What does it truly take to own your story, and how does radical accountability transform not just an individual life, but the entire criminal justice framework?

In this candid episode of Lens of a Lawyer, host David Bell sits down with guest Amanda Riley to explore the fundamental role accountability plays both inside the courtroom and in everyday life.

Amanda shares her remarkable personal journey: faced with the option of probation, she made the incredible choice to ask for prison instead. This decision not only helped her turn her life around from drug abuse and abusive relationships to a life centered around helping others re-enter society after imprisonment.

In a legal system built on adversary and opposition, winning an argument is often mistaken for solving a problem. But what happens when we replace pure confrontation with strategic conflict resolution?

In this episode of Lens of a Lawyer, host David Bell sits down with conflict resolution expert Melanie Worsley to explore how mediation and dispute resolution principles can reshape the legal landscape from the ground up. Together, they break down how these practices are being applied to de-escalate high-stakes situations in law enforcement, reform the justice system to focus on restitution over retaliation, and provide practical tools to handle everyday personal disputes. Tune in for an insightful conversation on moving past win-or-lose battles to find solutions that actually stick—in the courtroom, on the streets, and at home.

Equal justice under law is a founding promise of modern legal systems. Yet, a person’s socioeconomic standing often fundamentally shapes how they experience the criminal justice system - from initial police contact to sentencing and post-release re-entry. How do wealth and poverty dictate access to legal representation, bail outcomes, and overall perceptions of fairness? Where do economic disparities turn procedural rights into privileges reserved for the few?

To explore these questions, David speaks with criminologist and researcher Dr. Marijana Kotlaja to examine the complex relationship between class, inequality, and the reality of justice in America today.

Policing is a practice as old as human civilization. While its core mission remains unchanged, the day-to-day challenges faced by officers are constantly reshaped by shifts in our workforce, politics, and society. What opportunities does artificial intelligence offer law enforcement and legal professionals, and what are the risks of misuse by authorities or abuse by bad actors? How can our courts and police officers maintain their human code in an age of ones and zeroes?

To answer these questions, David speaks with the Chief of Staff and Tech Policy Counsel at the NYU School of Law’s Policing Project.

Over the past half-century, Hip Hop has grown into one of the most powerful forces in American culture. Yet from its very beginning, the genre has carried an unfair criminal connotation. From the legal battles over music sampling to the debates around "Gangsta Rap" and high-profile feuds, crime and culture repeatedly meet at the junction of Hip Hop.

David is joined by fellow attorney and 'Rap On Trial' expert, Jack Lerner, to discuss the controversial use of rap lyrics in criminal trials, the limits of free speech, and the racial undertones shaping the broader debate around Hip Hop’s influence.

Military veterans are often held in high esteem—we thank them for their service, honor them in speeches, and remember them in our prayers. At the opposite end of society's perceived spectrum of merit, people experiencing homelessness face persistent stigma and alienation. The tragic, often overlooked irony is that many veterans struggle to transition back to civilian life and ultimately become unhoused themselves.

In this episode, David sits down with Vincent Morales, a veteran who overcame steep personal challenges to launch a nonprofit dedicated to catching veterans who fall through the cracks. Together, they explore why so many service members struggle post-service, the hidden hurdles to getting help, and the surprising parallels between former military personnel and released prisoners.

How does one become a judge? Does being one makes more judgmental in your personal life? David is joined by Judge John Torrence to discuss the path to becoming a judge, the challenges of the job, and lessons learned on the bench.

What is the true purpose of prison? Sentencing sits at the absolute center of criminal justice, sparking fierce debate from every angle—whether it’s public outrage over lenient terms or the devastating, unintended consequences of mandatory minimums. This week, David sits down with Professor Sheldon Evans of Washington University in St. Louis, a leading expert on punishment theory, to break down the historical, social, and philosophical forces that dictate how we punish crime.