In the famous American comic strip, The Wizard of Id, the Golden Rule means “Whoever has the gold makes the rules!” And so it’s been in the construction industry time immemorial. In this episode, Bob and Brad Croft discuss Tocci Building Corp. v. IRIV Partners and how the Golden Rule shaped recent statutory enactments in the construction industry and judicial interpretations of them.

Guest Paul Edelstein joins Bob Stetson to explore the critical issue of self-help evictions and the fight for housing justice. This episode centers on the Solis family from Brooklyn, New York, who faced a harrowing eviction attempt by their landlord, employing tactics like utility shutoffs, demolition work, and false legal notices. Their subsequent ten-year legal journey highlights the stark realities of informal evictions and their impact on society's most vulnerable. Through the case of Solis vs. Aguilar, Bob and Paul examine the balance between tenants' rights and landlords' actions, emphasizing the importance of due process as a cornerstone of liberty and dignity.

Listen to Bob Stetson and returning guest Ben Robbins from the New England Legal Foundation explore the separation of powers in the context of federal administrative agencies, the historical expansion of the administrative state, the Supreme Court's 1984 Chevron decision, and its implications for the separation of powers through the lens of a new rule by the National Marine Fisheries Council.

In this episode of Legal Judg(e)ments, Bob Stetson and his guest, John Elwood, discuss Counterman vs. Colorado, the Supreme Court’s recent decision balancing free speech rights against protection from abuse.Listen as they explore the dynamics of the First Amendment in the age of social media, examining whether online comments can constitute an actual threat or fall under constitutionally protected speech.

In this episode of Legal Judg(e)ments, Bob Stetson and his guest, Richard Gottlieb, dissect Coughlin v. Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, a significant legal battle at the intersection of tribal sovereign immunity and bankruptcy law. They explore the historical concept of sovereign immunity and its application to Native American tribes, focusing on the Clear Statement Rule for waiving sovereign immunity. This episode offers an insightful look into a case that challenges the limits of tribal immunity and the protections provided by bankruptcy law.

In this thought-provoking episode, Bob Stetson and JoshuaThompson, Director of Equality and Opportunity Litigation at the Pacific LegalFoundation, discuss the landmark case of Cedar Point Nursery vs. Hassid andexplore the intricate balance between private property rights and publicinterests. What constitutes a 'taking' and how far government regulations cango in the name of the public good?

Bob talks with the Institute for Justice’s Mike Greenberg about a Michigan town’s use of drones to enforce a land use regulation in Long Lake Township v. Maxon.

In the first episode of season 3, O’Melveny & Myers LLP’s John Kappos explains to Bob how his representation of two Massachusetts doctors led to a decision on whether medical-aid-in-dying qualifies as a fundamental constitutional right in Kligler v. Attorney General.

Season 3 of Legal Judg(e)ments officially launches on Monday, October 16.

In Season 2’s final episode, Bob and Joe Simons discuss Hines v. Cummings Properties; a closely watched commercial real estate case in which an appellate court invalidated a commonly used lease acceleration clause as an unenforceable penalty.

Bob and nationally renowned appellate attorney, MC Sungaila discuss In re Grand Jury – the closely-watched attorney-client privilege case that made its way up to the Supreme Court – and how the scope of the attorney-client privilege can have significant, real-world impacts on the practice of lawyering for businesses and corporations.

Bob and Sammy Nabulsi discuss the sprawling legal battle over the reconstruction of a bridge in Boston Harbor at the center of City of Boston v. Conservation Commission of Quincy.

Bob and class action defense lawyer Mark Aronsson discuss Cabrera v. Auto Max Preowned, Inc. and how a judge's interpretation of a procedural rule can lead to bet-the-company litigation.

Bob and Frank Saccoccio discuss how the Supreme Court’s originalist interpretation of the Second Amendment led a court to invalidate Rhode Island’s stun gun ban in O’Neil v. Nerohna.

Bob and Greg Pagnini discuss how monks brewing beer led to federal litigation involving the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act in Shrine of St. Nicholas v. Marblehead.

Bob and New England Legal Foundation's Ben Robbins discuss Tracer Lane II Realty, LLC v. City of Waltham and how the unintended consequences of a 1946 zoning bylaw could include the development of large-scale solar systems in residential neighborhoods.

Bob talks with legal titan Wayne Dennison to discuss his high-profile representation of international movie star Johnny Depp in what's been dubbed the first "trial by Tik Tok": Depp v. Heard.

Bob and Robert Galvin discuss Tenczar v. Indian Pond Country Club, Inc. and what happens when a home ostensibly becomes a part of a golf course.

Bob and Liberty Counsel’s Roger Gannam talk about Shurtleff v. City of Boston; the United States Supreme Court’s landmark First Amendment case involving the City’s flag-raising program.

We’re back with another season of Legal Judg(e)ments! Catch-up on Season 1 now and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. The new season begins on October 17th.