⚖ 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

United States v. Clarke — 7th Cir. (Sep 25, 2026)

No. 25-2236 Argued September 25, 2026 Published September 26, 2026

The Seventh Circuit hears Taquan Clarke's appeal after a jury convicted him of a cocaine-distribution conspiracy and using a gun to kill Kevin Hood during a drug offense. In July 2017, Clarke and Devontae Martin went armed to Hood's car wash in Gary, Indiana. Hood fled, Martin struggled with him outside, and Clarke shot Hood in the head. The prosecution said the men went there to take cocaine from Hood, but Clarke disputes that he knew of any drug plan. Vanessa Malone, counsel for Clarke, will argue that the evidence did not establish his knowing participation in a drug conspiracy. The judges also probe a variance: when the government charges one broad conspiracy but may have proved a narrower one, a conviction generally stands unless that difference prejudiced the defendant.

United States v. Clarke (No. 25-2236) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 25, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Seventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/dab.25-2236.25-2236_09_25_2026.mp3
Argument listing — Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=09%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29
Clarke appeal docket and counsel — Seventh Circuit:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca7/25-2236
Clarke post-trial order — Northern District of Indiana (mirror):https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/659ccbf4329ade459749239b
United States v. Martin — Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/OpinionsWeb/processWebInputExternal.pl?Path=Y2024%2FD12-02%2FC%3A23-3086%3AJ%3AScudder%3Aaut%3AT%3AfnOp%3AN%3A3299507%3AS%3A0&Submit=Display
United States v. Tate — Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/OpinionsWeb/processWebInputExternal.pl?Path=Y2024%2FD04-03%2FC%3A22-2060%3AJ%3ARipple%3Aaut%3AT%3AfnOp%3AN%3A3190764%3AS%3A0&Submit=Display
Clarke verdict and sentence — U.S. Attorney's Office:https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/gary-man-sentenced-480-months-prison
Joseph P. Falvey — U.S. Attorney's Office:https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/south-bend-man-sentenced-98-months-prison-controlled-substance-offense

0:00
0:00