On The Job

On The Job

Author: Legal Talk Network February 14, 2018 Duration: 25:34
When Richard Ceballos, a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County, expressed concern about the validity of a search warrant in 2000, he discovered the fuzzy line between free speech rights and the need for government entities to maintain workplace discipline. Ken White explores the Garcetti v. Ceballos case, the results of which saddle government employees with a tough decision when reporting misconduct to their superiors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosted by Ken White, a seasoned First Amendment litigator and the voice behind the Popehat.com blog, Make No Law: The First Amendment Podcast digs into the real stories behind America's landmark free speech battles. This isn't just a dry legal review. Each episode focuses on the human drama-the plaintiffs, defendants, lawyers, and judges-whose personal convictions and circumstances collided to create the case law that defines our rights today. Through in-depth conversations with the very people who were there, Ken uncovers the historical context and the often-surprising motivations that don't make it into the official court records. Produced by the Legal Talk Network, the podcast serves as an essential listen for anyone curious about how the abstract principles of the Constitution play out in messy reality. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of why these legal fights matter, hearing firsthand accounts that illuminate the continuous struggle to interpret what "freedom of speech" truly means. It's a compelling blend of narrative history, personal interview, and legal analysis that makes complex doctrines accessible and genuinely engaging.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 16

Make No Law: The First Amendment Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Street [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:08
In June of 1966, Sidney Street heard the news that James Meredith, an icon of the Civil Rights Movement, had been shot on the second day of his March Against Fear. Street, an African American himself, burned the flag and…
Crush [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:31
The Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010 was an animal cruelty prevention law aimed at videos showing women in high heels crushing small animals. But it ended up being used to target Robert Stevens instead. United…
Disparagement, Contempt, and Disrepute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:59
Simon Tam named his band “The Slants” as a form of self empowerment, but ran into problems when he tried to tried to register the name as a trademark, and ended up taking the case to the Supreme Court. We examine the Mat…
The Schoolhouse Gates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
In late 1965, a 13-year-old student named Mary Beth Tinker was suspended for wearing a black armband to school to support a truce in the Vietnam war. Through her parents, Mary sued the school. Ken White, alongside Mary B…
Fighting Words [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:30
On April 6, 1940, a Jehovah's Witness named Walter Chaplinsky was arrested for yelling, “You are a God damned racketeer and a damned Fascist and the whole government of Rochester are Fascists or agents of Fascists” at a…