Mani Tafari on the documentary "Who Killed Garrett Phillips"

07/23/19 • 28 min

In this episode...
We speak with a former student, Mani Tafuri. Now as a new attorney, Mani found himself in the middle of a very personal legal fight. Police in upstate New York charged one of his closest friends for the murder of the 12-year-old son of a former girlfriend. The legal challenges that followed were remarkable, both the racial bias that grew from the case and the constitutional violations. The case was of such import and interest that it is now the subject of an HBO documentary, Who Killed Garrett Phillips, airing on HBO.
About our guest...
Mr. Mani Tafuri is a criminal defense attorney in Queens, NY. Prior to practicing in his own law firm, he was a Staff Attorney at The Legal Aid Society.
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Previous Episode

How to Read a Legal Opinion

In this episode ...
Orin Kerr, Professor of Law, Berkeley Law School, explains how to read a legal opinion. The episode is an exploration of Prof. Kerr's essential article, How To Read A Legal Opinion: A Guide For New Law Students, 11 Greenbag 2d 51 (2007). Professor Kerr discusses the parts of a brief, what aspects of a case matter to a law professor and emphasizes the need for learning the new language of the law. He acknowledges his own struggles with case law reading when he began law school (we both do), and encourages students to recognize the learning curve involved in reading a judicial opinion.
Some key takeaways are...

There is not necessarily a right answer in law school, so don't look for a "right answer" in a case.
Facts matter, particularly the facts of a case that are relevant to the court's reasoning.
Pay attention to a court's reasoning and don't discount the dissent.
Reading cases isn't easy; we have all struggled with the experience!

About our guest...
Professor Orin Kerr joined the Berkeley Law faculty in 2019 after serving as the Frances R. and John J. Duggan Distinguished Professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. From 2001 to 2017, he was a professor at the George Washington University Law School. Kerr has previously been a visiting professor at the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania. An accomplished teacher, Kerr received the outstanding teaching award from the George Washington Law School Class of 2009.

Kerr specializes in criminal procedure and computer crime law, and he has also taught courses in criminal law, evidence, and professional responsibility. He has written more than 60 law review articles, over 40 of which have been cited in judicial opinions (including seven articles that have been cited in U.S. Supreme Court opinions). His scholarship also has been cited by more than 3,000 academic articles. In addition to writing law review articles, Kerr has authored popular casebooks, co-authored the leading criminal procedure treatise, and published countless blog posts at popular blogs such as the Volokh Conspiracy and Lawfare.
Want to know more about Professor Kerr? You can visit the link below:
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/orin-kerr/
And follow Professor Kerr on Twitter @orinkerr
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As always, if you have any suggestions for an episode topic, please let us know!
You can email [email protected] or tweet @lawtofact.
-
Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Review us on iTunes, your opinion matters!
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Want to stay updated on all things Law to Fact?
Join our mailing list by visiting www.LawToFact.com.
-
This episode is sponsored by Kaplan Bar Review. Getting ready for the bar exam means you’ll need to choose the study program that’s right for you. Kaplan Bar Review will get you ready to take on test day with confidence by offering $100 off live and on-demand Bar Review with offer code Leslie100.
Visit kaplanbarreview.com today to sign up.

Next Episode

Securing the Proper Accommodations for Law School

In this episode...
Katherine MacFarlane, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Idaho School of Law explains the importance of securing necessary accommodations in law school and how to make certain your needs are met.
Some key takeaways...

"There is a place for students with disabilities within the law"
Law School accommodations are awarded prospectively not retrospectively.
Students are encouraged to ask for accommodations, your school will decide if the accommodation is reasonable.

About our guest...
Professor Katherine Macfarlane teaches Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure and Civil Rights Litigation. She writes about how civil procedure impacts civil rights outcomes.

Professor Macfarlane was recognized by the Idaho Business Review as a 2019 Accomplished Under 40 honoree. She was awarded the University of Idaho College of Law's 2019 Diversity and Human Rights Award. Professor Macfarlane represents the College of Law on the District of Idaho’s Local Rules Committee.

Professor Macfarlane is also a healthcare and disability expert. Her healthcare and disability commentary has been featured in the Ms. Magazine Blog, The Mighty, Creaky Joints, and BUST, as well as several literary journals.
-
As always, if you have any suggestions for an episode topic, please let us know!
You can email [email protected] or tweet @lawtofact.
-
Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Review us on iTunes, your opinion matters!
-
Want to stay updated on all things Law to Fact?
Join our mailing list by visiting www.LawToFact.com.
-
This episode is sponsored by Kaplan Bar Review. Getting ready for the bar exam means you’ll need to choose the study program that’s right for you. Kaplan Bar Review will get you ready to take on test day with confidence by offering $100 off live and on-demand Bar Review with offer code Leslie100.
Visit kaplanbarreview.com today to sign up.