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May 11, 2019 Mother's Day

Imani Gandy

Senior Legal Analyst

@AngryBlackLady

Imani is a senior legal analyst for Rewire.News, where she covers law and courts and co-hosts Rewire.News’ podcast Boom! Lawyered. Imani also began and continues to write the Angry Black Lady Chronicles.

Imani is a recovering attorney turned award-winning journalist and political blogger. Previously, Imani founded Angry Black Lady Chronicles, winner of the 2010 Black Weblog Award for Blog to Watch and the 2012 Black Weblog Award for Best Political Blog. She received her JD from University of Virginia School of Law in 2001, where she was a Hardy Cross Dillard scholar and an Editorial Board member of the University of Virginia Law Review. She has presented at several conferences and panels, including the 2013 Abortion Care Network as the Keynote Speaker; the 2014 Baffler Conference; the 2016 YBCA 100 Summit; the 2016 PPFA 100th Anniversary at the Brooklyn Historical Society; the 2018 SXSW Panel “If Roe Were to Go”; the 2018 plenary for National Abortion Federation’s annual meeting; and the 2018 Affect Conference as the Keynote Speaker. Boom! Lawyered won Podcast of the Year in 2017 from the Population Control Institute.

For press appearances or further information, please contact [email protected]

All Work

Commentary My Body. My Rules.

Someone Tell This Ohio Legislator You Can’t Move Ectopic Pregnancies Into the Uterus

May 9, 10:02am

Ohio Rep. John Becker has sponsored a bill that literally defies science.

Boom! Lawyered: How Georgia and Kansas Reveal the Future Battleground for Abortion Rights

May 9, 8:33am Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

The near total ban on abortion recently passed in Georgia contrasts sharply with the landmark decision in Kansas declaring abortion to be a natural right. In the latest episode of Boom! Lawyered, hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy explore which of those paths other states are likely to follow and the number-one reason there's still hope for abortion rights in the United States.

Boom! Lawyered: The Master Plan to Dismantle LGBTQ Rights Is in Its Endgame

Apr 25, 9:20am Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

The Supreme Court announced this week that it will hear three cases that could determine what, if any, protections LGBTQ employees have from job discrimination. In this episode of Boom! Lawyered, Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy explain what it means that the Court agreed to hear all three cases together and how the effects of a bad ruling could extend into housing and health-care discrimination.

Commentary LGBT Shenanigans

Boom! Lawyered: ‘Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins’ Edition

Apr 24, 3:50pm

The Supreme Court decided this week to consider whether it will permit workplace discrimination against LGBTQ people. In doing so, the justices will have to wrestle with Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, the landmark 1989 case about gender stereotyping in the workplace.

Boom! Lawyered: If You’re a Rapper, Your Lyrics Can Send You to Jail

Apr 18, 2:56pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

In the latest episode of Boom! Lawyered, Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo discuss the case of Jamal Knox, a young rapper who was convicted for terroristic threats and witness intimidation based on the lyrics of his music. When are words “true threats,” and when are they protected free speech? And why do most court cases on speech seem to be decided in whichever direction benefits white Christian patriarchy?

[Photo: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to a meeting.]

Analysis Law and Policy

The Republican Takeover of the Federal Courts Should Terrify You

Apr 16, 2:29pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

These judges, many of whom are young and wildly unqualified, have been appointed to the bench for life.

Boom! Lawyered: ‘Reverse Discrimination’ Isn’t a Thing, but the Roberts Court Might Disagree

Apr 11, 2:18pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

The Supreme Court will soon decide whether to take a case that would give school districts the ability to affirmatively discriminate against transgender students. Boom! Lawyered hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy explain how a bad decision in this case could enshrine the bogus concept of "reverse discrimination" into law, putting even more rights—and lives—at risk.

Commentary My Body. My Rules.

Supreme Court Rejects David Daleiden’s Plea for Help in Litigation With Planned Parenthood

Apr 3, 2:07pm

David Daleiden still exists, and he is still pretending that his attempts to smear Planned Parenthood were acts of investigative journalism.

Boom! Lawyered: Mailbag Edition

Mar 21, 2:48pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

In the latest episode of Boom! Lawyered, hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy answer listener questions across a range of important issues. Where can we find hope for the future of reproductive rights? How soon will people feel the impact of so many recent ultra-conservative judges appointed to the lower courts? And what beverage pairs well with a delicious criminal indictment? Listen and subscribe to find out.

Boom! Lawyered: A Dude Is Suing an Alabama Abortion Clinic for ‘Wrongful Death’…of an Embryo

Mar 14, 3:19pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Ryan Magers is suing the Alabama Women's Center for wrongful death because his girlfriend, who was 16 at the time, got an abortion—with the consent of her parents—against Magers's wishes. How is this even possible? And how does this case fit into the ongoing anti-choice campaign for "fetal personhood?" Boom! Lawyered hosts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo have those answers and more.

Commentary The Politics of Politics

Dear Alyssa Milano: Will You Be My Co-Conspirator?

Mar 14, 2:48pm

Firing off some tweets, circulating petitions, giving speeches, and raising awareness about various issues is a perfectly admirable and safe endeavor. But if you really want to help LGBTQ people, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, and everyone who lives in the intersections of those identities, we need you to do more.

Boom! Lawyered: Myth-Busting the Anti-Choice ‘Born Alive’ Bills

Mar 7, 4:07pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Anti-choice politicians are pushing a new legislative strategy to demonize their opponents and confuse the public: so-called "Born Alive" bills. In this episode of Boom! Lawyered, Rewire.News legal eagles Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo dissect the myths propping up this strategy and give you all the tools you need to combat anti-choice lies about later abortion.

Commentary My Body. My Rules.

Probate Judge in Alabama Allows Man to Sue Abortion Clinic on Behalf of Aborted Embryo

Mar 6, 10:25am

If successful, Ryan Magers' lawsuit could have devastating consequences for people of reproductive age in Alabama.

Boom! Lawyered: The Cohen Hearing vs. the Kavanaugh Hearings

Feb 27, 3:56pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

In this emergency episode of Boom! Lawyered, Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy discuss some of the most pressing questions and concerning developments from Michael Cohen's day of testimony before the House oversight committee.

Commentary My Body. My Rules.

Hey Missouri. It’s Me, AngryBlackLady. We Need to Talk About Your War on Abortion. Again.

Feb 27, 10:39am

Missouri anti-choice legislators are still tripping all over themselves to make reproductive care impossible to access.

Boom! Lawyered: Clarence Thomas Wants to Blow Up Defamation Law

Feb 21, 8:22am Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

This week, the Supreme Court declined to take up an appeal by Kathrine McKee, a woman who publicly accused Bill Cosby of raping her more than 40 years ago. As part of this decision, Clarence Thomas issued an alarming concurring opinion that may signal the start of a prolonged attack on the First Amendment in the courts.

Boom! Lawyered: Federal Funding to Discriminate Against LGBTQ and Non-Christian Families?

Feb 14, 1:54pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

In several states, there are evangelical adoption and foster care agencies trying to keep federal funding while refusing to place children in LGBTQ or non-Christian families—and now the Trump administration may help them. Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy break down who's behind these discriminatory efforts and what they mean for kids and parents around the country.

Boom! Lawyered: The John Roberts Abortion Conundrum…Resolved?

Feb 8, 1:42pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Last night, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to block an anti-choice law in Louisiana from taking effect while it is being challenged in the courts. John Roberts was the deciding vote. Yes, you read that correctly. Is this a one-time thing, or does this signal that Roberts is moving to the middle on abortion? And what's next for abortion rights in Louisiana and around the country?

[Photo: Two queer men of color stand face to face with each other as they smile. They're holding red heart balloons as they pose for their engagement photos.]

Analysis LGBT Shenanigans

It Didn’t End With Cakes: Artists in Arizona Want to Deny Wedding Invitations to Gay Couples

Feb 8, 1:19pm Imani Gandy

The case is part of a nationwide crusade by evangelical Christians to weaponize the First Amendment and religious freedom to defend anti-gay bigotry.

Boom! Lawyered: The Supreme Court Head Fake on Abortion in Louisiana

Feb 4, 2:02pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

The Supreme Court issued a stay against an anti-choice law in Louisiana ... but only for a few days, perhaps? Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy try to make sense of this puzzling move by the Court and what might happen next.

Boom! Lawyered: The John Roberts Abortion Conundrum

Jan 30, 5:13pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

The Fifth Circuit has teed up a big test for Chief Justice John Roberts in a case out of Louisiana that involves hospital admitting privilege requirements for abortion providers. If Roberts respects precedent as much as he says he does, the law should be dead in the water. But is it?

[Photo: Supporters of legal access to abortion, as well as anti-abortion activists, rally outside the Supreme Court.]

Analysis What the Crap?!

The Fifth Circuit Will Bend Over Backward to Restrict Abortion Rights (Updated)

Jan 24, 2:21pm Imani Gandy

Even if it flouts judicial norms in the process.

Boom! Lawyered: Day Two of William Barr’s Confirmation Hearings

Jan 16, 3:15pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

In the second and final day of confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee William Barr, witnesses testified both for and against his nomination. Some of it was fluff, but some of it was fire. Rewire.News legal eagles Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo break down the key takeaways as a confirmation vote draws near.

Boom! Lawyered: Day One of William Barr’s Confirmation Hearings

Jan 15, 9:07pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

Rewire.News legal experts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy sift through the testimony of Attorney General nominee William Barr, including his subtle but serious signals that he might be a danger to civil rights and immigration justice.

Boom! Lawyered: Bye-Bye, Birth Control Benefit?

Jan 10, 2:49pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

The Trump administration plans to take a sledgehammer to the birth control benefit. Boom! Lawyered hosts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo explain why its approach might not be entirely legal thanks to a little-known—but super-important—law called the Administrative Procedure Act.

[Photo: Various individuals ranging in size, ability and expression, holding signs as they march in front of the National Mall during the Women's March.]

Analysis Contraception Conundrum

I Can’t Believe It’s 2019 and We’re Still Arguing About the Birth Control Benefit (Updated)

Jan 9, 2:42pm Imani Gandy

Regulations that would undercut the birth control benefit are set to go into effect January 14—but not if a handful of states have anything to say about it in federal court this week.

[Photo: John Kasich in front of the U.S. flag]

Analysis Law and Policy

‘Heartbeat’ Bans: How We Got Here, and Where We’re Headed

Dec 26, 6:45am Imani Gandy & Brie Shea

Lawmakers in at least three states have already pre-filed "heartbeat" abortion bans. Will this unconstitutional abortion ban be the anti-choice movement's full-frontal attack on abortion rights in 2019?

Boom! Lawyered: Recapping the Wild Ride of 2018

Dec 18, 4:31pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

It's the end of the year, but it's just the beginning of a slew of court battles that could reshape our rights for years to come. Rewire.News legal experts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy take stock of the legal highs and lows of 2018 with an eye to what's ahead in 2019.

Boom! Lawyered: How Planned Parenthood Gave Clarence Thomas a Case of the Sads

Dec 14, 2:12pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

Several states have tried to find ways to cut Planned Parenthood out of state Medicaid programs. Naturally, lawsuits followed, and this week, the Supreme Court finally weighed in. In this episode of Boom! Lawyered, Rewire.News legal experts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo discuss what happened and what it means for health care across the country.

Trump, Kennedy and LGBTQ workplace discrimination

Boom! Lawyered: Why Aren’t LGBTQ People Protected in the Workplace?

Nov 28, 3:27pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion. So why aren’t all LGBTQ people also definitively protected by this law, and whose fault is that? Boom! Lawyered hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy explain.

Boom! Lawyered: The Ohio Abortion Ban Saga Is Bananas

Nov 21, 1:58pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

A new bill making its way through the Ohio legislature would effectively ban abortion in the state. It’s called a “heartbeat ban," and in this episode of Boom! Lawyered, Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy explain how the bill's sponsors plan to use this law to make abortion illegal in every state.

Commentary Voting Shmoting

As Attorney General, Kris Kobach Would Continue His Work to Suppress Votes

Nov 8, 6:42pm

When he was Kansas secretary of state, Kobach made disenfranchising voters central to his work. There’s little reason to believe his time at the DOJ would be any different.

[Photo: Anti-choice protesters stand with the word

Analysis My Body. My Rules.

In Alabama, Fertilized Eggs Are Now People

Nov 7, 4:35pm Imani Gandy

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Alabama is poised to criminalize abortion across the board—including in cases of rape, incest, or when the health of the pregnant person is at risk.

Boom! Lawyered: Midterm Results and the Voting Rights Battles That Will Follow

Nov 7, 1:20pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

The midterms elections are (mostly) over. Now what? Rewire.News legal experts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy sift through the results and lay out the high-stakes legal and political skirmishes that are likely to follow, especially regarding the right to vote.

Boom! Lawyered: Will Voter Suppression Swing the 2018 Midterms?

Nov 1, 2:49pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

Voter suppression in the 2018 midterms is real, and it's scary. In this episode of Boom! Lawyered, hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy explain the creative and alarming ways Republicans in three states are trying to prevent people from voting.

Boom! Lawyered: They’re Coming for Birthright Citizenship

Oct 30, 6:02pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

President Trump claims he can end birthright citizenship with an executive order. In the latest episode of Boom! Lawyered, Rewire.News legal experts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy explain why that's simply not true—but how this move might be part of a scarier and more effective long-term strategy.

[Photo: Brian Kemp stands at a podium in front of three blonde women and a

Analysis Voting Shmoting

Untrained Georgia Election Officials Are Stripping People of Their Right to Vote Based on Their Signatures (Updated)

Oct 23, 11:02am Imani Gandy

Watch out, John Hancock.

Boom! Lawyered: Meet the Official Who May Lead the Attack on Transgender Rights

Oct 22, 6:15pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

In this episode of Boom! Lawyered, hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy introduce you to Roger Severino. He runs the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He decorates his office with a Clarence Thomas bobblehead and a crucifix. And he's the person likely to be driving the Trump Administration's reported efforts to eliminate transgender rights.

Commentary Voting Shmoting

The Supreme Court Just Ensured That Thousands of Native Americans Won’t Be Able to Vote in November

Oct 11, 12:26pm

North Dakota’s voter identification law makes it harder for Native voters—and students, and other reliably Democratic voters—to participate in elections.

Boom! Lawyered: Kavanaugh Confirmed. Now What?

Oct 6, 6:24pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Well, that happened. Join Boom! Lawyered hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy as they explain the real-world impact of the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Commentary The Politics of Politics

Yes, There Is Plenty of Corroborating Evidence for Christine Blasey Ford’s Allegations

Oct 4, 7:09pm

Either conservatives don't understand what “corroborating evidence” means, or they're lying about it in order to mislead their supporters.

Boom! Lawyered: Ford Shines, Kavanaugh Whines

Sep 27, 8:10pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Rewire.News legal eagles Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo break down an unforgettable day of testimony from Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Commentary The Politics of Politics

The Government Is Still Trying to Block Undocumented Pregnant Minors from Getting Abortions

Sep 25, 6:36pm

The Office of Refugee Resettlement claims to be “de facto” parents to these pregnant minors, but it is claiming more rights than an actual parent would have.

Boom! Lawyered: Meet the Awful Person Who Could Take Over the Mueller Investigation

Sep 24, 6:46pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

Solicitor General Noel Francisco is well-positioned to take over supervision of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference should Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein resign or be fired. Boom! Lawyered hosts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo explain why everyone should be concerned about this line of succession.

Boom! Lawyered: The Kavanaugh Allegations

Sep 18, 1:12pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Boom! Lawyered hosts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo discuss the attempted rape allegations against Brett Kavanaugh and whether they will meaningfully impact his nomination to the Supreme Court.

Commentary The Politics of Politics

Concerns About Whether Kavanaugh Called Contraception ‘Abortion-Inducing Drugs’ Miss the Point

Sep 12, 6:57pm

Judge Brett Kavanaugh's phrasing immediately set off alarm bells among reproductive rights and justice supporters.

Boom! Lawyered: Kavanaugh Hearing, Day Four—Witness

Sep 7, 8:43pm Imani Gandy & Jessica Mason Pieklo

Boom! Lawyered hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy recap the key moments from witness testimony on day four of the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Boom! Lawyered: Kavanaugh Hearing, Day Three—Exposed

Sep 6, 9:40pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

Every day this week, Boom! Lawyered hosts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo will recap and explain the most important takeaways—and most infuriating moments—from the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Listen now for the highlights from day three, and subscribe to make sense of the procedural hurricane as it develops.

Boom! Lawyered: Kavanaugh Hearing, Day Two—Stolen Emails?

Sep 5, 8:02pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

Every day this week, Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo will recap and explain the most important takeaways – and most infuriating moments – from the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Listen now for the highlights from day two, and subscribe to make sense of the procedural hurricane as it develops.

Boom! Lawyered: Kavanaugh Hearing, Day One—Changing the Rules

Sep 4, 7:44pm Jessica Mason Pieklo & Imani Gandy

Every day this week, Boom! Lawyered hosts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo will recap and explain the most important takeaways – and most infuriating moments – from the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Subscribe now to make sense of the procedural hurricane as it develops.