Ashleigh Merchant
Defense attorney and co-host of The MK True Crime Show
Ashleigh Merchant (Defense attorney and co-host of The MK True Crime Show) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Mackenzie Shirilla case, Killing of Henry Nowak, Killing of Austin Metcalf.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Mackenzie Shirilla case
Merchant dismisses the POTS defense, noting the gas pedal had to be fully depressed to reach 100 mph.
“if you had POTS, you wouldn't have the gas pedal fully depressed. And to go 100 miles an hour, you had to literally have the gas pedal all the way down”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330 (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 1:17:47
Merchant believes Shirilla had poor trial counsel because they waived a jury in favor of a bench trial.
“I think she didn't because they had what's called a bench trial instead of a jury trial. And, you know, you never waive that”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330 (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 1:18:34
Killing of Henry Nowak
Merchant argues there was no officer-safety reason to handcuff Nowak because he was compliant.
“absent officer safety reasons, there is absolutely no reason for the police to put this man in custody”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330 (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 1:39:37
Killing of Austin Metcalf
Merchant argues Anthony effectively must testify to succeed on a self-defense claim.
“he's never going to be able to be successful on self-defense if he doesn't testify”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330 (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 1:07:35
Jury sequestration
Merchant says sequestered juries tend to act as a unit and are more likely to convict, which is why defense lawyers oppose sequestration.
“what happens when we have sequestration we have a jury that is much more likely to convict there's tons of studies on that”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330 (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 59:39
Lively v. Wayfarer Studios
Merchant argues Lively is misusing the law to stay in the headlines and should walk away.
“We have Blake Lively, who is definitely misusing this law to trying to remain relevant, trying to remain in the headlines as desperately as she can”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330 (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 35:31
Appearances
Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330The Megyn Kelly Show · Jun 2, 2026 · 1 h 55 min
Megyn Kelly talks with law professor Victoria Burke about Blake Lively's fee bid, then with the MK True Crime hosts about the Karmelo Anthony trial, Mackenzie Shirilla, and Henry Nowak.
Often appears with
- Megyn Kelly · 1 shared episode
- Victoria Burke · 1 shared episode
- Phil Holloway · 1 shared episode
- Dave Aronberg · 1 shared episode
- Mark Nowak · 1 shared episode