First Mondays

How does the Supreme Court actually work? How does the Court decide what cases to hear? How do you pronounce "certiorari?" What's the difference between a relist and a reschedule? Why are some briefs grey?

The Slants have released a new song, the Supreme Court has released opinions, and Justice Breyer has got an idea for an innovative gold heist.

The holiday season is in full swing—with the first opinion announcement of the year.

It's a jam-packed holiday episode of First Mondays!

Justice Breyer's got theories about fashion, and the First Mondays team is on it. This week, we begin with the special meeting of the Supreme Court's bar to honor Justice Scalia, and the Chief Justice's courtesy vote to stay an execution. We also discuss last week's arguments on the False Claims Act, cheerleading uniforms, and laches, and look ahead to this week, when the Court will hear arguments in major cases concerning children born abroad to citizen parents and the scope of the President's ability to temporarily fill vacancies in the government.

The November sitting has begun! This week, we begin with Judge Posner's low opinion of the Supreme Court, and the new grants concerning gender identity, free speech for sex offenders, and the consequences of California's statutory-rape law for immigrants who are convicted of violating it. We also look ahead to next week's False Claims Act argument in Rigsby, the copyrightability of cheerleading uniforms in Star Athletica, and a case about laches and patents, SCA Hygiene Products—which seems oddly familiar, in more ways than one.

We bring the October sitting to a close, recap Pena-Rodriguez and Samsung, and make a futile attempt to predict this month's assignments. Plus: RBG on Kaepernick.

Ian and Dan recap the first week back at the Supreme Court, including Justice Breyer's strange theories about Kim Kardashian.

In the inaugural episode of First Mondays, Ian and Dan break down the first week of the Supreme Court's new Term.