Elie Mystal

Justice Correspondent & Columnist

@ElieNYC

Elie Mystal is The Nation’s justice correspondent and the host of its legal podcast, Contempt of Court. He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center. His first book is the New York Times bestseller Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, published by The New Press. Elie can be followed @ElieNYC.

People protest in front of the US Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, in Washington, D.C in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling.

Can’t Reform the Court’s Power? Then Let’s Take It Away. Can’t Reform the Court’s Power? Then Let’s Take It Away.

On this episode of the Contempt of Court podcast, a deep dive into jurisdiction stripping.

Aug 15, 2023 / Podcast / Elie Mystal

How Black People Won the Battle of Montgomery

How Black People Won the Battle of Montgomery How Black People Won the Battle of Montgomery

The lesson of the events at the Montgomery Riverwalk is that when Black people see something, we do something

Aug 10, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Justice Clarence Thomas.

It's Time for Ethics Reform on the Supreme Court It's Time for Ethics Reform on the Supreme Court

On this episode of the Contempt of Court podcast, Congressman Hank Johnson and writer Emily Bazelon discuss fixes to the Court's ethics problem.

Aug 8, 2023 / Podcast / Elie Mystal

A demonstrator stands outside the Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, D.C., on August 1, 2023, the day of former president Donald Trump’s indictment related to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

For Trump, the Stakes of the 2024 Election Just Became: Win—or Go to Jail For Trump, the Stakes of the 2024 Election Just Became: Win—or Go to Jail

The indictment Jack Smith brought against Donald Trump is strong. The only question is whether the former president can outrun the charges long enough to win reelection.

Aug 2, 2023 / Elie Mystal

United States Supreme Court justices

How to Balance the Supreme Court How to Balance the Supreme Court

On this episode of Contempt of Court, legal experts Dan Epps and Steve Vladeck discuss ways to find the balance in our highest court.

Aug 1, 2023 / Podcast / Elie Mystal

Immigrants walk through razor wire surrounding a makeshift migrant camp after crossing the border from Mexico on May 11, 2023 in El Paso, Texas.

Merrick Garland Is Letting Texas Get Away With Sadism Merrick Garland Is Letting Texas Get Away With Sadism

The DOJ has chosen to look away as GOP governors like Greg Abbott treat migrants as political punching bags who can be bashed for the amusement of white nationalist voters.

Jul 27, 2023 / Elie Mystal

If You Want to Reform the Court, Reform the Media, Too

If You Want to Reform the Court, Reform the Media, Too If You Want to Reform the Court, Reform the Media, Too

On this episode of Contempt of Court, Melissa Murray and Elie Mystal reflect on how the media discusses SCOTUS.

Jul 25, 2023 / Podcast / Elie Mystal

Senate Judiciary Committee member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) displays a copy of a painting featuring Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas alongside Harlan Crow and other conservative friends during a hearing on Supreme Court ethics reform.

It’s Summer Vacation. Does the Media Know Where Clarence Thomas Is? It’s Summer Vacation. Does the Media Know Where Clarence Thomas Is?

As corruption scandals ooze from the muck of the Supreme Court, it’s time for the media to up their reporting game—and report on the justices like the political actors they are.

Jul 20, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Photo illustration of the Supreme Court building as sand in an hourglass running out)

You’re Wrong About Term Limits You’re Wrong About Term Limits

On this episode of Contempt of Court, Leah Litman and Aaron Belkin join the podcast to discuss what's wrong with everybody's favorite reform option.

Jul 18, 2023 / Podcast / Elie Mystal

Students enter the Admissions Building on the campus of Harvard University n Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The White Media Has Missed a Key Part of the Affirmative Action Ruling The White Media Has Missed a Key Part of the Affirmative Action Ruling

The upshot isn’t just that colleges must end affirmative action but that they’ll have to cut Black enrollment to avoid lawsuits questioning their compliance with the decision.

Jul 12, 2023 / Elie Mystal

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