Episoder
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In this continued conversation, Sara and Jim are up close and personal with Chris Cuomo who shares about his vast coverage of the Natalie Holloway murder and Van her Sloot; serial killers including Rifkin; and the Menendez Brothers: did Chris change his mind about their defense or have the times changed? Chris dives deep into how the media chooses headline stories and the coverage of minority vs majority problems: why does Chris focus on a story about addiction that involves white vs black subjects? The hosts and Chris talk about Chris’ departure from CNN and his decision to join News Nation. And as it turns out Sara has a crush on Matt Lauer and doesn’t make the cut “bougie” fishing with Chris or Jim. Fun facts and good times with the Mo Man on this episode.
Art – Simon & Associates
Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Sara and Jim sit with veteran journalist, Chris Cuomo. Chris shares his vast experience covering crime stories over decades. He explains the fascination with crime, including with Murdaugh and the Gilgo killer, the need for transparency, the presumption in the court of law and public opinion, and so much more. Sara presses Chris on whether he really looks at the accused from the lens of presumption vs guilt, and Chris of course returns the favor. Sara and Chris talk about their friendship, personal struggles and mental illness, and Chris' dog, Eliza who deserves forgiveness. The conversation gets interesting! More with the Mo Man next week!
Photography - Catherine White
Art – Simon & Associates
Music – Caleb Fletcher -
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This week Sara and Jim chat with lawyer, author, and political analyst Bakari Sellers. They dive into Bakari's high profile police brutality case, the case of Ricky Cobb, a Minnesota man who was unjustifiably shot to death by a state trooper. The hosts and Sellers take a close look at what the O.J. Simpson case would look like it if it was tried today, and overall how race plays in justice. The episode wraps with a discussion of the Mica Miller case in S. Carolina where Sellers and Jim practice law: was it really suicide?This week Sara and Jim chat with lawyer, author, and political analyst Bakari Sellers. They dive into Bakari's high profile police brutality case, the case of Ricky Cobb, a Minnesota man who was unjustifiably shot to death by a state trooper. The hosts and Sellers take a close look at what the O.J. Simpson case would look like it if it was tried today, and overall how race plays in justice. The episode wraps with a discussion of the Mica Miller case in S. Carolina where Sellers and Jim practice law: was it really suicide?
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Sara and Jim sit with reproductive law guru Dean Masserman this week. Dean unpacks the latest IVF decision by the Alabama Supreme Court. The decision comes with a price which the hosts discuss at length with Dean. Should the rest of the country be worried? How do we balance unnecessary destruction of genetic tissue with the need for efficacy in a field that has helped millions of Americans have children? Decisions to restrict availability of IVF will impact traditional families, modern families, and all Americans irrespective of gender, race or age. Sara, Jim and Dean then take a deep dive into the state of abortion post overturning of Roe v. Wade. Should abortion rights be federalized? Jim then shares his experience representing doctors and hospitals in connection with legal exposure for performing abortions in his state. The episode ends with an interesting discussion about the role pro-life, pro-choice, and IVF issues will play in the upcoming elections.
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On this week's show Sara and Jim sit with Will Folks. The irreverant founder and editor of Fits News shares about how the news operation started, his one too many kids, and his journey of sobriety. Up close and personal, talks openly about his relationship with newsmaker and politician Nikki Haley. Will also shares about his coverage of corruption S. Carolina, the Murdaugh case, and life after Murdaugh. Sara, Jim and Will then take a deep dive into the case against Susan Smith and whether she deserves early parole. Does the woman Sara refers to as “Horny Susan” and a “sex machine” deserve freedom? What says Will? The hosts and Will then examine the Michigan cases against the Crumbley parents leading to guilty verdicts for the actions of their son who shot up his high school after a history of mental health struggles that went neglected by the Crumbleys. Jim shares an interesting story about S. Carolina prisons for women, and Sara wraps the show by asking Will who he’d hire if he got into trouble.
Art – Simon & Associates
Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Pat Harris, Scott Peterson’s attorney, sits down with Sara for an exclusive interview about shocking new evidence regarding the disappearance and murder of his wife Laci Peterson and son Connor, as well as Scott Peterson’s road to a possible new trial. Sara and Pat talk at length about the extensive defense investigation over the past two decades, and the Los Angeles Innocence Project’s recent motion dump. They also discuss the media firestorm that seems to follow the Scott Peterson case, prosecutorial misconduct, and the blatant and intentional withholding of evidence from the defense. Later, Pat shares about the case of Will Lynch, a vigilante who nearly killed a priest he accused of child abuse, as well as his experience defending Chris Brown. Before the conversation wraps, Sara grills Pat on his relationship with Susan McDougal: sex with a client, or was it a pre-existing relationship?
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Elizabeth Kelley joins the show this week sharing her expertise representing people struggling with mental illnesses or mental disabilities. Elizabeth, Sara and Jim begin the show by discussing the difference between these two, “illness” and “disability”, and how those afflicted are treated in the criminal justice system. They also discuss more specifically about individuals on the autism spectrum and the misunderstandings of this diagnosis that are prevalent throughout the country and justice systems state by state. Later they talk about dementia, not guilty by reason of insanity defense, and how to best persuade judges and prosecutors that drug addiction is a symptom of mental illness and self-medication, and neither an excuse nor voluntary. Before wrapping, Sara and Jim ask Elizabeth about cases involving brain injuries, lack of suitable treatment and conditions in jails and prisons for the mentally ill, and how courts across the nation are educating themselves on this forgotten disease within the criminal justice system.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
This week, criminal trial attorneys Sara Azari and Jim Griffin break down the conspiracy theories surrounding the death of legend and godfather of soul, James Brown. They also discuss the mysterious death of Brown’s son-in-law, and whether or not the two deaths are linked. Jim shares his experience representing two of Brown’s biological daughters in the ongoing litigation surrounding his estate. For more on this fascinating story, tune into the latest episode of Sara’s show ‘Death By Fame’, premiering February 12th on Investigation Discovery.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Jim and Sara continue their conversation with justice warrior, Savannah Chrisley. This week, the conversation is focused on the deplorable prison conditions that are impacting prisoners and families all across the nation, including Savannah’s father, Todd. They challenge prison policies that muzzle inmates and violate the 1st amendment. They also discuss the many double standards that are in place when it comes to defending a person accused of a crime, and how to fight against the perceived notion of ‘white privilege’. In closing, Sara asks Savannah about the role of faith in her new reality, the meaning of ‘pro-life’, and her thoughts on a possible pardon from former President Trump, should he get re-elected.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Savannah Chrisley has been advocating for criminal justice after her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, were convicted of multiple counts of fraud in 2022. Today she joins Sara and Jim for a conversation about the way her family was treated in both the media and at trial, and how it led to a violation of not only their presumption of innocence, but multiple other constitutional rights. She says they were the target of celebrity injustice. Savannah makes her case about her parent’s wrongful conviction, the unfair punishment they both received as a result, and their pending appeal. Savannah will return next week to continue the conversation!
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Today’s guest Prof. Natalie Ram specializes in examining the intersection between the advancements in forensic genealogy, and its role in the criminal justice system. For 15 years, Prof. Ram has made a case that forensic genetic genealogy raises constitutional and ethical concerns, including 4th amendment violations, based on the lack of voluntariness in genetic relatedness. More specifically, Sara and Jim ask about the protocols (and oversights) that are involved with determining the perpetrator of a crime based on their genetic relationships. They take a deep dive into how the courts and law enforcement are defining the word ‘voluntary’, and also question what aspects of the 4th Amendment are regularly being violated. Later in the podcast they break down two significant cases that Prof. Ram relies on: Carpenter vs US, and State of Maryland vs Andrews. The show wraps with a focus on a burdensome benefit: the role of IGG in exonerating the wrongfully convicted.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Sara and Jim are excited to release their first new podcast of 2024. The hosts welcome lawyer, crisis manager, and political consultant Lanny Davis to the show, and discuss the recent mock trial that Sara and Lanny participated in. They also highlight the importance of the presumption of innocence, and how innuendos in journalism and media create a presumption of guilt instead. The hosts ask Lanny about his recommended come-back strategy for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well as his adversarial relationship with ‘cancelled’ Senator Al Franken.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
In honor of Hip Hop’s 50th birthday, Sara and Jim are joined by music industry veteran and leading voice in Black music and culture, Naima Cochrane. Naima, Sara and Jim discuss the recent headline-making developments in two unsolved murder cases that have shaken the Hip Hop world for decades: Tupac Shakur and Jam Master Jay. As always, the hosts present an insider’s look at some of the evidence that may be considered, and the unreliability of anticipated eyewitness testimony regarding events that happened many years in the past. Along the way, they also break down the origins of the East Coast vs. West Coast rap feud of the 90s, the impact of MTV, and the state of Hip Hop music in 2023. The Presumption will return in January 2024, have a safe and happy holiday season!
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
This week Sara and Jim sit down with polygraph examiner Johnny Hartley to learn everything you could possibly ever want to know about the science of lie detection. Johnny speaks at length about just how different the reality of being testing via polygraph is to how the process seems on TV and in movies. He also answers questions about admissibility in court, the history and advancements of the technology, and dispelling the myth that you can somehow cheat the system. As the show wraps up, Johnny talks about going through life as a human lie detector.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Jim is in the guest seat this week to discuss some of the wildest cases he’s defended over the years. Helping to share some behind the scenes stories is surprise co-host, and Jim’s daughter, Hope Griffin. The group dives into the controversies surrounding a drug detection device called the ‘Quadro Tracker’, and why bringing home a present for your daughter can help you win the case. They also discuss Jim’s early appearances on Court TV, relating to a bizarre case involving the death of a cat killer. Later they break down a reverse sting operation involving sex workers and blackmailers. And in the final part of the show, Hope recalls her favorite summer working at her dad’s office, answering prank phone calls from Dick Harpootlian, and more!
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
First up- some important announcements, and an expression of our gratitude! Sara and Jimmy G. then welcome forensic cell data expert, Jim Persinger to the podcast to discuss his extensive training and background in the constantly changing field of digital and cell phone technology. They talk with him about phone and cell tower analysis software, as well as some of the common misconceptions and mistakes that can be made in the collection and preservation of cell phones and digital data during an investigation. As the conversation wraps up, the trio dig into the Bryan Kohberger and Alex Murdaugh cases in terms of the investigative flaws and plausible explanations related to cell and digital data in each. They close the interview with Jim’s work as an expert in the 2004 Kirby Smith murder case.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
South Carolina State Senator, and Jim’s co-counsel on many cases, Dick Harpootlian makes his debut appearance on the podcast. Sara chats with Dick and Jim about the history of their working relationship as well as their decades long friendship. Jim and Dick share some BTS moments that may have landed one of them in a hot tub! They share the latest in the Alex Murdaugh cases, and the overall twists and turns in the high profile case with Sara. Dick also explains how he got under President Clinton’s skin during the Obama Clinton primary in SC, and how this may have changed the trajectory of the race. The episode closes with Dick’s deep dive into the twisted story of Pee Wee Gaskins, and how the convicted killer threatened his family.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Sara and Jim welcome high profile trial attorney Jerome Buting to talk about defending a case with pre-trial publicity. They discuss Jerome’s defense of Steven Avery, the flaws in the criminal justice system, as well as the lasting impact of the docuseries ‘Making a Murderer’. Later, Sara and Jim offer a couple of parallels to what Jim has experienced during and after the Alex Murdaugh murder trial. The episode ends with Jerome’s thoughts on our ‘jail and bail’ system.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Justin Brooks is a professor, attorney, and former Founding Director of the California Innocence Project. Sara and Jim speak with him about his incredible work handling wrongful convictions and freeing innocent people from prison. Justin also discusses his new book, ‘Why You Might Go To Prison Even Though You’re Innocent’, as well as what lead him to take on these very important cases post-conviction. Sara and Jim also ask Justin about his work on the case of the wrongfully convicted football player, Brian Banks, and how Brian ultimately regained his well-deserved freedom. The conversation wraps with stories of Justin’s time teaching criminal justice in Latin America.
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Music – Caleb Fletcher -
Trial guru Thomas Mesereau joins Sara and Jim at the top of the show. The trio of trial lawyers discuss his incredible accomplishments in the courtroom, as well as his relationship with media. They also discuss his defense of Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, and more. As the show wraps up, Thomas discusses his life-changing pro bono work in the deep south, and why he thinks all defense lawyers should assume at jump that their client is going to take the stand and testify.
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