Public Policy

  • April 22, 2026

    CFPB Curbs Fair Lending Oversight In Latest Reg Rollback

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has moved to curtail enforcement of a decades-old federal fair lending statute, finalizing a rule that consumer advocates are condemning as an evisceration of antidiscrimination oversight.

  • April 22, 2026

    House GOP Again Pushes Data Privacy Bill To Override States

    House Republicans on Wednesday took their latest crack at establishing a cohesive nationwide data privacy framework, floating legislation that would give consumers more control over their personal information while preempting a growing patchwork of state laws, although early criticisms indicate that the issues that have long stymied these efforts persist.

  • April 22, 2026

    Anthropic Slams Hegseth's Security Risk Label At DC Circ.

    Anthropic Wednesday asked the D.C. Circuit to overturn the U.S. Department of Defense's action branding it a supply chain risk, saying the decision was retaliation for the artificial intelligence company's refusal to provide the Trump administration with technology for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.

  • April 22, 2026

    Hagens Berman, Others Seek To Co-Lead PFAS Fire Gear Suit

    Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP and four other firms have urged a Montana federal judge to appoint them as co-lead class counsel in PFAS firefighter gear litigation by cities and municipalities against 3M, Dupont and others, arguing they were the first to file suit, which inspired multiple "copycat" actions.

  • April 22, 2026

    Antitrust Panel Chief Raises Concerns On RV Part Cos. Merger

    Two of the nation's biggest RV part suppliers are talking about merging, and it's got the head of the Senate's subcommittee on antitrust issues concerned — he's written to the companies to tell them that their union would warrant "close scrutiny."

  • April 22, 2026

    Kratom Interests Insist Utah Law Preempted

    The Global Kratom Coalition and a seller of dietary supplements are urging a federal court to block Utah's law reining in the psychoactive products derived from the kratom leaf, arguing it is preempted by federal food and drug laws.

  • April 22, 2026

    Feds Must Give Records On Trans Military Ban, Judge Says

    A Washington federal court has ordered the Trump administration to produce records underlying its decision to bar transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, rejecting a distinction the administration carved between trans individuals and individuals with gender dysphoria.

  • April 22, 2026

    Alabama AG Secures $12.2M Roblox Kid Safety Deal

    The Alabama attorney general has announced a $12.2 million deal with popular gaming platform Roblox that would add age restrictions and more parental controls to protect children from online sexual predators.

  • April 22, 2026

    Feds Urge 9th Circ. To Lift Block On Calif. Border Patrol Sweeps

    The government urged the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday to lift an injunction barring Border Patrol from warrantless arrests and detentive stops without probable cause and reasonable suspicion, arguing that the plaintiffs lack standing, because they have "no good basis to believe they themselves will be subject to future unlawful stops."

  • April 22, 2026

    Cruise Ship Wi-Fi Plan Could Skew Ocean Data, NAS Says

    A plan to expand wireless device access on cruise ships might cause rough sailing for those who study the oceans from afar using the 6 gigahertz spectrum band, the National Academy of Sciences has warned.

  • April 22, 2026

    9th Circ. Says Calif. Can't Force Federal Agents To Display ID

    A Ninth Circuit panel temporarily blocked California from enforcing part of a law requiring law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, to visibly display identification, ruling it is likely unconstitutional.

  • April 22, 2026

    330+ Groups Urge DOJ To Restore Immigration Aid Staff

    More than 300 legal services providers, faith-based institutions and community groups are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to fully restore a program that allows nonlawyers to assist low-income and indigent persons in immigration proceedings.

  • April 22, 2026

    FCC Asks If Shows With Trans People Need Higher Rating

    The Federal Communications Commission is wondering whether it should update the TV rating system to warn people when a program may include transgender or nonbinary characters or themes related to gender identity, so parents could "make informed choices for their families."

  • April 22, 2026

    NC Auditor Criticizes Oversight Of IOLTA Grants

    Legal assistance grants awarded under the North Carolina Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts program were given to qualified groups, but weren't adequately monitored afterward to ensure the tens of millions of dollars were spent as intended, a state watchdog has said.

  • April 22, 2026

    11th Circ. Says Everglades Detention Center Can Stay Open

    The Eleventh Circuit has vacated a preliminary injunction halting the operations of an Everglades-based immigration detention center for bypassing federal environmental laws, ruling two environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida challenging the detention center failed to show that it is under federal control.

  • April 22, 2026

    Va. Lawmakers Enact Updated Family Leave Program

    Virginia's Legislature greenlighted a law Wednesday that will allow workers to take paid family and medical leave through a statewide insurance program, approving Gov. Abigail Spanberger's proposed changes.

  • April 22, 2026

    2nd Circ. Amends Revival Of Mortgage-Backed Securities Suit

    The Second Circuit on Wednesday pulled back from a holding that mortgages underlying a union pension fund's mortgage-backed securities investments that tanked during the financial crisis were plan assets under federal benefits law in a proposed class action that the appellate court revived in March against Wells Fargo and Ocwen.

  • April 22, 2026

    Justices Would Back Vax Law Challenge, 2nd Circ. Told

    The U.S. Supreme Court's March 2 decision in a California gender-related school policy case requires the Second Circuit to advance a 2023 challenge to Connecticut's preschool and daycare student vaccine mandates, an attorney for a Constitution State congregation told a three-judge panel on Wednesday.

  • April 22, 2026

    Kash Patel's Suit Over Pundit's 'Nightclubs' Quip Gets Axed

    A Houston federal judge has tossed Kash Patel's defamation suit against news analyst Frank Figliuzzi, who during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" quipped that the FBI director is more often seen in nightclubs than in his office, saying Patel's claims include an "'unreasonably literal interpretation'" of Figliuzzi's remark.

  • April 22, 2026

    NY Gov. Bans State Officials Using Inside Info For Online Bets

    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Wednesday blocking state officials from trading on prediction markets using insider information they obtained during the course of their official duties, citing recent reports of bets related to the U.S. military action within Venezuela and the war in Iran.

  • April 22, 2026

    11th Circ. Mulls Whether High Court Ruling Backs Book Ban

    The Eleventh Circuit on Wednesday pressed Florida on its argument that a landmark 1988 U.S. Supreme Court case supported its defense of a state law barring books with sexual content from school libraries, with two judges hinting that the high court's decision might not be directly on point.

  • April 22, 2026

    4th Circ. Won't Rehear Spat Over DOGE's Agency Data Access

    The Fourth Circuit has declined to reconsider a split panel's decision to vacate an injunction that blocked the Department of Government Efficiency's access to personal information held by three federal agencies.

  • April 22, 2026

    5th Circ. Bars Dead Veteran's VA Surgery Suit As Untimely

    The estate of a dead veteran who filed a medical malpractice lawsuit 18 years after an unauthorized operation at a Veterans Affairs hospital didn't bring the suit within Mississippi's seven-year deadline for medical malpractice claims, the Fifth Circuit ruled Wednesday.

  • April 22, 2026

    Justices Lean Toward Parole For Charged Green Card Holders

    The U.S. Supreme Court appeared unconvinced on Wednesday that returning green card holders with pending criminal charges must be admitted rather than paroled into the country, with one justice suggesting it could backfire on lawful permanent residents and might be impractical.

  • April 22, 2026

    Split 6th Circ. Lets Brewer Challenge Tax Code's Distilling Ban

    An Ohio brewery owner has standing to challenge the constitutionality of the federal tax code's ban on distilling whiskey at home, but the ban is necessary for the government to collect taxes on distilled spirits, a split Sixth Circuit panel ruled.

Expert Analysis

  • Justices' Ruling Stresses Quick Action Against Absconders

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    Following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent holding in Rico v. U.S. that a supervised release term is not automatically extended when a defendant absconds, probation officers and prosecutors risk being unable to address later violations if they don't act promptly to secure warrants, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

  • New DOD Framework Offers Key Guidance On PFAS Disposal

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    The U.S. Department of Defense's recently updated guidance on disposal of materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ends its moratorium on incineration of PFAS-containing waste, but contractors must be ready to demonstrate stringent compliance with the department's new permitting system, operational controls and data practices, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • How Cos. Can Navigate The Patchwork Of AI Safety Bills

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    In the first few months of 2026, state and federal lawmakers introduced hundreds of bills to address the perceived safety risks of artificial intelligence, so companies should assess whether existing or planned services could be scoped into AI safety legislation across jurisdictions, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

  • Unpacking FCC's Proposed Rules For Offshore Call Centers

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    The Federal Communications Commission recently proposed rules that would restrict the use of offshore customer service operations, citing consumer frustration, data security risks and fraud as core reasons for the sweeping regulatory move, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q1

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    As usual, California remained a hub for financial services activity in the first quarter of 2026, with key developments including the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation's eye on consumer issues, a bill targeting "pig butchering" schemes, and jam-packed courts, say attorneys at Joseph Cohen.

  • Series

    Ultramarathons Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Completing a 100-mile ultramarathon was tougher, more humbling and more rewarding than I ever imagined, and the experience highlighted how long-distance running has sharpened my ability to adapt to the evolving nature of antitrust law and strengthened my resolve to handle demanding, unforeseen challenges, says Dan Oakes at Axinn.

  • Key Takeaways From The 2026 ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting

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    Last week's American Bar Association Spring Meeting revealed an antitrust landscape defined by heightened friction and tension — between federal and state enforcers, domestic and international regimes, competing political visions, and traditional enforcement tools and novel challenges, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • State FARA Laws Pose Unique Constitutional Challenges

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    Several states have recently enacted foreign agent registration and disclosure regimes that were modeled after the Foreign Agents Registration Act, but these state laws raise several constitutional questions, including concerns about preemption, speech and petition, and vagueness, says Alexandra Langton at Covington.

  • Series

    Pa. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q1

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    The first quarter of 2026 brought several consequential developments for Pennsylvania financial institutions, including the state banking department's first assessment overhaul in 10 years, a bill prohibiting interchange fees on card transaction sales taxes and a federal appeals court's upholding of a $52 million enforcement action, say attorneys at Gross McGinley.

  • Informal Announcements Are Reshaping FDA Regulations

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    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent shift toward using press releases, podcasts and other informal channels to announce major policy changes reflects a valid desire to modernize and accelerate regulatory efforts, but it could lead to diminished transparency, increased industry burden and reduced policy durability, says Rachel Turow at Skadden.

  • Motorola Case Shows Reach Of NLRA Dishonesty Protections

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    A recent National Labor Relations Board case, involving a Motorola employee who was terminated for lying about discussing wages, illustrates the broad reach of National Labor Relations Act protections for concerted activity, which may take on new significance as the agency shifts toward more restrained enforcement, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • In First For DOJ, Action Signals New CFIUS Enforcement Era

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    The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking judicial enforcement of a divestment order, an unprecedented action for the agency that ushers in a new phase for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, one in which judicial proceedings complement administrative oversight and presidential divestment orders may be enforced through litigation, says attorney Sohan Dasgupta.

  • Berk May Spur More Pushback Against Med Mal Gatekeeping

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Berk v. Choy may appear to be a run-of-the-mill reminder that a federal procedural rule trumps its state counterpart, but it could inspire more challenges to state-created prerequisites to filing medical malpractice lawsuits, say attorneys at Decof Mega.

  • Getting The Most Out Of Learning And Development Programs

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Junior associates can better develop the legal, business and interpersonal skills they need for long-term success by approaching their firms’ learning and development programs armed with five tips for getting the most out of these resources, says Lauren Hakala at Reed Smith.

  • OhioHealth Suit Signals Higher Antitrust Heat On Hospitals

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    The recent antitrust lawsuit against OhioHealth by the U.S. Justice Department and Ohio attorney general shows that federal and state enforcers are closely examining the competition issues in the healthcare sector, including restrictive contracts and antisteering practices, say attorneys at Freshfields.

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