⚖ 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. Luis Andres Serna — 5th Cir. (Sep 3, 2026)

No. 25-40109 Argued September 3, 2026 Published October 9, 2026

The Fifth Circuit hears United States versus Luis Andres Serna. While in federal custody, Serna used video calls to direct a minor to perform sexually explicit acts. Investigators recovered the recordings, and he was charged with producing child pornography. Before trial, the district court rejected his requested jury instruction requiring knowledge of the girl's age. He pleaded guilty but reserved that issue for appeal. The argument asks whether prosecutors must prove knowledge of age, and whether a reasonable mistake about age can provide a defense.

United States v. Luis Andres Serna (No. 25-40109) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued September 3, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-40109_9-3-2026.mp3
Argument date and case listing — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings/results?docket=25-40109
Case background and preserved instruction issue — Fifth Circuit opinion, court PDF via Justia:https://cases.justia.com/federal/appellate-courts/ca5/25-40109/25-40109-2026-10-01.pdf?ts=1790897406
Recorded-call background — district-court report and recommendation via FindLaw:https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-dis-crt-s-d-tex-lar-div/116120999.html

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