Combatting Overcriminalization: From the Shark House to the White House

Combatting Overcriminalization: From the Shark House to the White House

Author: Cato Institute January 23, 2026 Duration: 1:01:09

For centuries, the greatest protection against unjust convictions and punishments was the institution of jury independence, including so-called “jury nullification.” The prosecutions of John Moore and Tanner Mansell illustrate a scenario in which jurors—apprised of their historic injustice-preventing powers—would have rendered a not guilty verdict. But because John and Tanner’s jurors, who appeared desperate for a way to acquit, weren’t informed of their historic prerogative to acquit against the evidence to prevent injustice, they had no option but to convict.


When the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice learned of John’s and Tanner’s plights, we took their case to the highest levels of government—ultimately resulting in presidential pardons for each of them. Please join us as we hear first-hand accounts, discuss what went wrong, explore how Cato got involved, and consider solutions to the pathology of unjust prosecutions and convictions.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cato Event Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Peak Human: What We Can Learn from History’s Greatest Civilizations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:34
Sphere is excited to engage our educator community in discussion about the factors that contributed to the rise and fall of some of humanity’s greatest civilizations. Through a moderated discussion with author Johan Norb…
Fifty-Five Years of the Bank Secrecy Act [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
Since its passage in 1970, the Bank Secrecy Act has fundamentally transformed the relationship between Americans and their financial institutions, creating an unprecedented surveillance apparatus that monitors virtually…
The $15 Trillion Emergency Spending Loophole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:15
Congress has spent $15 trillion through emergency designations since 1991, which is equivalent to half the entire publicly held debt of the United States. Emergency designations have enabled more than $12.5 trillion in s…
Trade in War: Economic Cooperation across Enemy Lines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:53
Trade between belligerents during wartime should not occur. After all, exchanged goods might help enemies secure the upper hand on the battlefield. Yet as history shows, states rarely choose either war or trade. In fact,…
False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery, 1933–1947 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:15
Join us for a special event and live recording of Conversations with Tyler to celebrate the launch of False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery, 1933–1947, the highly anticipated new book by economist George S…
Annual B. Kenneth Simon Lecture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:20
Cato’s annual Constitution Day symposium marks the day in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention finished drafting the US Constitution. We celebrate that event each year with the release of the new issue of the Cato Sup…
Panel IV: Looking Ahead: October Term 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:42
Cato’s annual Constitution Day symposium marks the day in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention finished drafting the US Constitution. We celebrate that event each year with the release of the new issue of the Cato Sup…