Josh Dubin & J.D. Tomlinson

Date: 2025-03-11 | Duration: 2h 7m

Episode Overview

Josh Tuber brings his friend JD Tomlinson — the former prosecuting attorney for Lorain County, Ohio (the equivalent of a district attorney in most jurisdictions) — onto JRE to walk through what he witnessed during his time as the county's chief prosecutor. JD describes specific cases that tested his ethics, his relationship with law enforcement, and how the institutional pressures of the justice system can push even well-intentioned prosecutors toward outcomes that serve the system rather than the truth. The conversation is a frank look at how prosecutorial power works in practice — the political dimensions, the accountability gaps, and the moments when JD had to make decisions that cost him. Joe and JD end with an agreement on the fundamental principle: you can't make sweeping judgments about a group of people; each situation has to be taken individually.

About J.D. Tomlinson

J.D. Tomlinson is an accomplished lawyer and former Lorain County Prosecutor in Ohio, where he gained recognition for his commitment to justice and ethical legal practices. With a wealth of experience in the courtroom, Tomlinson has been involved in pivotal cases that highlight the complexities of the criminal justice system. He is known for his advocacy in reforming outdated practices and ensuring fair treatment for all individuals within the legal framework. Tomlinson's insights and experiences, especially shared during his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, shed light on the pressing issues surrounding criminal justice reform, making him a compelling figure in today's legal landscape.

About Josh Dubin

Josh Dubin is a prominent civil rights attorney and the Executive Director of the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice, where he advocates for comprehensive criminal justice reform. With a track record of challenging wrongful convictions and fighting systemic injustices, Dubin has made significant strides in promoting equitable legal practices. He is particularly known for his innovative work in utilizing technology and data-driven approaches to address issues within the justice system. Dubin's compelling insights into the intersections of law, technology, and social equity make him a captivating voice in the ongoing dialogue about justice reform, as showcased in his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.

Key Moments

– Prosecutorial power in the American justice system
– JD Tomlinson's time as Lorain County, Ohio's top prosecutor
– Institutional pressures that push prosecutors away from truth
– Political dimensions of being a district attorney
– Accountability gaps and the moments ethics are tested
– Taking each case individually vs. sweeping judgments about groups
0:00:00 – Josh Tuber introduces JD Tomlinson — former Lorain County prosecuting attorney
2:00:48 – You can't make big judgments about a group — take each situation individually
2:01:15 – Thank you JD — thank you Josh. Love you both.

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Joe Rogan Experience. Trained by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day. Josh Tuber, my man, introduce your friend. This is going to be wild. This is JD Tomlinson, the former prosecuting attorney for Lorraine County, Ohio, and for the listeners, prosecuting attorney is similar to a DA in most jurisdictions. They just call it the prosecuting attorney. He was the head attorney in Lorraine County, Ohio up until January. Starting point is 00:00:43 So the reason why that's significant is the last time we were here We were talking about that case the case of the Ohio for so let's why don't you recap that for everybody? For people that didn't listen to the previous podcast what we talked about this so the Ohio for our four gentlemen that were wrongfully convicted of a murder they didn't commit. And the last time I came on, we talked extensively about the case. You could read about it at freetheeohio4.com. We have on that site my submission that I made to JD when he was the prosecuting attorney and all the exhibits supporting it. But what happened is this woman is murdered in the 90s and these four men become suspects actually before there's any evidence against them whatsoever. In two Starting point is 00:01:41 and a half decades of doing post-conviction work, I had never seen the police put in an affidavit where they're, excuse me, not an affidavit, a police report when they're investigating this murder that these four men are people we should look at based on nothing other than there was a lot of commotion in the community Understandably so that there were people from out of town selling drugs. No question My client and these other three guys were involved in selling drugs and they wanted drugs off the street in Lorraine So they immediately start Starting point is 00:02:23 looking at them. This woman is found behind a shopping center, horribly, savagely murdered. She's stabbed multiple times, her throat is cut, her name is Marsha Blakel...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2287?

Josh Dubin & J.D. Tomlinson was the guest on JRE #2287. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2287?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2287 with Josh Dubin & J.D. Tomlinson, topics include Prosecutorial power in the American justice system, JD Tomlinson's time as Lorain County, Ohio's top prosecutor, Institutional pressures that push prosecutors away from, and Political dimensions of being a district attorney.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #2287?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #2287 with Josh Dubin & J.D. Tomlinson is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.