A Bright Constellation of Rights: Views from Houston on Freedom of Speech, Bearing Arms, Search and Seizure, and Jury Trials

This episode corresponds with the Bill of Rights issue of The Houston Lawyer magazine.  It addresses several of the rights in the “bright constellation of rights,” including free speech, bearing arms, protection from unlawful search and seizure, and jury trials. Houston lawyers, academics, and a jury consultant tackle issues associated with these rights.

 Segments One and Two: Second Amendment

 Professor Josh Blackman of South Texas College of Law Houston and Professor Martin Levy of Thurgood Marshall School of Law provide different academic perspectives on the historical background of the Second Amendment and recent and upcoming cases that interpret the right and the history related to it. 

 Segment Three: First Amendment

 Randy Hiroshige of the Texas Civil Rights project discusses a case involving the First Amendment that is currently being played out in Houston: Food Not Bombs v. City of Houston. It is an ongoing case, and this interview provides the plaintiff’s perspective.  The City of Houston did not respond to a request for comment.  

BTL Interviewer Rachael Thompson is the interviewer on this segment.

Segment Four: Fourth Amendment

Laisha Harris, and Assistant Public Defender in the Felony Trial Division of the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, discusses how technology and artificial intelligence impact the rights secured by the Fourth Amendment. 

Segment Five: Jury Trial

 Dr. Samantha Holmes of Edge Litigation Consulting, LLC, provides insight into the right to a jury trial from a jury consultant, data scientist, and social psychologist’s perspective.  Dr. Holmes also provides some data from her ongoing research relating to the public’s perception of our judicial system. 

This is the final episode of Season Four of Behind the Lines: The Houston Lawyer Podcast. Thanks so much to our guests, the Editorial Board of The Houston Lawyer magazine, and the Houston Bar Association staff for their work and support throughout the season.  And congratulations to our outgoing Editor in Chief, Liz Malpass, and our incoming Editor in Chief, Andrew Pearce.  Talk to you soon – in Season Five! 

For full speaker bios, visit The Houston Lawyer (hba.org). To read The Houston Lawyer magazine, visit The Houston Lawyer_home. For more information about the Houston Bar Association, visit Houston Bar Association (hba.org).
*The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the views of The Houston Lawyer Editorial Board or the Houston Bar Association.