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.

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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.

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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.