Expert Analysis

• To Comply With Campaign Finance Rules, Watch The Calendar

  

  Corporations, campaigns and community advocates alike can all stay on the right side of federal campaign finance law during the 2024 election season by committing to observe the many overlapping dates and compliance windows that limit third-party coordination with candidates and electioneering communications, say attorneys at Wiley.

• A Closer Look At Evolving Early Release Programs

  

  As the implementation of the First Step Act continues to progress and the U.S. Sentencing Commission amends its guidelines, white collar defense attorneys should understand the many mechanisms that can help reduce a client’s prison sentence early on in any case, say attorneys at Abell Eskew.

• Tossed FIFA Bribery Convictions May Spur New DOJ Offense

  

  After a New York federal court vacated the bribery convictions of two defendants in the U.S. Department of Justice’s sprawling FIFA probe, prosecutors may continue to pursue foreign commercial corruption through other means, albeit with some limitations, say attorneys at Cleary.

• Perspectives

  A Judge's Pitch To Revive The Jury Trial

  

  Ohio state Judge Pierre Bergeron explains how the decline of the jury trial threatens public confidence in the judiciary and even democracy as a whole, and he offers ideas to restore this sacred right.

• Perspectives

  People In Prison Should Have Access To Digital Technology

  

  There are a number of reasons why people who are incarcerated should have access to digital communication technology — from facilitating reentry to saving lives in a future pandemic — but they need the means and the necessary legal protections to do so, say NYU Law student Suchy Kahlon and First Amendment attorney Dan Novack.

• Micromobility Can Lead To Macro Liability For Cities, Cos.

  

  E-bike and scooter manufacturers and rental operators, as well as the cities that host such services, must be aware of the major litigation risk associated with the growing number of serious accidents and injuries involving such micromobility devices — and should track emerging regulations in this area, says Arturo Aviles at Segal McCambridge.

• Opinion

  Supreme Court Must End Acquitted Conduct Sentencing

  

  While all three branches of government have shown reluctance to address the issue of acquitted conduct sentencing, including the U.S. Supreme Court in its recent denial of certiorari in a case addressing the topic, the court must — as only it can — put an end to this unconstitutional practice, say Alan Ellis at the Law Offices of Alan Ellis and Mark Allenbaugh at Sentencing Stats.

• Concerns Emerging On TM Cases Against Undisclosed Parties

  

  There has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases filed by brands against hundreds of counterfeiters as undisclosed defendants, and given these suits' debatable success in curbing counterfeiting, courts and Congress could view them as a drain on judicial resources, say Bea Swedlow and David Roulo at Honigman.

• The Crucial Privilege Exception At Play In Trump Indictment

  

  Following Donald Trump’s recent indictment for retaining classified documents, Hilary Gerzhoy at HWG explains how his attorney’s notes of their conversations became admissible in the case, what it means for the attorney's representation of Trump, and what obligations lawyers have in similar circumstances.

• Minn. 'Foreign Influence' Law May Bar US Cos. From Politics

  

  Though Minnesota's new campaign finance law aims to curb foreign spending in state and local elections, its overly strict definition of what constitutes "foreign influence" will drastically limit how even American-controlled businesses can participate in politics, say attorneys at Akin.

• Peeling Back The Layers Of Rep. George Santos' Indictment

  

  Federal prosecutors' recent 13-count criminal indictment of Rep. George Santos reflects a focused, even simplified approach, showing the kind of careful scrutiny that charges against sitting members of Congress always merit, and leaving open questions about potential charges other enforcers could bring, say Rob Walker and Caleb Burns at Wiley.

• Assessing Overlapping Boards After DOJ Crackdown

  

  The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent targeting of interlocking directorates raises questions about the scope of applicable antitrust law, including when companies will be considered competitors, whether the statute reaches potential competitors, and how companies can avoid price-fixing or market allocation charges, say attorneys at Cooley.

• Seeking Compassionate Release Under New Health Guidelines

  

  Though the U.S. Sentencing Commission recently changed its guidelines to allow prisoners who claim they are receiving inadequate medical care to apply for compassionate release, defense counsel will need to come armed with the correct case law and supporting medical documentation to successfully file for sentence reductions, say Marissa Kingman and Krista Hartrum at Fox Rothschild.

• Lawyer Discernment Is Critical In The World Of AI

  

  In light of growing practical concerns about risks and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, lawyers' experience with the skill of discernment will position them to help address new ethical and moral dilemmas and ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a way that benefits society as a whole, says Jennifer Gibbs at Zelle.

• Prepare For Stricter Capital Rules: The Basel Endgame Is Nigh

  

  With federal financial regulators made edgy by recent bank failures and likely to propose a strict U.S. version of the Basel III "endgame" capital requirements within the year, banks should expect complying with market risk management standards to become more daunting, say attorneys at Jones Day.