
The Supreme Court decides a few dozen cases every year; federal appellate courts decide thousands. So if you love constitutional law, the circuit courts are where it’s at. Join us as we break down some of the week’s most intriguing appellate decisions with a unique brand of insight, wit, and passion for judicial engagement and the rule of law. ij.org/short-circuit
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 301 | Founded | 17 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | GovernmentNews CommentaryNews | |||

With a baker’s dozen of circuits it’s hard to pick a favorite. Or is it? We sit down with three lawyers and scholars to ask what their favorite circuit is and why. Ben Field of IJ gives us his choice and we also bring on professors Tom Metzloff of Du... more
Evan Lisull of IJ tells us of a guy on probation who seems to have been pretty clever with his living arrangements. The police often don’t need a warrant to search the residence of a person on probation. In this case from the Fourth Circuit, the guy ... more
We welcome on Sam MacRoberts of the Kansas Justice Institute for an inspection of the Fourth Amendment. Sam is the General Counsel and Litigation Director of KJI where he does things like sue the government. So he’s a perfect fit for Short Circuit. S... more
[Note: This episode was down for a couple days but has been reposted. It originally dropped on March 6, 2026.] If you’ve ever wondered if a sniff is a search, IJ’s Rob Frommer has you covered on this week’s episode. Well, he has you covered in explai... more
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Some of the people they have on are brilliant, some not so much. Theme music is bangin though
If only they didn’t regard corporate speech so highly….
The podcasts are hit and miss. There are some really good, informative podcasts with some great legal analysis. But, there are others that sound like a cheap plaintiff’s attorney commercial, all bluster and no logical analysis, especially when talking about law enforcement. IJ could really use some diversity in their ranks. Right now it’s an echo chamber.
The show has gotten sillier and duller. Emphasis on court activities has been replaced by emphasis on lawyers, and lawyers are a bore. If you care how “en banc” is pronounced, this is the show for you. I prefer knowing what is happening with the law.(And in the months since I wrote this it has gotten worse. Lawyers talking about and celebrating lawyers. Yuk.) Frankly, it’s sickening to hear IJ lawyers defending the War on Drugs. Lockeans they are not.
I used to think this podcast provided some useful insights into areas of the law that I wasn’t familiar with. But then they started talking about areas of the law I was familiar with, and it wasn’t even slanted commentary—it was flat out wrong or, at best, half truths. This is particularly prevalent in the podcast’s “unpublished opinions” series. I don’t know where they found the people for the commentary in those episodes, but as someone who practices in some of the jurisdictions they discuss, ... more
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Content centers around recent legal developments within the federal appellate courts, emphasizing constitutional law and individual rights. Episodes typically discuss significant cases, approach them with commentary that blends analysis with personal experiences, and feature legal experts who provide insights into complex judicial principles. A notable highlight is the focus on civil rights issues, government overreach, and the implications of different interpretations of constitutional provisions. This podcast appeals to listeners interested in the intricacies of the legal system and its impact on freedoms in various contexts.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Short Circuit:
1. Unpublished Opinions
2. Beyond the Brief
3. Divided Argument
4. Advisory Opinions
5. Amarica's Constitution
Short Circuit launched 17 years ago and published 301 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Short Circuit include:
1. Sam MacRoberts
2. Jaba Tsitsuashvili
3. Bert Gall
4. Patrick Eckler
5. Kenneth Rosen
6. Ryan Snyder
7. Jonathan Green
8. James Joseph
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