⚖ 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.

Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube /feed.xml Open RSS Status

Payne v. Hammond City — 5th Cir. (Aug 4, 2026)

No. 25-30700 Argued August 4, 2026 Published August 8, 2026; updated August 22, 2026

The Fifth Circuit considers whether a jury should hear Jennifer Payne's employment claims against Hammond, Louisiana. Payne says the city demoted and later fired her in retaliation for an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charge, treated male officers more favorably, and failed to accommodate her disability. Hammond says its investigations began before it learned of the charge, and medical and certification barriers kept her from police work. The district court granted summary judgment to Hammond; the appeal asks whether disputed evidence instead requires a trial.

Payne v. Hammond City (No. 25-30700) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-30700_08-04-2026.mp3
Argument listing — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-30700
Argument calendar — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-08-04
Summary-judgment order — Eastern District of Louisiana:https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/louisiana/laedce/2%3A2024cv01857/270161/88/0.pdf
Argument report — Law360:https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/discrimination/articles/2508987/5th-circ-scrutinizes-ex-cop-s-sex-bias-suit-over-sick-leave
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure — U.S. Courts:https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure
Pretext standard — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/21/21-40119.0.pdf
Kim M. Boyle — Phelps Dunbar:https://www.phelps.com/professionals/kim-m-boyle.html
Kim M. Boyle profile confirmation — City of New Orleans:https://nola.gov/next/mayors-office/news/articles/july-2026/2026-07-08-city-of-new-orleans-announces-municipal-complex-advisory-committee/
Decision search — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions?docket=25-30700

0:00
0:00