CLE
Vikram Amar
Vikram Amar UC Davis School of Law
Michael Dorf
Michael Dorf Cornell Law School
Breaking Down This Year’s Docket Previewing the 2024–2025 Supreme Court Term
Overview AI Webinar Summary
Breaking Down This Year’s Docket: Previewing the 2024–2025 Supreme Court Term

Professors Vikram Amar and Michael Dorf return for another engaging preview of the upcoming 2024–2025 Supreme Court Term. The discussion will explore matters on the current docket such as reasonableness of force under the 4th Amendment and the “moment of the threat;” Mexico’s suit against gun manufacturers; restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors and equal protection; minimum contacts and personal jurisdiction over foreign states sued under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act; possible election cases arriving in an emergency posture; and more.

Topics covered include: Legal Updates
Agenda:
  • Overview of the 2023-2024 Supreme Court Term
    • What did the Supreme Court do last term? How will this term compare?

  • Exploration of Cases
    • Professors will discuss the docket for the upcoming Supreme Court Term, providing their legal insights and opinions
    • Cases may include:
      • Barnes v. Felix
      • Smith & Wesson v. Mexico
      • U.S. v. Skrmetti
      • Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton
      • CC/Devas Ltd. v. Antrix Corp. & Devas Multimedia Private Ltd. v. Antrix Corp.
      • Garland v. VanDerStok
      • Possible election cases arriving at the Court in an emergency posture

  • Other Interesting Cases and Q&A
    • Professors will answer questions from the audience regarding cases, their insights, etc.
Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes
Originally broadcast: October 28, 2024 10:30 AM PT
Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

Introduction and Speaker Background
The webinar introduces the speakers, Vikram Amar and Michael Dorf, who are experts in constitutional law and federal courts. They will discuss the upcoming 2024-2025 SCOTUS term, which currently has a light docket of cases. Despite this, they anticipate significant cases may arise, especially with the upcoming election. Amar and Dorf highlight the importance of staying informed about legal updates through resources like Justia's daily opinion summaries.
Key SCOTUS Cases and Legal Themes
The discussion focuses on a significant case, United States v. Retti, concerning Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The Sixth Circuit upheld the ban, applying rational basis scrutiny, which contrasts with the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. The case raises questions about the level of scrutiny for discrimination based on transgender status under the Equal Protection Clause. Justice Gorsuch's previous opinions suggest potential implications for this case.
Transgender Rights and Equal Protection
The conversation continues on the implications of the Retti case, particularly regarding equal protection and parental rights. The court's decision to review the equal protection issues, rather than parental rights, is noted. The discussion also touches on the complexities of parental rights in cases involving transgender minors. The speakers express curiosity about the court's motivations for taking the case, given the lack of a circuit split.
Gun Control and Legal Interpretations
The webinar shifts to discuss the Ghost Guns case, Garland v. Vanderstock, which involves the regulation of gun kits under federal law. The case examines whether gun kits should be considered firearms under statutory definitions. The discussion highlights the challenges of statutory interpretation and the potential implications for gun control. The speakers also reference the Glossop v. Oklahoma case, which involves issues of execution methods and potential exculpatory evidence.
Death Penalty and Legal Challenges
The Glossop case is further explored, focusing on the discovery of potentially exculpatory evidence and the role of the Oklahoma Attorney General. The case presents a unique situation where the Attorney General and Glossop are aligned against the Oklahoma courts. The discussion also touches on broader themes of state-level disagreements in death penalty cases and the evolving landscape of capital punishment in the U.S.
Fourth Amendment and Police Conduct
The discussion moves to Fourth Amendment issues, particularly in the context of police conduct during traffic stops. The Barnes v. Felix case is highlighted, which questions the reasonableness of police actions under the Fourth Amendment. The speakers discuss the 'moment of the threat' doctrine and its implications for assessing police conduct. The case also reflects broader concerns about police-citizen interactions and the potential for violence.
Election Law and Potential Disputes
The webinar addresses potential election law disputes, particularly those that may arise after the upcoming election. The speakers discuss the Purcell Doctrine and its implications for post-election challenges. They also explore the potential for disputes involving state courts and the interpretation of state election laws. The conversation highlights the importance of maintaining clarity in election rules and the potential impact of the Supreme Court's involvement.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2026

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: September 30, 2025


This presentation is approved for one hour of General CLE credit in California, South Carolina (all levels), and North Carolina. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.00 credit hours.

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Speakers
Vikram Amar
Vikram Amar Distinguished Professor of Law
UC Davis School of Law

Vikram Amar is a Distinguished Professor of Law at UC Davis, and was previously the dean and the Iwan Foundation Professor of Law at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign College of Law from 2015-2023. Amar has also taught law at Berkeley School of Law, Hastings College of Law and UCLA School of Law. Amar is one of the most eminent and frequently cited authorities in constitutional law, federal courts, and civil procedure. He has written several books and more than 60 articles in leading law reviews. He is a co-author (along with Akhil Reed Amar) of the upcoming revised multi-volume Treatise on Constitutional Law (West Publishing Co.) pioneered by Ron Rotunda and John Nowak. Read More ›

Michael Dorf
Michael Dorf Professor of Law
Cornell Law School

Michael C. Dorf teaches constitutional law, federal courts, and related subjects at Cornell Law School. He has authored or co-authored six books and over one hundred scholarly articles and essays for law journals and peer-reviewed science and social science journals. He also writes a bi-weekly column for Verdict and publishes a popular blog, Dorf on Law: www.dorfonlaw.org. Dorf received his undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard. Read More ›

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