jurors vote in the Stormy Daniels hush money criminal trial? The balloon lifts April 15.
Shohei Ohtani is a 21st century superstar, but he's making folks look backwards – think the movie “Damn Yankees,” and the 1919 Black Sox gambling scandal. Plus, Donald Trump had a wild week: His appeal bond was slashed by $300 million, but he has a rendezvous with the Stormy Daniels jury, on tax day.
Jim Moret, Chief Correspondent of the TV show “Inside Edition,” shares his broadcasting story, including the highest and lowest moments of an amazing career, including a decade as a CNN anchor. Plus, I challenge Jim and Too Many Lawyers' Executive Producer Christian Bladt to defend their favorite movie and song picks.
After two decades, Scott Peterson has convinced a judge to hold multiple hearings on whether he was framed for Laci's murder. And, New Mexico prosecutors won a manslaughter conviction against the Rust movie set armorer. Will they really be able to convince a second jury that Alec Baldwin should be her cellmate?
Should the Supreme Court be “dissolved”? All nine justices of the high court say Trump gets to stay on the Colorado ballot. Noted rocket scientist Keith Olberman – oh, sorry, he's a progressive pundit – says that's it, fire the Supreme Court. He claims even the three liberals have a “reading comprehension” problem.
The Alabama Supreme Court relies on the Bible to say life begins at conception, so a guy who accidentally dropped a dish of frozen embryos may be sued, including for punitive damages. What are the legal and political implications of this ruling? Will the U.S. Supreme Court get involved to take the decision down a notch? ALL BREAK TIMES:13:58; 19:00; 35:01
A gay woman sued the State of Missouri for wrongful firing, and during jury selection the judge excluded potential panelists who said their religion condemns homosexuality. And now, the US Supreme Court has upheld the judge's ruling – over the objection of Justice Samuel. ALL BREAK TIMES: 13:58; 18:58; 34:59
A UCLA professor was asked to grade Black students more leniently because they were traumatized by events that gave rise to BLM protests. He said no, and UCLA said “you're outa here, you are not on board with our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.” He's suing for $19 million.
The first-ever conviction of a parent in a school shooting case is controversial: Was her son's rampage really foreseeable? Or was the verdict intended to send a message to parents everywhere – control your kids, or you'll wind up behind bars.
A wild week in court: Donald Trump is hit with an $83 million defamation verdict, in favor of a woman who didn't report his assault for two decades, and couldn't recall the year it happened. And the Alex Murdaugh conviction is in jeopardy – the judge's court clerk tried to convince the jurors to vote guilty!
A California judge decides a woman who stabbed her boyfriend 108 times, and was convicted of manslaughter, should serve no prison time. Why? She claimed the ganja did it – that “cannabis-induced psychosis” triggered the attack. The victim's parents say great, it sounds like if you smoke dope, you have a license to kill.
Donald Trump wanted to deliver the closing argument in his New York fraud trial, but thought better of it when the judge said he'd slap the president with a $50,000 fine if he broke the “rules of final argument.” And, will the Atlanta DA going after Trump lose her job for hiring her boyfriend as the lead prosecutor?
The trans rights debate rages on – the U.S. boxing commission says it's OK for guys who become women – after surgery, hormone treatments and lowered testosterone levels – to fight against the pugilists who were gals at birth. And, why has the Los Angeles DA barred his prosecutors from appearing at parole hearings? ALL BREAK TIMES: 13:58; 18:58; 34:59; 40:53; 54:25; 59:28; 1:15:31
“Undressing apps” promise to transform a picture of someone wearing clothing, into a realistic-looking nude photo. And the subject of a new “South Park” movie is a real-live controversy: Should schools have a right to fire teachers who supplement their modest income with immodest online performances?
Guns are legal products and ads don't encourage illegal conduct – so why some nuns in Nevada taking Smith & Wesson to court, claiming gun ads encourage violence? And, Colorado wants to become the first state in the nation to let fat folks sue for discrimination.
The World Health Organization says 5 million lives a year are saved by childhood vaccines. But increasingly, American jurisdictions are letting parents say no to their kids' shots, on religious grounds. Should the courts enforce mandatory vax rules?
The Daily Wire's new film, “Lady Ballers,” poses the question of what happens when some washed-up basketball teammates decide to identify as women (while on the court – it's called gender fluid!) and kick lady athlete butt. So is it funny, or transphobic?
It sounds ridiculous but police say there's no law against a convicted child molester setting up across the street from an elementary school with a sign saying, “FREE FENTANYL FOR FIRST TIME USERS.” Maybe there SHOULD be such a law.
Oreo Cookie fanatics are fit to be tied – they claim the crème it is a-shrinkin' – that Double Stuf cookies now have exactly the same amount of creamy goodness the regular size use to have. And a plaintiff's lawyer who files three suits a week against allegedly lyin' snack companies may be the cookie fans' gladiator.
A nut case 31-year old woman, for no reason, beats up a 13-year old girl in a McDonald's. Should the girl be able to sue the chain for not doing anything to stop the assault? Do bystanders have any duty to help or call for help – or may they just film away.
Donald Trump had a HUUGE week in court – His kids testified in the new York civil fraud case – Trump himself is getting ready to take the stand next week. And some voters in Colorado have sued Trump, asking the judge to bar Trump from the presidential ballot in that state, on the ground Trump incited an insurrection on January 6.ALL BREAK TIMES: 13:57; 18:59; 34;58; 40:52; 54:23; 59:27; 1:15:28
Santa Fe prosecutors are the gang that can't shoot straight. First they charge Baldwin under the wrong statute. Then they pick a trial lawyer who's ineligible to handle the case. Now, they do a 180 and re-charge Baldwin. He'll bat those blue eyes at the jury – say “I was told the gun was cold” – and walk.
The presidential election is like the films “Dr. Strangelove” and “Fail-Safe” – if just one bomber gets through Trump is sunk, folks won't elect a felon. But if all four trials get pushed, it's lights out for the Biden/Harris administration. So, the game is all about delay.
WE'RE NOT JUST ABOUT PROVING WE HAVE “TOO MANY LAWYERS” – TURNS OUT WE HAVE WAY TOO MANY JUDGES AS WELL – THE SYSTEM IS ALLERGIC TO DISCIPLINING JURISTS FOR BIZARRE MISCONDUCT. ALL BREAK TIMES: 13:58; 18:58; 35:01; 40:52; 54:27; 59:28; 1:15:30
Gavin Newsom wasted no time – Senator Feinstein's replacement was sworn in before the funeral. And, Los Angeles may force stores to accept not just credit cards and checks, but actual cash as well.
In lieu of actual apprehension and prosecution of criminals, California's woke DAs and legislators have some sage advice: Don't wear nice things, drive fast to deter carjackers, and lock your car when you pump gas.
Do Judge Chutkan's allegedly anti-Trump statements during the sentencing hearings for January 6defendants warrant her disqualification? And, does California's Governor Gavin Newsom really believe Biden and Harris have given a “master class” in governance?
The deliciously redundant Yogi Berra is a winner once more – it may be “déjà vu all over again” as the GOP ponders impeaching Biden. And, can Trump dump his D.C. federal judge on grounds of bias?
The Biden-Harris administration is floating a trial balloon – is Gavin Newsom's stealth campaign for the presidency a racist act, designed to cut the line in front of a woman of color? And, breaking news – Trump will testify if his criminal cases go to trial!
With 19 Georgia defendants, Donald Trump may not be on the same page with others – some want a trial this year, some are OK with staying in state court. But Trump has a clear goal, and that's to get the case away from the DA's home court, by way of removal to the federal system.
Was Trump smart to avoid the food fight that was the GOP debate? Will the 14th Amendment bar him from the presidency? And, how do you defend a judge who texts his clerk to say, “I just lost it. I shot my wife. I won't be in tomorrow, I'll be in custody”?
Is DA Fani Willis' lead trial lawyer a stranger to criminal law? May Trump remove the Georgia indictment to federal court? And, why didn't prosecutors charge Trump with “insurrection,” when a conviction would have barred a second presidential run?
Trump's attorneys are working overtime trying to figure out a way to get out of Dodge – that is, Washington, D.C. Will the lopsided 2020 vote by D.C. of 92% for Biden, 5% for Trump be enough? And, should California college professors be required to preach the gospel of wokeness to their students?
Donald Trump may be re-thinking the whole “Deranged Lunatic” nickname for Jack Smith. Turns out one of the statutes Smith relies on has a death penalty clause – and at least one person died during the January 6 riots. Plus, will unindicted co-conspirators Rudy Giuliani and Professor John Eastman flip on Trump?
A funny thing happened on the way to the plea bargain – Hunter Biden's lawyers and the feds couldn't agree on its scope – so it's off the table! Kevin Spacey is drinking a gin and tonic in London to celebrate his not guilty verdict. And California is forcing college professors to teach the virtues of diversity.
The Menendez brothers claim they shot their parents because of years of abuse – now, a member of the Menudo band says their allegations are true, it happened to him too. Will the brothers wind up free men? And, the betting is now that by Labor Day, Donald Trump will be facing four indictments.
The woke Ninth Circuit has outdone itself. The homeless may now sleep and relieve themselves anywhere they want, if the number of homeless in a city exceeds the number of shelter beds – EVEN IF THERE ARE EMPTY BEDS BECAUSE THE HOMELESS DON'T WANT ‘EM.
The high court headed off to their summer vacation in dramatic fashion – no more affirmative action, no forgiveness of student loans, and no Sunday work for the postman who refused to deliver packages on his Sabbath.
Should we beef up laws against “fatshaming”? And, why'd the Supreme Court make it harder to prosecute stalkers?
Hunter Biden's plea deal sounds like cruel and unusual punishment: No jail, but also no cocaine for two years! And, a jury says a double-killer was guilty of manslaughter not murder, cuz he was really drunk. Based on time served – four years, the same as a manslaughter sentence -- he was found guilty and set free the same day!
In Trump's Miami case you have two word views: The prosecution wants to move at the speed of light and hold the trial during next year's campaign. Trump wants to slow things down and see what 2025 brings. How with the judge – appointed by Trump – handle this?
Are child labor laws outmoded? Libertarians argue “Kids learn so much on the job.” Does Finland have the silver bullet to end homelessness? Over there, they give every unhoused person . . . a house!
Not everybody considers Tik Tok bans to be a joke – it's argued that because the Chinese government controls Tik Tok's parent “Byte Dance,” countless facts about Americans are being funneled to Beijing, and soon China will do what it can to influence opinions in the U.S.
OK, everybody agrees we have an epidemic of frivolous lawsuits – but what are the causes, and what can we do about it? Plus, the Supreme Court says gun control is permissible on grounds lawmakers have historically used to restrict gun rights. Does that make sense?
Florida's leading the way in fighting back against frivolous lawsuits, that drive up prices and hijack people's lives. We explore Governor Ron DeSantis' plans, and why Donald Trump says “RINO Ron DeSanctimonious is delivering the biggest bailout in history to globalist insurance companies.