Melissa Murray on Why We All Need a Refresher on The Constitution from Work Friends

Melissa Murray on Why We All Need a Refresher on The Constitution

1 hour 3 minutes Posted Apr 20, 2026 at 9:00 am.

Introduction2:45 - Biggest "Oh No" Moment4:35 - Child of Jamaican Immigrants11:18 - “Maybe I could be a lawyer.”13:45 - Navigating Grief Before College 15:25 - A Full Scholarship to UVA 18:03 - Deferring Yale Law21:08 - Clerking for Justice Sonia Sotomayor23:45 - A Mentorship Misconception27:09 - Working in Education43:18- Being a Professor in 202639:30- Coaching Middle School Debate Club41:30 - "Strict Scrutiny" & Ditching Neutrality44:20 - Why Write a Book On The U.S. Constitution?53:55 - Dress Code for Lawyers58:51 - “You have to know what your season is.”1:00:49 - Would You Rather? Clarifications:At 47:35, the Constitution was ratified in state legislatures, not in Philadelphia.At 49:00, Dred Scott was decided in 1857 not 1858.On Sali: Argent Double-Breasted Crewneck Blazer and Single Pleat TrouserOn Melissa: Argent Double-Breasted Blazer and Wide Leg TrouserHosted by Sali Christeson @salichristesonProduced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbitEdited by Ryan Woldoff @c__bizTheme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyemaRecorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

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Melissa Murray is an NYU Law professor, New York Times bestselling author, and cohost of @strictscrutinypodcast, where she breaks down the biggest legal battles and political messes in our country. She’s also the author of The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, set to release on May 5.Today, she sits down with Sali to share how she established herself as a prominent voice in law, to remind us of the power of “we the people,” and to explain why she refuses to discuss the law from a place of neutrality. Listen or watch the full episode at the link in bio.

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