Court Junkie
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"Court Junkie is the only major true crime podcast where the host is actually in the courtroom — Jillian Jalali offers access and perspective no armchair investigator can match."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode
- ✓Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries
- ✓Legal procedure enthusiasts and wrongful conviction advocates
- ✓Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories
Pros & cons
- +High binge factor — listeners consistently come back for more
- +Episodic format — great for both casual listeners and committed fans, start anywhere
About this podcast
Journalist Jillian Jalali doesn't just research true crime cases — she attends actual courtrooms and reports from inside real trials, covering everything from high-profile murders to lesser-known cases deserving attention. Her access and perspective are genuinely unique in the podcast space.
Best episode to start with
Any episode covering a case currently in trial — the real-time reporting is the unique selling point
Episodic format — episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order
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Frequently Asked Questions about Court Junkie
What is Court Junkie about?
Journalist Jillian Jalali doesn't just research true crime cases — she attends actual courtrooms and reports from inside real trials, covering everything from high-profile murders to lesser-known cases deserving attention. Her access and perspective are genuinely unique in the podcast space.
Is Court Junkie worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Good if niche interests you". It scores 7/10 on binge factor. True crime fans who want firsthand courtroom reporting rather than secondhand summarising; listeners interested in how trials actually work rather than how they look on TV.
Who is Court Junkie for?
Court Junkie is ideal for: Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode; Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries; Legal procedure enthusiasts and wrongful conviction advocates; Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories.
What is the best episode of Court Junkie to start with?
We recommend starting with Any episode covering a case currently in trial — the real-time reporting is the unique selling point. Episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order.
Where can I listen to Court Junkie?
Court Junkie is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Court Junkie?
If you enjoy Court Junkie, you might also like: Anatomy of Murder, Crime Junkie, In the Dark, The Thing About Pam. See our full "Podcasts Like Court Junkie" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Episodic
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Journalistic, detailed, serious
- Episode length
- ~30-60 min per episode; 150+ episodes since 2017
- Binge factor
- 7/10
- Country
- United States
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