Dr. Anne W. Rimoin, a Professor of Epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and Infectious Disease Division of the Geffen School of Medicine, stops by Passing Judgment.

Dr. Rimoin talks about how to prioritize who should get the vaccine, how to distribute the vaccine, how to safely re-open schools, and what a new normal looks like.

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In a late-night decision, the Supreme Court has again weighed in on the battle between religious freedom and public safety.

California churches recently challenged some of the state's health and safety restrictions. Specifically, the churches argued that restrictions on indoor services, capacity restrictions, and bans on indoor singing and chanting violated their First Amendment rights.

What did the Supreme Court say? And what do the justices' decisions say about religious freedoms moving forward?

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In this episode of Passing Judgment, we examine sweeping changes in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division under the Trump administration. Reporter Sam Levine joins host Jessica Levinson to discuss how the division, long tasked with enforcing voting rights and other protections, has seen over 70% of its attorneys depart amid a shift in priorities toward the president’s agenda. The episode explores what this means for civil rights enforcement, voter protections, and whether former DOJ lawyers can fill the gap by taking their expertise into private practice.

Here are three key takeaways you don't want to miss:

The Role and Function of the DOJ Civil Rights Division and Voting Section: The conversation starts with an explanation of what the Civil Rights Division within the Department of Justice (DOJ) does. It is tasked with enforcing America’s civil rights laws—including the Voting Rights Act—and consists of 11 sections dealing with various aspects of civil rights (voting, housing, education, anti-discrimination).

Impact of Administrative Changes on DOJ Priorities: A significant theme is how changes in presidential administrations can redirect the focus and priorities of the DOJ and its sections—especially the Voting Section. While career attorneys (not political appointees) do most of the day-to-day work, political appointees set overarching priorities. Normally, shifts happen between administrations, but under the Trump administration, changes were described as “radical departures,” shifting focus to investigate noncitizen voting and prioritizing policies aligned with the president rather than traditional civil rights enforcement.

Dismissal of Civil Servants and Dismantling of the Voting Section: The episode highlights the mass removal of senior civil servants in the Voting Section under Trump’s administration, replacing experienced managers and ordering the dismissal of all active cases. This unprecedented action is portrayed as a clear signal of political influence overriding apolitical legal work—and is said to undermine the department’s ability to fulfill its civil rights mandate.

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This week's episode of the Passing Judgment podcast we have a riveting discussion with special guest Hugo Lowell, a prominent political investigations reporter for The Guardian. As he joins our host, Jessica Levinson, together they tackle the intriguing and complex case surrounding former President Donald Trump 🤔.

Here are 3 key takeaways from the episode:

1️⃣ Judge Eileen Cannon's relationship with prosecutors and deference to the Trump team has raised eyebrows. Her insistence on classified discovery being produced in a skiff in the district where the case is brought and her concerns about potential collisions of criminal cases involving Trump have been questioned. Will the special counsel team challenge her actions?

2️⃣ Trump's legal team seems to be banking on delaying the trials past the 2024 election to avoid criminal liability. The introduction of classified information and the unconventional application of the Classified Information Procedures Act (CEPA) by Judge Cannon are contributing factors.

3️⃣ A separate federal case involving election interference on January 6th highlights a judge with little patience for delay tactics. The obstruction case using the 15/12 statute is strong, and prosecutors do not necessarily have to prove that Trump knew he had lost the election to make their case. Will this federal case have an impact on the overall legal battle?

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On X formerly known as Twitter: @HugoLowell

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On X formerly known as Twitter: @LevinsonJessica

In the latest episode of the Passing Judgment podcast, we delve into a variety of legal cases and hot topics currently on the Supreme Court's docket. We're rejoined by David Savage, one of the nation's experts as we unravel the intricacies of these captivating legal matters.

Here are three key takeaways from the episode:

1️⃣ Diverse Perspectives on the Supreme Court: Contrary to popular belief, not all conservative justices on the Supreme Court think the same way. While they may have made conservative rulings on issues like abortion and affirmative action, there are notable differences among them, reflecting a range of conservative views.

2️⃣ The Impact of Regulatory Laws on Gun-Related Offenses: The case involving Hunter Biden's gun-related offense sheds light on the existence of various regulatory laws and their potential impact on other gun-related prosecutions. This case has the potential to initiate a significant Second Amendment discussion in the Supreme Court, prompting considerations of history, tradition, and the scope of constitutional rights.



3️⃣ Social Media Regulation: With different states having varying views on what content should be allowed on social media platforms, the issue of government regulation becomes complex. The episode explores recent cases where Trump-appointed judges in different circuits had differing opinions on states' authority to regulate social media. The Supreme Court's decision in this matter could have wide-ranging implications for free speech, censorship, and states' rights.

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On X formerly known as Twitter: @LevinsonJessica