Think Tank looks at this week’s events in the legal system

Our guests in this week’s Think Tank are two of the most astute and informed observers of the American legal system:

Paul Bender is probably Arizona’s foremost expert on the Supreme Court. He is a former Supreme Court law clerk, Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States from 1993 to 1997 and past dean of the Arizona State University School of Law.

Paul Charlton is a former U.S. Attorney for Arizona. Among his legal specialties is white collar criminal defense.

Several legal actions this week have presented fundamental questions involving the even-handed administration of the law in this country:

• Former national security advisor to President Trump, Gen. Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI. This week, the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss charges against Flynn, in what many described as an unprecedented action.
• Two cases involving requests to obtain Trump’s tax records were argued before the Supreme Court this week. One involved a request by the House of Representatives and the other was by grand jury in New York investigating the payment of hush money to women during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. In each case, the president’s attorneys argued that he is immune not only from prosecution but also to any investigation, criminal or civil, during his term as president: no subpoenas, no testimony, no indictments.
• Imprisoned Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort released due to COVID19 risk. Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who turned against Trump, was also to be released due to COVID19, but the Justice Department reversed this decision. Cohen is held in a prison that has had COVID19 cases; there have been no cases reported in Manafort’s prison.

The Think Tank airs on KTAR 92.3 FM on Saturday 3-4 p.m. and Sundays from 9-10 p.m.

Podcasts are available after broadcast.