In this special Constitution Day episode of Lady Justice: Women of the Court, hosts Justice Rhonda Wood of Arkansas and Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia sit down with Randy Barnett, the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University and Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. Together, they dive into a thought-provoking conversation about Barnett’s latest memoir, A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist, and explore his journey from a prosecutor in Chicago to becoming a leading voice in the originalism movement.

Barnett shares insights into the federal and state constitutions, the amendment processes, and his expertise on the Ninth Amendment. The discussion delves into the principles of originalism, the impact of abolitionist Lysander Spooner, and the significance of the “lost constitution.” The episode also offers a glimpse into Barnett’s forthcoming work, Felony Review: Tales of True Stories of Crime and Corruption in Chicago, drawing on his experiences as a prosecutor.

Listeners will also gain valuable advice on the importance of mentorship and learn about the influential mentors who shaped Barnett’s career. This episode provides a compelling look at the intersection of law, history, and personal conviction, offering inspiration for anyone passionate about justice and liberty.

Topics Discussed:

• The differences between the federal Constitution and state constitutions, and their respective amendment processes

• The origins and principles of originalism

• Key insights into Barnett’s memoir, A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist

• The role of mentorship in Barnett’s career and personal growth

• Discussions on the Ninth Amendment and the concept of the “lost constitution”

• Reflections on Lysander Spooner’s The Unconstitutionality of Slavery and its influence on originalism

• A preview of Barnett’s upcoming book, Felony Review: Tales of True Stories of Crime and Corruption in Chicago

Don’t miss this engaging conversation that blends constitutional law, history, and the personal stories of one of America’s foremost legal scholars. Tune in now!

Resources: -https://www.randybarnett.com/ -https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/randy-e-barnett/ -https://www.amazon.com/Life-Liberty-Making-American-Originalist/dp/1641773774 -https://archive.org/details/unconstitutionalit00spoo -https://www.ncsc.org/education-and-careers/civics/constitution-day

In this insightful episode of the Lady Justice: Women of the Court podcast, hosts Justice Rhonda Wood of Arkansas and Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the judicial system with esteemed guests: Justin Forkner, Chief Administrative Officer of the Indiana Judicial Branch, and Stacey Marz, Administrative Director of the Alaska Court System.

Together, they discuss:

• The integration of AI-driven tools to aid court processes, including natural language processing systems that translate legal jargon into plain language and provide live transcripts of court proceedings, as well as tools that review legal citations in briefs.
• The potential for GenAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence) to replace traditional search engines and enhance self-help resources for litigants.
• Improving digital content, such as court webpages and chatbots, to enhance access to justice through search engine optimization, user-friendly design, plain language copy, and more.
• Exciting innovations and updates on the horizon for the Indiana Judicial Branch and Alaska Court System.

Tune in to discover more about the innovative use of AI in the judicial system and its transformative impact on court processes.

Resources: -https://www.law360.com/pulse/legal-tech/articles/1833092/how-courts-can-use-generative-ai-to-help-pro-se-litigants -ncsc.org/ai

Dive into the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the court system with hosts Justice Rhonda Wood of Arkansas and Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia, along with special guest Professor Amy Cyphert. Professor Cyphert is a pioneering academic in AI at West Virginia University College of Law. She directs the ASPIRE Office, guiding students in securing scholarships and fellowships, and teaches a course on AI and the Law.

Together, they explore: -The rapid advancements in Generative AI and its implications for legal practice. -Professor Cyphert’s pioneering work in teaching AI and its impact on the legal landscape. -The concept of "AI cannibalism" and the importance of human input in AI systems. -The challenges of distinguishing between AI-generated content and human-authored text. -The evolving role of lawyers in the era of AI.

Resources: -Professor Amy Cyphert’s Biography -Cyphert, A. (2021, November 1). A Human Being Wrote This Law Review Article: GPT-3 and the Practice of Law. UC Davis Law Review, 55(1). WVU College of Law Research Paper No. 2022-02. -Cyphert, A., Perl, S., & Tu, S. S. (2023). Artificial Intelligence Cannibalism and the Law. -"Play a sound on a device with Find Devices on iCloud.com." Apple Support. Retrieved April 2024, from https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/play-a-sound-on-a-device-mmfc0f19b5/icloud#:~:text=If%20you%20lose%20your%20device,on%20a%20family%20member's%20device.

Join hosts Justice Rhonda Wood of Arkansas and Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia as they delve into the recent Supreme Court of the United States decision in Lindke v. Freed. Their discussion shines a light on how this ruling affects the public, public officials, and state court judges.

Special guest Caroline Mackie, Partner at Poyner Spruill, LLP, provides an insightful, in-depth analysis of the case. They explore the delicate balance between promoting public confidence and education via social media while upholding the First Amendment rights of the public and public officials.

Discussion Points: -Analysis of Kevin Lindke's Lawsuit Against James Freed for First Amendment Violation -Impact of Lindke v. Freed Decision on Public Officials and First Amendment Rights -Caroline Mackie's Amicus Brief: Advocating for Clear Social Media Guidelines for Public Figures -Examining the Intersection of Private and Public Life on Social Media Platforms for Public Officials -Tips for Navigating Social Media for Public Figures, as outlined by Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett's Opinion

Resources: - Supreme Court Case https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/DocketFiles/html/Public/22-611.html - Amicus Brief https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-611/270245/20230630170439817_22-611%20Amicus%20BOM%20IMLA.pdf

Join hosts Justice Rhonda Wood of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Justice Beth Walker of the West Virginia Supreme Court on the Lady Justice Podcast, now in partnership with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). In this episode, they welcome Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, Chief Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and current President of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ).

Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby shares insights into the structure of DC Courts, judicial appointments, and the types of cases handled. Reflecting on her upbringing in Washington, D.C., Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby also discusses the city's evolution and emphasizes the role of law in driving societal change, particularly evident during the Civil Rights era.

The episode delves into the collaborative efforts of CCJ, including past initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic to guide courts and current efforts to enhance public trust. Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby highlights the importance of judicial leadership and community engagement beyond the courtroom.

Tune in for valuable insights into the judiciary and the transformative power of law. Don't miss the lightning round, where Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby shares some personal preferences!

In this episode, the Lady Justices discuss the importance of equal access to justice. They welcome special guests Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeff Bivins and Anne-Lousie Wirthlin the Director of Access to Justice and Strategic Development for the Administrative Office of the Tennessee Courts.

Justice Walker was live on location in Nashville Tennessee with Justice Bivins and Mrs. Wirthlin. In this special episode, our special guests share about their Tennessee access to Justice Bus. The Justice Bus is a mobile law office that brings technology and legal help to rural and underserved communities across Tennessee.

In the lighting round our Lady Justices and special guests share their most used phone app, their favorite country music artist past or present, their lockscreen photos, and lastly their favorite city to visit.

For more information about the Tennessee Justice Bus, see the link below.

https://justiceforalltn.org/justice-bus/

In this episode, Chief Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia and Justice Rhonda Wood of Arkansas welcome special guests, the original co-hosts, former Chief Justice Bridget McCormack of Michigan and former Justice Eva Guzman of Texas for a special reunion episode.

The four lady justices share personal stories on the importance of connection and the rewards of getting out of your comfort zone. They share the most significant changes in their life since they were all together last, what challenges they may face in the coming year, and how they overcome difficult days.

In this episode, the Lady Justices welcome Claire Hudnell, a senior from Lakeside High School who aspires to be an appellate judge. Although the justices typically discuss their experiences on their state’s highest court, this episode has another purpose – to inspire, support, and encourage young women interested in the law and the judiciary.

"Vision Interrupted" by Claire Hudnell

https://youtu.be/gGb_KSDxiuU?si=q5kvdQ66RWVyaUJS