Know the Nine You Will

06/30/21 • 110 min

The Supreme Court’s 2020-21 term is closing, and we are opening a window into the Court. We begin this multiple-episode series by looking closely at each Justice - specifically, their backgrounds and how their jurisprudence reflects influences from their past. Each Justice has their best and worst moments in Akhil’s eyes, and we discuss them. Also, Akhil has an important appearance coming up, so some background to that event is yours for the listening.

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Yale's Constitution - Special Episode - Guest Nicholas Christakis

In this “additional” episode, Andy and Akhil switch roles and put the US Constitution aside for an hour, as they take a deep dive into the governance and politics of their beloved alma mater. Yale recently initiated a scandal when their trustees abruptly eliminated most of the democratic elements whereby alumni participated in the governance of the University. Andy was a candidate for election to the Yale Corporation, and he leads us through the weeds “inside Yale.” Meanwhile, Nicholas Christakis, a Sterling Professor at Yale and an official of Yale’s Faculty Senate, joins us; he and Akhil offer a unique faculty-oriented perspective on events. Anyone who cares about Yale will want to learn the facts behind this outrage. And how does John Adams, a Harvard man, sneak his way in?

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Political Football

After decades on the bench, Justice Breyer’s distinguished career is, for better or worse, fodder for discussion and debate. Akhil has brought a “refined legal realism” to profiling the various justices in terms of their backgrounds, legal and personal; the same approach provides a starting point for looking at this decision. But as we move into the realm of politics and strategy, reasonable people may disagree - just as when sports are discussed. So, Andy and Akhil consider clock management and other coaching questions.