
Hidden Verdicts
Jeff Brown
Hidden Verdicts uncovers forgotten legal cases that shaped history, presented in an engagingly unforgettable way. Hosted by Jeff Brown, a lawyer and proud Actors' Equity member, this podcast offers a fresh perspective on the law, making complex topics accessible and fun for all ages and educational levels. Join us as we explore the stories behind the cases that changed America.
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 Hidden Verdicts Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Hidden Verdicts episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Hidden Verdicts for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Hidden Verdicts episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

State Secrets vs. Justice: The Man the Courts Wouldn’t Help.
Hidden Verdicts
10/15/24 • 17 min
In this episode of Hidden Verdicts, we explore the chilling case of Khalid El-Masri, a German citizen who was mistakingly abducted, tortured in a CIA black site, and denied justice by the courts. His story reveals the terrifying consequences of state secrecy and the limits of justice in the name of national security.
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

Nine Justices v. Baby Jesus.
Hidden Verdicts
09/29/24 • 15 min
When Christmas decorations go too far, what’s a city to do? In 1984, a nativity scene in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, set the stage for an all-out courtroom drama. Enter Lynch v. Donnelly, where one man’s fight to remove baby Jesus from government property snowballed into a Supreme Court showdown. Was it the war on Christmas or just the constitution doing its job? Tune in as we unpack the legal back-and-forth with a little holiday cheer - and a whole lot of gavel-smashing. Spoiler alert: even the wise men couldn’t save this one.
Interested in reading Lynch v. Donnelly: use this link
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/465/668/
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

When The Law Is Dirtier Than The Laundry.
Hidden Verdicts
09/24/24 • 11 min
In 1866, Yick Wo, a Chinese Immigrant, stood up to a city’s unfair law, and change civil rights forever. Join us as we explore how one man’s fight against injustice reached the U.S. Supreme Court and exposed the dangers of discrimination hidden within the legal system. This is the story behind Yick Wo v. Hopkins - and why it still matters today.
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

When The Supreme Court Sanctioned Forced Sterilization.
Hidden Verdicts
10/08/24 • 28 min
In this chilling episode of Hidden Verdicts, we examine the disturbing legal foundation that connects the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Buck v. Bell to Adolf Hitler’s Final Solution. Discover how the legal sanction of forced sterilization in America provided a model for Hitler’s policies of racial extermination and the far-reaching implications of that ruling. This episode is dedicated to the women who endured these brutal procedures and the hundreds of thousands who were never born as a result — lives erased before they could begin. Thought-provoking, unsettling, and rooted in legal history, this episode sheds light on a chapter many have never heard—but one that represents a tragic failure of justice.
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

10/06/24 • 19 min
In 1890, William Kemmler made a fateful decision—he chose the electric chair over the hangman’s noose, becoming the first man in history to die by electricity. But what he thought would be a quick and painless death turned into a gruesome spectacle. Behind it all was Thomas Edison, eager to showcase his latest invention in a way no one had expected. As the current surged through Kemmler’s body, the world watched in horror—and the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional.
Join us as we unravel the chilling story of the electric chair’s dark origins, Kemmler’s ill-fated gamble, and how Edison’s “gift” became a tool for death. In this episode, we delve into the court’s controversial decision, the terrifying spectacle of Kemmler’s execution, and the legacy of a ruling that haunted the nation for decades. This isn’t just a tale of crime and punishment—it’s the story of how progress turned deadly, and how the Supreme Court’s darkest ruling paved the way for a century of electric justice.
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

A Handwritten Letter That Changed Criminal Justice.
Hidden Verdicts
09/23/24 • 9 min
In this episode, we explore the story behind Gideon v. Wainwright, the landmark case that transformed the American criminal justice system. It all began with a simple handwritten letter from Clarence, Earl, Gideon, a man convicted of burglary, who wrote to the Supreme Court from his prison cell. His plea for legal representation resulted in a ruling that would forever guarantee the right to council in criminal cases. Dive into the personal life of Gideon, the circumstances that led to his conviction, and how his determination reshaped the legal landscape.
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

How A Group of Butchers Changed Civil Rights Forever.
Hidden Verdicts
09/21/24 • 7 min
- In this episode of hidden verdict, we explore the slaughterhouse cases a little known Supreme Court ruling that drastically impacted the interpretation of the 14th amendment. Discover have a dispute between New Orleans butchers, and the state of Louisiana lead to a precedent that narrowed civil rights protections, shaping the fight for individual rights in America.
- If you thought the battle for civil rights started with Brown V Board, this case will change your perspective.
#justicia
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

11/18/24 • 24 min
Explore the harrowing case of Johnny Paul Penry, a man with intellectual disabilities sentenced to death. From the chilling details of his crime to the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling, this episode examines justice, morality, and the complexities of the death penalty in America.
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

How A Cell Phone Ended Up In Witness Protection.
Hidden Verdicts
10/01/24 • 19 min
In this episode, we dive into Carpenter v. United States, the case that forever changed digital privacy. Timothy Carpenter thought he was untouchable until his phone had other plans. When the FBI used his cell phone data to track his every move, Timothy found himself at the center of a legal battle that would reshape how law enforcement accesses your location data. But what about the real snitch? This episode tells the story of how a phone ended up in witness protection (well, sort of), and the impact this landmark Supreme Court case ruling continues to have today.
Interested in reading Carpenter v. United : use this link
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/585/16-402/case.pdf
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.

10/02/24 • 15 min
In this episode of Hidden Verdicts, we dive deep into the legal gymnastics that dictated who was considered black and who wasn’t, with monumental cases like Plessy v. Ferguson setting the groundwork. How did the Supreme Court decide what fraction of someone’s blood made them a different race? And why do these outdated ideals still linger today? We explore the bizarre and often contradictory ways American law has tried to define identity. Prepare to rethink what you know about race in America. Make America Think Again.
Interested in reading Plessy v. Ferguson use this link: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/163/537/
Thank you for listening to Hidden Verdicts! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who love uncovering the lesser known cases that shaped American Law. Don’t miss our next episode as we continue, revealing the hidden stories behind America’s most impactful legal decisions.
Show more best episodes

Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Hidden Verdicts have?
Hidden Verdicts currently has 17 episodes available.
What topics does Hidden Verdicts cover?
The podcast is about True Stories, True Crime, Supreme Court, History, Criminal Justice, Podcasts and Government.
What is the most popular episode on Hidden Verdicts?
The episode title 'The Angel Maker: The Dark Legacy of Amelia Dyer' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Hidden Verdicts?
The average episode length on Hidden Verdicts is 16 minutes.
How often are episodes of Hidden Verdicts released?
Episodes of Hidden Verdicts are typically released every 2 days, 15 hours.
When was the first episode of Hidden Verdicts?
The first episode of Hidden Verdicts was released on Sep 21, 2024.
Show more FAQ

Show more FAQ