From the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy, True Bill Talk is about getting to the truth of criminal prosecution in America right now: what it is, how people experience it, and how prosecutors can better serve their communities. Each episode of the podcast will feature in-depth conversations between Vanderbilt Law Professor Alissa Marque Heydari and prosecutors, policy experts, and advocates with diverse perspectives on the challenges and responsibilities of prosecution. Produced by K ...
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The Executive Order Targeting Prosecutors with Carissa Hessick and Brenner Fissell
28:19
28:19
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28:19On April 28, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order aimed broadly at local law enforcement -- but one section stood out. Section 5 of the Order represents a statement of how the Administration intends to get involved in decisions made by local prosecutors. In this special episode of True Bill Talk, we invite two well-known crimina…
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Torry Johnson, Former DA From Nashville, Has Some Concerns
1:04:39
1:04:39
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1:04:39Torry Johnson was the District Attorney of Davidson County, Tennessee for 26 years. In this conversation, Torry shared his thoughts about the so-called "progressive prosecutor" movement, the right-ward shift in Tennessee’s politics, and how he thinks about the role of the DA when the job has become heavily politicized.…
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Larry Krasner from Philadelphia Is More Complicated Than You Think
42:14
42:14
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42:14Larry Krasner, the Philadelphia District Attorney since 2017, has become something of a lightning rod and is now one of the most well-known prosecutors in the entire country. Larry and two of his line prosecutors were recently in Nashville to visit Vanderbilt Law School and speak with our students about careers in prosecution. While they were in to…
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Todd Williams from Asheville, NC: Capital cases and serving a progressive city in the South
35:42
35:42
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35:42On this episode of True Bill Talk, Alissa talks with Buncombe County DA Todd Williams about the complexities of prosecutorial discretion, including the death penalty, politics, and his personal beliefs in justice.By Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy
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Welcome to True Bill Talk, a new podcast from the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy
6:13
6:13
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6:13True Bill Talk explores the realities of criminal prosecution in America. Each episode features in-depth conversations with prosecutors, policy experts, and advocates with diverse perspectives on the challenges and responsibilities of prosecution. Hosted by Alissa Marque Heydari of the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy.…
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