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The Capture of Maduro: is international law dead?
27:04|On January 3rd 2026, the United States launched an audacious mission to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and bring him back to the US to stand trial on charges related to "narcoterrorism". The operation has shocked the world, with some quarters celebrating the toppling of an illegitimate, authoritarian regime, and others decrying the flagrant abuse of international law. Has President Trump put the final nail in the coffin of the concept of international law? Or is there a defence for the operation via precedent or domestic law? The Law and Disorder trio – Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy and Nicholas Mostyn – assemble to discuss.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.
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2025: The Year in Law
26:48|2025 has been a hugely consequential year, with troubling assaults on the Rule of Law in the US as well as challenges to international law in the Middle East and Ukraine. Closer to home, the UK justice system continues to creak under the weight of the backlog. With so much happening, the Law & Disorder team gather (remotely) one last time for 2025, to look back over the past 12 months and ahead to the start of a new year. Are our legal norms being irreparably eroded? Or can the rules-based order reassert itself?If you want to enter the competition to win a signed copy of Edward Stourton's new book, please send your entries to lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.The Misconduct Dilemma: how should abuse be reflected in financial remedy proceedings?
33:44|Should misconduct be taken into account when an equitable division of assets is being attempted following a divorce? That's the question we're dealing with today, as Nicholas Mostyn – and old hand in these affairs – and Helena Kennedy are joined by Anita Mehta, a barrister and co-host of Talking Family Law. Together they talk about the law as it was, is and could possibly be, as our understanding of complex issues like domestic abuse and coercive control evolve.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.The Life and Times of Brenda Hale
48:54|Baroness Brenda Hale is one of the most experienced legal minds in the country. Having served on the Supreme Court (including a stint as the first female President) she joins this week's podcast to reflect on her storied career, the times when she came up against certain podcast hosts in court, and some of the pressing issues facing the justice system, from the future of jury trials to the alleviation of the backlog. Witty, insightful and wise, Baroness Hale's life will prove an inspiration to many.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.Beth v The Security Service: do we have the right checks on investigatory powers?
45:22|There has been much in the news in recent years about undercover police work, with the public shocked by the level of intrusion permitted. Charlotte Kilroy KC, our guest today, is an expert on this subject, and has recently represented a woman, Beth, whose partner allegedly used his status as an informant for MI5 in order to inflict domestic abuse. In this wide-ranging discussion, the team look at the role of undercover personnel, the work of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, and what balance must be struck between the question of national security and the safety and privacy of those coming into contact with subterfuge. If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.The Future of the Jury Trial (live from Ripon Cathedral!)
37:05|Last week, the Law & Disorder trio had the privilege of broadcasting live from Ripon Cathedral, where they debated a key question at the heart of proposals to revamp Britain's justice system: should jury trials be consigned to history? Or is there space for a hybrid system? Tied to suggestions made by Sir Brian Leveson, the team make their arguments for and against preserving a key part of Britain's common law system.This event was kindly sponsored by Irwin Mitchell solicitors.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.Trump v the BBC: can the President really sue the BBC?
17:58|Donald Trump is threatening to sue the BBC for a reported $5bn over the BBC's flagship Panorama programme's 'misleading' edit of one of his speeches. The President is claiming significant reputational damage stemmed from an injudicious edit which made it seem like he had directly incited the 6th January insurrection at the Capitol. But does he really have a case? How much money could the Beeb be on the hook for? Or is the American President using 'lawfare' to chill his media critics? Nicholas Mostyn, Charlie Falconer and Helena Kennedy gather to discuss this momentous collision of politics and the law.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.