Expert Witnesses: Professors Corinna Lain and Danielle Wingfield on Presidential Immunity

In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram are joined by two legal experts, Professor Corinna Lain from the University of Richmond School of Law and Professor Danielle Wingfield, to discuss the Supreme Court's recent ruling on presidential immunity. The conversation explores how the 2024 SCOTUS decision in Trump v. United States builds on earlier cases like Nixon v. Fitzgerald and Clinton v. Jones, granting former presidents greater immunity from prosecution, even for potentially criminal acts performed in office. The professors delve into the broader implications of the ruling, the balance of powers between the executive branch and other government bodies, and the unsettling possibilities for future presidents to push the boundaries of their authority without legal consequence. They also touch on the potential long-term effects on public trust and accountability in American democracy.

Tune in to learn more about this critical case, how it shifts the boundaries of presidential power, and why it's crucial to pay attention as the future of democracy hangs in the balance.

Guests Bio:
Danielle Wingfield: Professor Wingfield joined Richmond Law from Gonzaga University School of Law where she served as a fellow and visiting assistant professor. Her primary areas of teaching and scholarship include legal history, constitutional law, family law, race and the law, family law, and education law and policy. She earned her Ph.D. in education from the University of Virginia, her J.D. from the University of Richmond, and her B.A. in sociology and philosophy from the College of William & Mary. Professor Wingfield served as Of Counsel for The Child Advocate Law Firm, PLLC in Charlottesville, Virginia prior to returning to academia.

Corinna Lain: Professor Corinna Lain is the S. D. Roberts & Sandra Moore Professor of Law at the University of Richmond School of Law. Professor Lain’s scholarship focuses on two areas—Supreme Court decision-making and the death penalty—and she has published numerous articles and essays about lethal injection over the last decade. Her work has appeared in the nation’s top law journals, including the Stanford Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Duke Law Journal, UCLA Law Review, and Georgetown Law Journal, among other venues. Professor Lain is a frequent presenter at both national and international conferences, and is co-author (with Ron Bacigal) of the Virginia Practice Series on criminal law, a four-volume treatise for the bench and practicing bar with new editions each year. Professor Lain graduated summa cum laude from the College of William and Mary in 1992, and received her J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1996, where she was elected to Order of the Coif. She clerked on the Tenth Circuit and then was a prosecutor for three years before joining the Richmond Law faculty in 2001. Professor Lain is a recipient of the University of Richmond’s Distinguished Educator Award and is a veteran of the United States Army. Her first book, "Secrets of the Killing State: the Untold Story of Lethal Injection," is forthcoming Spring 2025.