⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context.

Court recordings can be difficult to follow, and many suffer from poor audio quality. This podcast enhances the audio, provides a brief introduction to each case, and explains legal concepts that may be unfamiliar to some listeners.

We hope these enhancements make oral argument recordings easier to understand, more accessible, and more enjoyable to listen to.

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United States v. Letitia James & James Comey — 4th Cir. (Sep 15, 2026)

No. 25-4673 Argued September 15, 2026 Published October 5, 2026

The Fourth Circuit hears the government's appeals in criminal cases against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. James was accused of falsely claiming that she would use a Norfolk, Virginia, home as a second residence to obtain a more favorable mortgage rate. Comey's charges concern allegedly false statements and obstruction connected to his 2020 Senate testimony. Lindsey Halligan, appointed interim U.S. Attorney, obtained both indictments. In November 2025, the district court dismissed them without prejudice because it found her appointment unlawful. That ruling addressed prosecutorial authority, not whether either defendant was guilty. The government will seek reinstatement; the defendants will defend dismissal. The central dispute is whether the Attorney General could appoint Halligan after an earlier interim appointee's 120-day term had expired, and whether the indictments survive even if her appointment was invalid. The argument took place on September 15, 2026.

United States v. Letitia James & James Comey (No. 25-4673) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, argued September 15, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Fourth Circuit (court original; consolidated James and Comey appeals):https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/25-4673-20260915.mp3
Cases, counsel and argument date — Fourth Circuit listing:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/oral-argument/oral-argument-audio-files
James allegations and dismissal — E.D. Virginia, Doc. 140, November 24, 2025 (court order, PDF mirror):https://whitecollarfraud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-24-USA-v-Letitia-James-Order-Granting-Motion-to-Dismiss-Indictment.pdf
Comey allegations and dismissal — E.D. Virginia, Doc. 213, November 24, 2025 (court order, PDF mirror):https://prod-i.a.dj.com/public/resources/documents/comeyindictmentdismissed1124.pdf
Government appeal and requested relief — consolidated opening brief, February 9, 2026 (Comey appeal Doc. 21; Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse copy):https://clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/doc/167971.pdf
Void ab initio — Cornell LII Wex definition:https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ab_initio

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