Sanctuary in the Jungle
Amidst a plethora of legal podcasts discussing case breakdowns, legal news, and true crime, Sanctuary in the Jungle offers a look into the lives and motivations of the lawyers themselves.
Sanctuary in the Jungle is a criminal defense podcast discussing the vital role criminal defense attorneys play in the justice system. Drawing on insights from renowned attorneys Edward Bennett Williams and Michael Tigar, the podcast likens criminal courts to a "sanctuary" for rational decision making as opposed to the everyday "jungle-like" environment. Outside of the courts, decisions are often driven by emotion and intuition, which can lead to arbitrary and unjust outcomes. Criminal courts, in contrast, were designed to function as a carefully structured system where decisions are made based on evidence and legal standards. The sanctuary mindset must be used if we are to ensure that everyone, regardless of their personal background or situation, receives a fair trial. Through engaging conversations with defense attorneys and advocates, Sanctuary in the Jungle highlights the importance of upholding justice, dignity, and humanity in legal proceedings while illustrating how attorneys endure the emotionally weighty process.
Sanctuary in the Jungle
Latest Episodes
Building a Firm You Believe in | Craig Mastantuono
Craig Mastantuono didn't leave public defense just to be his own boss. He left because he had a vision for what a great law firm could actually look like.Today, his firm is less a practice and more a culture. It’s built around a philoso...
Reimagining Cross Examination | Jim McComas
So you've learned how to be comfortable in cross examination. Now what?Jim McComas has spent decades redefining what's possible in the courtroom. Between leading the trial division at the Washington D.C. Public Defender Service to becomi...
Painting Pictures through Facts | Matt Dodd
Joining us this week is an expert in cross examination, Attorney Matt Dodd. In this episode, he lays the groundwork for telling a story through facts, breaking down the how-tos and whys behind the art of asking questions. It’s a great listen fo...
Finding your Voice & Building Belonging | Colette Tvedt
Despite knowing she wanted to be a public defender from the age of ten, Colette shares that even when you know where you want to go, finding who you are on the way there is the most rewarding part. Colette’s career has taken her thr...
How Stories Connect Us | Keith Belzer
Today’s conversation sits at the heart of what we do as defenders: story. I’m joined by my friend Keith Belzer, a master of courtroom storytelling who has spent years studying not just what makes a story persuasive, but why it...