National Press Club Hosts IJ’s Short Circuit Live Podcast

On April 6, the National Press Club played host to a live recording of IJ’s popular Short Circuit podcast. Joining us to discuss three recently released D.C. Circuit opinions were three former D.C. Circuit clerks who have since grown into superstars of the U.S. Supreme Court bar—Lisa Blatt, Paul Clement, and Kelsi Brown Corkran. Lisa and Paul are two of the most prolific litigators to appear before the Court in its history, with Lisa arguing over 40 cases before the Court and Paul participating in over 100. Kelsi’s remarkable record includes securing three major civil rights victories in the Supreme Court, two of them just last term. 

While the conversation centered on three court decisions, it covered so much more than that, including a discussion of the D.C. Circuit’s unique history, which took it from a very precarious position during the Civil War—when it was disbanded and then reconstituted with sympathetic judges—to the second most powerful court in the nation. The panelists also shared stories of clerking for three D.C. Circuit judges: Lisa clerked for then-Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Paul for Judge Laurence Silberman, and Kelsi for Judge David Tatel, three judges whose legacies mark them as titans of the D.C. Circuit. 

The case law segment also did not disappoint and featured lively discussion about the executive privilege invoked by former President Trump in the context of the January 6 Committee investigations, the constitutionality of the TSA screening procedures instituted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and the activities of pharmaceutical companies during the most violent phase of the Iraq invasion. 

Our next Short Circuit Live recording will take place in New York in the fall. Hope to see many of you there!