Season 6, Episode 7: Renée Good ICE Shooting and Independent Autopsy Developments

In this episode, we return to the case of Renée Good, who was fatally shot by ICE in Minnesota, a case we originally broke down in Episode 2: Legal Breakdown of the ICE Minnesota Shooting on January 14.

Renée Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7. Since that initial breakdown, her family has released results from an independent autopsy commissioned by Romanucci & Blandin, showing three gunshot wounds, and fueling intense debate about the force used.

Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd unpack what those autopsy findings mean legally, how federal narratives diverge from on-the-ground evidence, and why this case resonates far beyond Minneapolis.

If you haven't listened to Episode 2: Legal Breakdown of the ICE Minnesota Shooting from January 14, it’s worth starting there for foundational legal context before diving into this update.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd unpack a real case in which a Somali client and a paralegal were followed after a defense medical exam on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What initially looked like routine surveillance quickly escalated into fear, confusion, and a confrontation that exposed deeper issues around power, racial profiling, and defense strategy.

Karen shares trial stories where surveillance backfired spectacularly in front of juries. Mo explains why the situation immediately raised red flags, especially given the timing and the people involved. Together, they break down how CR-35 exams work, why defense teams use private investigators, and when those tactics cross ethical and human lines.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Season 6, Episode 5: The ACLU Lawsuit Challenging ICE’s Operation Metro Surge

A young Somali American U.S. citizen is tackled and detained by ICE in Minnesota, then later pepper-sprayed while filming a protest. That moment becomes the flashpoint for a federal class action brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, challenging ICE’s Operation Metro Surge.

Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd unpack how visual cues, surnames, and assumptions turn into a pretext for stops, and how fast “show me your papers” spirals when most citizens don’t carry proof of citizenship.

They walk through the lawsuit’s core claims, including Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful seizures and equal protection challenges to racially targeted enforcement, and clarify what ICE can and cannot do under federal law.

The conversation widens to lived experience, family histories shaped by Nazi Germany and Jim Crow, and the unease that sets in when communities start bracing for enforcement instead of living freely.

From Seattle school alerts to what happens next in court, this episode stays focused on the real question. Where does federal authority stop, and who draws the line?

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Season 6, Episode 4: The Reality of Work-Life Balance for Trial Lawyers

What does “work-life balance” actually look like for trial lawyers? In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd get honest about what life looks like in the weeks leading up to trial and in the middle of it.

Karen walks through how she keeps relationships, movement, and creativity in her life even during trial, and why she deliberately cuts out everything else.

Mo talks about being a grinder, integrating work into life instead of trying to escape it, and why physical movement and creative outlets keep him sharp.

Mike pushes the conversation toward creativity, compartmentalization, and the mental reset that makes trial work sustainable.

They talk about guilt, especially for women in the law, sacrifice, aging, creativity, and why there is no magic formula. Trial work narrows life. It doesn’t stop it. And the art of law is part of what keeps them going.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Season 6, Episode 3: Power: Who Holds It And Who Doesn’t

In this episode, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi go head-to-head on whether power is real or an illusion, and why that question matters when your client has none. From courtroom dynamics and judicial authority to insurance companies, employers, and institutions that quietly run the show, this conversation pulls apart how power actually works when the stakes are real.

Karen brings decades of trial experience and zero patience for theoretical thinking that ignores reality. Mo pushes back with a survivor’s mindset shaped by resistance, meaning, and refusal to submit. Mike Todd jumps in to ground the debate in everyday life, systems, and consequences.

If this conversation resonates, follow The Velvet Hammer™, share it with someone who fights uphill battles, and leave a review telling us how you deal with power when it shows up in your life.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Season 6, Episode 2: Legal Breakdown of the ICE Minnesota Shooting

In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd examine the January 7, 2026, fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota that resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good. They discuss what is visible on video, the sequence of events, and the legal standards that apply when deadly force is used.

The conversation focuses on Fourth Amendment law, qualified immunity, and the divide between criminal prosecution and civil accountability. They also address why criminal charges are often unlikely in cases involving law enforcement shootings, and why civil litigation may be the only remaining path for a family seeking answers

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Episode 1: Preparing for Trial

Season six opens with Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd discussing the emotional and physical shift that happens when a trial is coming. The sleep changes. The aggression sharpens. The energy spikes.

Karen talks candidly about how her body knows a trial is coming before her brain catches up, why she sleeps less, gets spicier, and becomes laser-focused weeks in advance. Mo breaks down how he prepares without overpreparing, why living inside the story matters more than scripts, and how artistic instincts shape trial work. Mike brings the jury perspective, including how lawyer dynamics and confidence land in the room.

They dig into overpreparing versus trusting your instincts, why some lawyers isolate, and others stay fully engaged in life, how antagonistic defense counsel can fuel preparation, and why juries need time to earn the fight.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Episode 49: Decoding Voir Dire Part 5 | The Jury Selection Series

The final installment of our five-part Voir Dire series. Karen Koehler explains how to respectfully invite jurors to excuse themselves by honoring their moral convictions rather than attacking them. Mo Hamoudi explains why judges focus on what jurors say, not what lawyers argue, and how letting jurors talk themselves into a cause challenge is often the winning move. Mike Todd offers insight into what actually happens in deliberations and why silence, leadership, and thinking style matter more than most lawyers expect.

They also address Zoom voir dire pitfalls, the risk of silent jurors, and why there is no such thing as a perfect jury. Only the best one you can build in the time you are given.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share, and leave a review telling us which voir dire lesson took you the longest to learn.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.