Analysis

EPA Targets High Court Do-Over With GHG Rule Repeal

By Keith Goldberg

The Trump administration's removal of the link between greenhouse gases and public health takes aim at the U.S. Supreme Court's 2007 landmark determination that GHGs are air pollutants, and will spark a prolonged battle with consequent uncertainty for industries.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

5 Key Flashpoints From Fed's 'Skinny' Account Proposal

By Jon Hill

The Federal Reserve's push to create "skinny" master accounts that would open up access to U.S. payment rails has become the latest front in long-running turf wars between banks and fintech companies. Here are five of the project's hottest flashpoints attracting controversy.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trump Admin. Blocked From Cutting $600M In Health Funding

By Rae Ann Varona

An Illinois federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from terminating more than $600 million in public health funding to four Democratic-led states, saying the states will likely succeed in showing they are unconstitutionally being targeted due to political or policy objectives.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Judiciary Issues 'Rule Of Law' Ethics Guidance For Judges

By Jeff Overley

Federal judiciary advisers Thursday sought to clarify ethical boundaries for judges wading into politically charged legal waters, saying jurists can rebut "illegitimate criticism" and urge stronger security amid fears of violence while also eschewing "demeaning" or "acerbic" rhetoric.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Judge Boasberg Orders DHS To Return Deported Venezuelans

By Britain Eakin

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg instructed the Trump administration Thursday to facilitate the return of Venezuelan nationals it deported in March under the Alien Enemies Act in violation of his earlier order barring their removal so they can pursue their habeas claims.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NY Senators Criticize DOJ Over US Attorney Firing

By Courtney Bublé

New York's senators blasted the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday for abruptly firing the newly appointed U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Hegseth Blocked From Reducing Sen. Kelly's Navy Rank

By Madeline Lyskawa

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., secured a court order on Thursday blocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from reducing his U.S. Navy rank after he told members of the military they don't have to follow unlawful orders.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Affairs, Spending Come Out In Goldstein Cross-Examination

By Jared Foretek

SCOTUSblog founder Thomas Goldstein was confronted Thursday with allegations of extramarital affairs, lavish spending and lies on asset disclosures, all in front of the jury in his ongoing tax fraud trial.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trump Nominates Judges For SC, Mont., Virgin Islands

By Courtney Bublé

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced district court nominees for South Carolina, Montana and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as one nominee for the International Trade Court.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

5th Circ. Won't Block Miss. E-Cig Law During Appeal

By Mike Curley

The Fifth Circuit won't block enforcement of a Mississippi law that prohibits the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes in the state, saying that the vape interests challenging the law haven't established standing to do so.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

7th Circ. Takes Up BIPA Amendment's Retroactivity

By Celeste Bott

The Seventh Circuit heard arguments Thursday over whether a liability-limiting amendment to Illinois' biometric privacy law has retroactive application to lawsuits filed before it took effect, with one judge on the panel saying it seemed like "billions of dollars of consequences turn on how we label the change."

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Row Over Forensic Expert Testimony Hits NC High Court

By Brandon Lowrey

Prosecutors are urging North Carolina's highest court to uphold a drug conviction thrown out on appeal, saying an appellate court deemed a key forensic expert's trial testimony unconstitutional using a flawed interpretation of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 decision in Smith v. Arizona.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Judge Halts Supermax Transfer For Death Row Prisoners

By MJ Koo

A D.C. federal judge has barred the Trump administration from transferring a group of prisoners whose death sentences were commuted to life in prison to the federal system's most restrictive prison, finding they are likely to succeed on their claim that the redesignations violate due process.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NC Justices Asked To Decide Gov.'s Power To Appoint Judges

By Hayley Fowler

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is asking the state's top court to review a decision that let lawmakers curtail his ability to fill judicial vacancies in appellate courts, arguing the ruling defies precedent as well as the state Constitution and must be reversed.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

5th Circ. Upholds Texas Ban On Compensated Vote Harvesting

By José Luis Martínez

The Fifth Circuit on Thursday reinstated enforcement of Texas' felony ban on compensated vote harvesting, saying that hypothetical scenarios are not enough to claim that a law is unconstitutional.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

SEC's Atkins Rejects Top Dem's Crypto Corruption Claims

By Jessica Corso

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins on Thursday pushed back on claims his agency dropped against cryptocurrency firms as a political favor to President Donald Trump, telling Senate Democrats a "changed attitude" by the commission led to the dismissals.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Airbnb Escapes Most Of Conservative Investors' Suit

By Grace Dixon

A Delaware federal judge on Thursday trimmed claims from two institutional shareholders' suit alleging Airbnb wrongfully excluded their shareholder proposals from proxy materials, nixing claims against specific executives and claims about not-yet-released 2026 proxy materials.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

EPA Sews Up Repeal Of GHG Endangerment Finding

By Keith Goldberg

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized the repeal of an Obama-era finding that greenhouse gases endanger people's health, and clawed back the vehicle emissions standards that relied upon that finding.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Town Officials Off Hook For Railroad's Axed Superfund Deal

By Carolyn Muyskens

A Massachusetts intermediate appellate panel affirmed that two Hopedale officials are immune from claims that they torpedoed a railroad's contract to ship uranium-contaminated soil through their town of 6,000, saying the officials "had every right" to ask questions.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Trump Admin EV Funding Cuts Suits Merged In Wash. Court

By Jonathan Capriel

A Washington federal judge has consolidated two lawsuits seeking to stop the Trump administration from preventing nearly $2.5 billion in congressionally appropriated funds from going to electric vehicle charging infrastructure programs.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DC Circ. Judge Rips Into Insurer In CMS Rating Case

By Nadia Dreid

A Louisiana insurer found a tough critic in one D.C. Circuit judge Thursday as it argued that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services used an unfair method to assess its "star ratings" for insurance plans, with the jurist saying the company seemed like it "just wanted whatever interpretation will give you a higher score."

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Wash. Justices To Hear Gym's Suit Over COVID-Era Inspection

By Ben Adlin

Washington's highest court will review an appellate ruling that state labor department inspectors violated an Anytime Fitness owner's reasonable expectation of privacy when they tailgated a gym member who used a key card to enter the facility during the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses were supposed to be shuttered.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Tesla Says Case Transfer Boosts Mandamus Bid In PTAB Fight

By Dani Kass

A Texas federal judge's decision to send patent infringement litigation against Tesla Inc. to California strengthens the automaker's mandamus petition claiming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board wrongly turned away its challenges, Tesla told the Federal Circuit.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Inventors Push For Discovery On Patent Quality Program

By Adam Lidgett

A Washington, D.C., federal judge should ignore the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's attempt to avoid reopening discovery into whether it covertly revived a now-defunct program for flagging "sensitive" patent applications for extra review, according to two inventors who have filed a proposed class action.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Fla. Court Tosses 'King Of Vape' Suit Against NY Post

By David Minsky

A Florida federal court dismissed a defamation complaint that a store owner operating as "The King of Vape" brought against the New York Post over an article referring to him as an "Israel hater" who aided Hamas and also sold illegal nicotine products, saying claims weren't sufficiently alleged.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

FTC Chairman Targets Apple News' 'Left-Wing' Favoritism

By Bryan Koenig

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson escalated his campaign against alleged censorship of conservative viewpoints with a "warning letter" sent directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook citing reports that Apple News favors "left-wing news outlets" and suppresses conservative ones.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DC Circ. Is Asked To Vet New DOT Immigrant Truck Driver Rule

By Linda Chiem

Drivers and labor unions on Thursday petitioned the D.C. Circuit to review the U.S. Department of Transportation's new final rule tightening states' screening procedures and eligibility criteria for nondomiciled commercial driver's licenses issued to immigrants.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

2nd Circ. Declines To Block TRO On Gateway Tunnel Project

By Carla Baranauckas

Federal funding for the $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project must resume flowing — at least for now — after the Second Circuit declined on Thursday to pause a district court order requiring the Trump administration to lift its freeze on reimbursements to New York and New Jersey.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Calif. Insurance Chief Backs Smoke Standards Bill

By Hope Patti

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced his support Wednesday for a bill that would establish the nation's first public health and insurance claims standard for homes damaged by smoke contamination.

Bill attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Colo. City Faces Bias Suit For 'Sober Living' Housing Policy

By Rachel Konieczny

The city of Longmont, Colorado, discriminated against individuals recovering from substance abuse by requiring a private recovery housing provider to undergo a site plan approval process that others are not subjected to, the recovery residence provider alleged in federal court.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

GOP Lawmakers Probe CalPERS's 'Radical' ESG Investments

By Kelcey Caulder

The chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee and two other Republican lawmakers sent a letter Thursday to California's largest public pension fund, demanding information on whether it prioritized "radical left-wing causes" over protecting retirement savers.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Attys Win $626K In Fees In Mich. City Retiree Benefits Suit

By Melanie Dorsey

A Michigan federal judge awarded $626,777.80 in attorney fees and costs to class counsel who secured expanded pension and healthcare benefits for retired Pontiac city employees, trimming $100,000 from the request for unsupported billing entries.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DOJ Antitrust Chief Slater Stepping Down

By Matthew Perlman

Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, head of the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, said on Thursday she will be leaving her post just shy of a year after being confirmed by the Senate.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

FTC Merger Filing Overhaul Thrown Out

By Bryan Koenig

The Federal Trade Commission hasn't shown the costs on merging companies outweigh the claimed benefits of dramatically increasing the amount of information that must be provided upfront when giving notice of a transaction, a Texas federal judge said Thursday, throwing out the commission's overhaul of premerger reporting requirements.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

FTC's PBM Case Paused For More Deal Talks

By Matthew Perlman

Federal Trade Commission staffers are discussing potential settlements with OptumRx and Caremark that could end the agency's case accusing the pharmacy benefit managers of inflating insulin prices, following a recent deal with Express Scripts.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

HPE Has 'No Grounds' To Hide DOJ Deal Bidders, AGs Say

By Bryan Koenig

Democratic attorneys general challenging the controversial Justice Department settlement permitting Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $14 billion purchase of Juniper Networks have urged a California federal judge to let them see who's bidding for assets up for divestiture, arguing the would-be buyers are an integral part of the agreement's viability.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Ex-Pharma Exec Fights AGs' Quick Win Bid In Antitrust Case

By George Woolston

A former pharmaceutical marketing executive urged a Connecticut federal court to reject summary judgment sought against him by state attorneys general pursuing wider price-fixing litigation against most of the generic drug industry, arguing key cooperating witnesses' questionable credibility makes a trial necessary.

Response attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Texas AG To Investigate Conduent, BCBS For Data Breach

By Spencer Brewer

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday that he's investigating Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Conduent Business Services LLC over a sprawling data breach that left sensitive data for upward of four million Texans exposed.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Bipartisan Bill Targets Scam Ads On Social Media Platforms

By Jon Hill

Federal lawmakers are pushing to require social media companies to crack down on fraudulent advertising on their platforms under new bipartisan legislation that is drawing praise from banking and consumer groups.

Bill attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Challenge To 3D-Printed Gun Law Fails, 3rd Circ. Rules

By Jonathan Capriel

The First Amendment does not protect the distribution of "purely functional code" that would allow for the 3D printing of guns, the Third Circuit ruled Thursday, ending a challenge to a New Jersey law from a Texas-based firearm company and a gun rights group.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

USMCA Must Be Extended In Joint Review, Senators Told

By Dylan Moroses

The U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement should be strengthened and extended given the benefits it has generated for businesses, the former chair of the House Ways and Means Committee told the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday as President Donald Trump's actions cast doubt over the deal's future.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

US Sets 15% Tariff On Taiwanese Imports In Trade Deal

By Hailey Konnath

Taiwan has agreed to lift nearly all of its tariffs on U.S. imports and pledged to purchase nearly $85 billion in American goods in exchange for a 15% tariff on Taiwanese goods, according to a reciprocal trade deal signed Thursday.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

ITC Finds Van Trailer Imports Harmed US Production

By Jack McLoone

Imported van-type trailers and their assemblies entering the U.S. from Mexico, Canada and China are harming U.S. producers, the U.S. International Trade Commission said Thursday.

Notice attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Commerce Examining Mexican Strawberries For Antidumping

By Jack McLoone

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Monday opened an investigation into whether winter strawberries imported from Mexico are being sold at less than fair value, coinciding with a U.S. International Trade Commission investigation into possible harms.

Notice attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

IRS Guidance Offers Relief In Energy Credits' Sourcing Limits

By Kat Lucero

The IRS issued interim guidance Thursday providing two safe harbor options for clean energy facilities or manufacturers of energy components to determine the extent to which they received material assistance from an entity tied to a foreign government that the U.S. deems adversarial.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Hotel Cos. Urge UK Gov't To Abandon Holiday Tax Proposal

By Josh White

The Labour government should not introduce what is known as a holiday tax on the hospitality industry, more than 200 hotel companies told the U.K.'s finance minister.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DC Judge Skeptical Funding Lapse Settles ICE Visit Policy Row

By Britain Eakin

A D.C. federal judge considered Thursday whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security permissibly used a funding gap to freshen up a policy requiring a week's notice for congressional oversight visits, or if a longstanding spending rider prohibits the move.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DC Judge Won't Bow To DOJ, Public Criticism On TPS Ruling

By Tom Lotshaw

A D.C. federal judge who said she has been receiving threats and personal insults after she temporarily blocked the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status for Haitians refused to pause her ruling, saying judges will not be intimidated by public threats.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NYC Politician Lander Gets Trial Date Over ICE Scuffle

By Pete Brush

A Manhattan federal judge set a May trial date Thursday for former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander to adjudicate a ticket he received for allegedly obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement as he monitored proceedings at a building where immigrants have been detained.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Mass. US Atty Calls ICE Criticism 'Hyperbole,' Praises Agents

By Julie Manganis

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said Thursday that criticism of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by state and local officials and a lack of cooperation with federal agents is to blame for "chaos in the streets," as she forcefully defended the Trump administration's policies.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Senate Recess To Trigger Partial DHS Shutdown This Weekend

By Courtney Bublé

The Senate left town on Thursday ahead of their recess, virtually ensuring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will shut down at midnight on Friday.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Interview

12 Questions For FCC Chair Brendan Carr

By Christopher Cole

It's been a "banger" of a year at the Federal Communications Commission, says agency chief Brendan Carr, who took over at the outset of President Donald Trump's second term with the goal of cutting regulations and quickly turning over more spectrum to the private sector.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Senate Committee OKs Bill To Better Oversee Broadband Map

By Christopher Cole

A key Senate committee on Thursday advanced legislation to explore whether the Federal Communications Commission's maps of broadband service are working as intended.

Bill attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Dinsmore Adds IRS Senior Counsel As Tax Partner In DC

By Jack Rodgers

An attorney who spent more than a decade working as an attorney and reviewer at the Internal Revenue Service has joined Dinsmore & Shohl LLP's Washington, D.C., tax group, the firm announced this week.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Navigating New Risks Amid Altered Foreign Issuer Landscape

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's potential rulemaking to redefine who qualifies as a foreign private issuer will shape securities regulation and enforcement for decades, affecting not only FPIs and U.S. investors but also the U.S.' position in global capital markets, says Elisha Kobre at Sheppard.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

California's New Privacy Laws Demand Preparation From Cos.

An increase in breach disclosures is coinciding with California's most comprehensive privacy and artificial intelligence legislation taking effect, illustrating the range of vulnerabilities organizations in the state face and highlighting that the key to successfully managing these requirements is investing in capabilities before they became urgent, says Camilo Artiga-Purcell at Kiteworks.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

A Closer Look At California Financial Regulator's 2026 Agenda

California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Commissioner KC Mohseni in recent remarks demonstrated the regulator's growing importance amid the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's retreat by debuting expansive goals for 2026, including finalizing rulemaking for the state's digital asset law and expanding enforcement authority around consumer complaints, says John Kimble at Hinshaw.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

USPTO Initiatives May Bolster SEP Litigation In The US

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's recent efforts to revitalize standard-essential patent litigation face hurdles in their reliance on courts and other agencies, but may help the U.S. regain its central role in global SEP litigation if successful, say attorneys at Axinn.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

Trail Running Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Navigating the muddy, root-filled path of trail marathons and ultramarathons provides fertile training ground for my high-stakes fractional general counsel work, teaching me to slow down my mind when the terrain shifts, sharpen my focus and trust my training, says Eric Proos at Next Era Legal.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Roundup

UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

By Laura Stewart Liberty

This past week in London has seen a former U.S. defense contractor convicted of tax evasion face legal action, French football club Olympique Lyonnais sued following a $97 million ruling against its owner John Textor, consulting giant Kroll targeted by a South African airline, and H&M hit with a claim alleging it copied protected sunglasses designs. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Law360's Legal Lions Of The Week

By Kevin Penton

WilmerHale and Gillam & Smith LLP lead this week's edition of Law360 Legal Lions, after a Texas federal jury cleared Apple of infringement claims over patents covering 4G wireless technology, in a case that previously led to jury verdicts of $506 million and $300 million.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Indiana AG Declines Intervention In Posner Wage Suit

By Emily Sawicki

Indiana's attorney general has declined to intervene in a pro se plaintiff's suit seeking to revive $170,000 in wage claims against retired Seventh Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner, finding the case did not pose a "substantial" constitutional challenge to a state statute mandating that delayed contracts must be written and signed to be enforced.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Louisiana Atty Takes Responsibility For AI Usage Snafu

By Christine DeRosa

After facing the threat of sanctions alongside three of his co-counsel, a Louisiana attorney told a federal judge that he was solely responsible for an error-riddled brief written with the assistance of artificial intelligence. 

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

GC Cheat Sheet: The Hottest Corporate News Of The Week

By Sue Reisinger

Taking heat from Republican senators over not notifying members of Congress about subpoenas for their phone records, Verizon's general counsel has pledged that in the future, the company will fight gag orders requiring it to keep silent. And taking heat from shareholders and colleagues over her ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Goldman Sachs' chief legal officer has agreed to leave the firm in June.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Colorado Atty Delayed Filing, Gave Faulty Advice, Suit Says

By Rachel Konieczny

A Colorado attorney waited nearly five years to file a lawsuit on behalf of two clients and provided faulty advice, the former clients alleged Thursday in a malpractice lawsuit in state court.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

'Acqui-Hires' In AI Drawing Antitrust Scrutiny, Tech Attys Say

By Bonnie Eslinger

Attorneys with Nvidia, Google and Uber took the stage at a conference hosted Thursday by Baker McKenzie to discuss emerging trends in antitrust enforcement, including how booming AI investment has produced new regulatory scrutiny of "acqui-hires," in which large companies acquire startups primarily to hire their teams.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms And Stories On Law360

For those who missed out, here's a look back at the law firms, stories and expert analyses that generated the most buzz on Law360 last week.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

6th Circ. Says Ch. 13 Motion Came 84 Minutes Too Late

By Vince Sullivan

A 2-1 split panel of the Sixth Circuit affirmed two lower court rulings from Michigan federal judges denying a Chapter 13 debtor's motion to dismiss his bankruptcy case because the request came 84 minutes after a bankruptcy court converted the case to a Chapter 7.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »