Is This Legal?
Hebets & McCallin PC
Some dynamic duos solve crime, some commit crime, and some just like to talk about it. Get comfortable and let premier Denver criminal defense attorneys Russell Hebets and Colin McCallin break down legal issues for you in a lighthearted, easy-to-follow style. Whether you're looking for advice that might help you out of a jam, or you're interested in true crime events from around the country, or you just want to sound smart at a party, the guys at Is This Legal? have you covered. Credit to Jason Tohtz for his stellar sound engineering and epic original podcast compositions.
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Top 10 Is This Legal? Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Is This Legal? episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Is This Legal? 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 Is This Legal? episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
11/15/24 • 54 min
Colin and Russ discuss the cases of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989 in Los Angeles, CA. Colin and Russ talk about their original trials that led to their convictions, and why the case is back in the spotlight in 2024, and why they could have their life sentences reduced. Plus, a new game of Is This Legal and West Coast DCOTW contributed by Colin's mom. Check it out!
Ep. 55 - Derek Chauvin - Guilty and Prison Bound
Is This Legal?
04/21/21 • 37 min
On April 20, 2021, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd almost a full year before. Floyd’s death while he was restrained face-down on the street elicited nationwide protests, counter-protests, endless news coverage, and impassioned arguments from all sides on the nature of policing in America and the best way to bring law enforcement agencies into harmony with their host communities. In this momentous episode of Is This Legal? Colin and Russ examine the Chauvin trial, talk about the strategies both sides employed, predict the outcome of Chauvin’s sentencing, and unveil a brand new interview segment that will feature guest speakers from far and wide. Sit back and enjoy a legal perspective on what in the future will no doubt be seen as a milestone in American history.
For the full transcript, click here.
04/09/21 • 30 min
Taylor Swift called it: the haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate. Episode 54 of Is This Legal? covers bias-motivated crime in America, from the history of and rationale for hate crime laws as we know them now, to the elements that make an offense go from merely illegal to legally hateful, including real world examples such as the Atlanta massage parlor shootings of this year. With plenty of hypotheticals and thought experiments along the way, attorneys Colin and Russ break down this category of crime into bite-sized pieces for your delectation. Bon appetit!
To view the full transcript, click here.
03/26/21 • 41 min
Sydney Powell, ex-lawyer to Donald Trump, made numerous statements in the aftermath of the 2020 election accusing Dominion Voting Systems of election crimes. Now, Powell finds herself on the wrong end of a defamation suit filed by Dominion. What defense will she put forward? What elements are required for a successful defamation suit? What's the difference between defamation, libel, and slander? These questions and more are on the docket in this episode of Is This Legal? , along with everyone's favorite recurring segment, Dumb Criminal of the Week.
For the full transcript, click here.
Ep. 51 The Tragedy of Elijah McClain
Is This Legal?
02/26/21 • 38 min
One result of the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 was a resurgence of public interest in Elijah McClain’s death several days after he was given an overdose of ketamine during police contact. In the push for criminal justice reform, McClain’s name has become shorthand for police misconduct and the damage it can do. In this episode of Is This Legal? Russ and Colin examine the detention and death of McClain, the subsequent internal investigations of the incident by the Aurora Police Department, and talk about what lessons this tragedy may hold for all of us as we navigate police contact in our own lives.
For the full transcript, click here.
02/12/21 • 36 min
In the early 2000s, plucky entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes dropped out of college and started a company called Theranos, promising to revolutionize blood screenings for medical patients. By 2014, Theranos was valued at almost 10 billion dollars. Fast forward a few years, and Theranos is gone, while Elizabeth Holmes awaits trial later this year on multiple counts of wire fraud. What happened? Criminal defense attorneys Russell Hebets and Colin McCallin take a look at this fascinating case, the likely defenses Ms. Holmes' attorneys will use, and the problems with those defenses. Get your popcorn!
For the full transcript, click here.
Ep. 49 - Q&A Mailbag - Ask the Experts!
Is This Legal?
01/29/21 • 33 min
Russ and Colin dig deep into the Is This Legal mailbag to answer the best and brightest legal questions from our listeners. Topics covered include eating marijuana edibles out of state, criminal charges and gun rights, and the introduction of our brand now segment: Dumb Criminal of the Week! Don't miss out, it's going to be a fun ride!
For the full transcript, click here.
Ep. 47 - Bail and Bondsmen and Bounty Hunters, Oh My!
Is This Legal?
01/08/21 • 33 min
Your favorite legal analysts from Hebets & McCallin discuss the cash bond reform craze that is sweeping the nation. From Michigan prosecutor Eli Savit's move to eliminate cash bail, to California's failed bid to remove cash bonds in the most recent election, states are increasingly including bond reform in their general criminal justice reform agenda. Bondsmen and bounty hunters are voicing their objections locally and nationally, despite widespread acknowledgment of wealth and racial disparities in the cash bail system.
Ep. 45 You'd Have to be Crazy: The Insanity Defense
Is This Legal?
12/11/20 • 38 min
Attorneys Colin McCallin and Russell Hebets go crazy on the latest episode of Is This Legal. The insanity defense to criminal charges has been around for thousands of years, but has gone through major transformations throughout the years. The guys at Hebets and McCallin talk the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan by John Hinkley Jr., what happens when someone is found not guilty by reason of insanity, and how difficult it is for defendants to mount an insanity defense. Kick back and go nuts listening!
Ep. 129 Luigi Mangione- What You Need to Know
Is This Legal?
12/18/24 • 61 min
Colin and Russ discuss the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson which was allegedly committed by Luigi Mangione. The attorneys walk through the NYPD/FBI investigation that led to Mangione's arrest. They also discuss the murder charges he faces, and what defenses he may have available. Plus, a fun Is This Legal and a brand new DCOTW! We hope you have a Merry Christmas- Thanks for listening!
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FAQ
How many episodes does Is This Legal? have?
Is This Legal? currently has 111 episodes available.
What topics does Is This Legal? cover?
The podcast is about Lawyer, Society & Culture, Attorney, True Crime, Law, Legal, Criminal, Podcasts, Truecrime and Crime.
What is the most popular episode on Is This Legal??
The episode title 'Ep. 115 The Murder Trial of Karen Read' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Is This Legal??
The average episode length on Is This Legal? is 44 minutes.
How often are episodes of Is This Legal? released?
Episodes of Is This Legal? are typically released every 14 days, 6 hours.
When was the first episode of Is This Legal??
The first episode of Is This Legal? was released on Oct 10, 2016.
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