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Public Policy
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March 19, 2026
USPTO Requires US-Registered Attys For Foreign Patent Apps
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday finalized a rule requiring that foreign patent applicants and owners be represented by attorneys registered with the agency, saying other intellectual property offices have such a policy and arguing that the measure will help combat fraud.
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March 19, 2026
Senate Panel To Vote On Satellite Security Bills Next Week
U.S. senators next week will consider sending to the floor two bills designed to beef up satellite security, one of which had already gained bipartisan backing in the U.S. House of Representatives during the last Congress.
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March 19, 2026
9th Circ. Upholds Gun Ban For Domestic Violence Offenders
Three men who were found to have used violence against their female partners in separate incidents were correctly convicted under a federal law prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing guns, the Ninth Circuit said, agreeing with other circuits that such restrictions were legal.
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March 19, 2026
NHTSA Heightens Tesla Full Self-Driving Probe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday said that it was focusing its investigation into Tesla's advanced driver-assistance system on its ability to spot degrading road conditions after receiving more reports of crashes potentially linked to the technology.
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March 19, 2026
Judge Says ICE Must Face Suit Over Detainee Records
A D.C. federal judge denied U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's push to escape a suit alleging it's unlawfully using a regulation to shield records about detained immigrants held in Michigan jails, rejecting its arguments that the Freedom of Information Act could provide relief.
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March 19, 2026
7th Circ. Dissenters: Due Process Row Deserved Rehearing
A trio of judges on the Seventh Circuit accused the full appeals court of cementing a circuit split with its sister courts by refusing to rehear a case about whether incarcerated people moved into disciplinary housing are entitled to formal due process hearings.
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March 19, 2026
Squires Concludes That Foreign Gov'ts Can't File AIA Petitions
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires said foreign governments cannot file patent challenges under the America Invents Act, providing the reasoning for his February rejection of a Chinese company's proceeding against an LG touch screen patent.
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March 19, 2026
DC Gov't Urged To Reshape SALT Cap Workaround Plan
A Washington, D.C., bill that would give pass-through entities a workaround to the federal cap on deductions for state and local taxes needs changes to integrate properly with existing district taxes, witnesses said at a D.C. Council hearing Thursday.
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March 19, 2026
Legislative Update: Cannabis And Psychedelics Bill Roundup
Virginia lawmakers last week gave final approval to legislation that would tax and regulate the sale of adult-use cannabis, Georgia legislators passed a dramatic expansion of the state's medical cannabis program, and Iowa lawmakers approved a bill to designate kratom as a Schedule I substance. Here are the major moves in cannabis and psychedelics legislation from the past week.
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March 19, 2026
FERC Chair Aims To Ease Energy Squeeze From War On Iran
The U.S.-Israel war on Iran that is roiling global energy markets underscores the need for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve gas infrastructure projects more quickly so that energy prices can be kept in check, FERC Chair Laura Swett said Thursday.
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March 19, 2026
Justice Kagan Denies Apache Bid To Block Ariz. Land Transfer
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan on Thursday declined to block a federal government land transfer in Arizona after four Apache women looked to stop the exchange on behalf of their daughters, arguing that the area contains a site used for a coming of age ceremony that will be destroyed.
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March 19, 2026
Protect 911 In Tech Transition, Public Interest Group Says
A public interest group has urged the Federal Communications Commission to add more protections for 911 service to an upcoming rule paving the way for all-internet-based phone networks, though it still says the underlying rule is unwarranted.
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March 19, 2026
Still No Shenanigans: Fed. Circ. Keeps Review Bar High
The Federal Circuit's rejection of all mandamus petitions asking it to rein in the way U.S. Patent and Trademark Office leadership is evaluating patent challenges cements the appeals court's near-impossible standard for reviewing institution decisions, attorneys say.
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March 19, 2026
Feds' Bid To Wipe Calif. Clean Car Regs Spells More Upheaval
The Trump administration's assault on California's more than decade-old clean car regulations deliberately upends the U.S. auto industry's transition toward alternative-powered vehicles, spelling even more regulatory uncertainty as the antagonistic political climate and long legal battles persist, experts say.
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March 19, 2026
Calif. Families Sue Rady Health Over Move To End Trans Care
Four families have asked a state judge to prevent California's largest pediatric health system from cutting off gender-affirming care for minors, alleging the move would violate state antidiscrimination laws and leave them scrambling to find new providers, some more than 100 miles away.
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March 19, 2026
4th Circ. Probes Basis For Chemours River Pollution Order
The Chemours Co. FC LLC found favor Thursday with at least one Fourth Circuit judge who appeared skeptical of why a lower court decided to render an injunction that blocks the company from continuing to discharge forever chemicals into the Ohio River.
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March 19, 2026
Calif. Bill Seeks Legal Aid For Residents Facing Deportation
California residents facing federal deportation proceedings would receive legal representation under a new bill introduced by state Assemblymember Mia Bonta.
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March 19, 2026
Copyright Office Seeks Fee Hikes For First Time Since 2020
The U.S. Copyright Office is proposing its first major fee overhaul since 2020, saying in rulemaking unveiled Thursday that the changes are needed to account for inflation and a drop in cost recovery since the agency's last fee adjustment.
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March 19, 2026
Detroit Clinic Zones Impede Free Speech, Protesters Say
Anti-abortion advocates sued the city of Detroit, claiming an ordinance creating speech-restriction zones around healthcare facilities unlawfully blocks peaceful counseling outside an abortion clinic on the city's west side.
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March 19, 2026
Minn. House Bill Seeks $4B Property Tax Refund
Minnesota would allow eligible taxpayers to claim a refund for a portion of property taxes paid in 2026 under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.
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March 19, 2026
More Discovery Allowed On USPTO Patent Quality Program
A Washington, D.C., federal magistrate judge has reopened discovery into whether the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covertly revived a now-defunct program for flagging "sensitive" patent applications for extra review.
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March 19, 2026
Sitting Judges Take Stand Over Threats Growing 'Ordinary'
On the heels of an ethics opinion giving them wider latitude to speak publicly, sitting federal judges brought attention Thursday to the increasing threats against them and their family members, warning about the dangers of such threats becoming "ordinary."
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March 19, 2026
Ex-Top Cop Charged With Gambling Dept. Funds Faces Judge
The former police chief of New Haven, Connecticut, appeared for the first time Thursday before a serious felony docket judge after being charged with embezzling $85,500 from two city funds while wagering nearly $4.5 million on the online gambling apps DraftKings and FanDuel.
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March 19, 2026
Judges Scrutinize DOD's Claim Of Hesai's China Military Ties
A D.C. Circuit panel on Thursday raised serious questions about the U.S. Department of Defense's broad interpretation of a law used to designate companies as "contributors" to the Chinese military-industrial base, pressing a government attorney on the basis for finding links between Shanghai LiDAR-maker Hesai and the Chinese military.
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March 19, 2026
EU Trade Committee Approves US Trade Deal With Conditions
The European Parliament's trade committee approved major tariff cuts Thursday to implement the bloc's U.S. trade deal, but made the cuts contingent on President Donald Trump respecting a 15% cap on rates, lowering steel and aluminum tariffs and not imposing tariffs over foreign policy concerns.
Expert Analysis
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Remote Patient Monitoring Is At Regulatory Inflection Point
With remote patient monitoring at the center of new federal pilot programs and a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General examining Medicare billing for those services, it is clear that balancing innovation and risk will be a central challenge ahead for digital health stakeholders, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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How Latest Nasdaq Proposals Stand To Raise Listings Quality
Nasdaq's recent proposals stand to heighten both quantitative and qualitative standards for issuers, which, if approved, may bring investors stronger market integrity and access but also raise the listings bar, say attorneys at Norton Rose.
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Opinion
CFIUS Must Adapt To Current Foreign Investment Realities
To continue protecting the U.S.’ long-term strategic and economic interests, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States should implement practical enhancements that leverage technology, expertise and clear communication, and enable it to keep pace with evolving demands, says attorney Sohan Dasgupta.
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Texas AG Wields Consumer Protection Law Against Tech Cos.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has targeted technology companies using the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, a broadly worded statute that gives the attorney general wide latitude to pursue claims beyond traditional consumer protection, creating unique litigation risks, say attorneys at Yetter Coleman.
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When Bankruptcy Collides With Product Recalls
The recent bankruptcy filing by Rad Power Bikes on the heels of a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning about dangerously defective batteries sold by the company highlights how CPSC enforcement clashes with bankruptcy protections, leaving both regulators and consumer litigants with limited options, says Michael Avanesian at Avian Law Group.
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Protecting Sensitive Data During Congressional Inquiries
With the 2026 midterm elections potentially set to shift control of one or both houses of Congress, entities must proactively plan for the prospect of new congressional investigations, and adopt strategic, effective and practical measures to mitigate risks related to disclosure of sensitive information, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.
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Where PCAOB Goes Next After A Year Of Uncertainty
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board will likely bring fewer enforcement matters in 2026, reflecting a notable change in board priorities following the change in administrations, say Robert Cox and Nicole Byrd at Whiteford Taylor and Matthew Rogers at Bridgehaven Consulting.
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As Federal Water Regs Recede, Calif.'s Permitting Tide Rises
The U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reduced federal protections for many wetlands and surface water features, but as California's main water regulator has made clear, many projects are now covered by state rules instead, which have their own complex compliance requirements, says Thierry Montoya at FBT Gibbons.
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How To Trademark A Guy In 8 Ways: An IP Strategy Against AI
Attempting a novel method of protection against artificial intelligence misuse of his voice and likeness, Matthew McConaughey's recent efforts to register eight trademarks for a series of audio and video clips of himself underscore the importance of extending existing legal frameworks beyond traditional applications, says Summer Todd at Patterson Intellectual Property.
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Ambiguity Remains On Anti-DEI Grant Conditions
Although a recent decision in City of Chicago and City of Saint Paul v. U.S. Department of Justice temporarily halts enforcement of anti-DEI conditions in federal grant applications, and echoes recent decisions in similar cases, companies remain at risk until the term “illegal DEI” is clarified, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.
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Utah's AI Prescription Renewal Pilot Could Inform Policy
Utah recently became the first state to approve an artificial intelligence system for autonomously renewing certain prescription medicines, providing a test case for how regulators may be able to draw boundaries between administrative automation and medical judgment, say Jashaswi Ghosh at Holon Law Partners and Bryant Godfrey at Foley Hoag.
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Radiation Standard Shift Might Add Complications For Cos.
In keeping with the Trump administration's focus on nuclear energy, the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that it will eliminate the "as low as reasonably achievable" radiation protection standard for agency practices and regulations — but it is far from clear that this change will benefit the nuclear power industry, say attorneys at K&L Gates.
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Bipartisan Enforcement Is Rising In Consumer Finance
Activity over the past year suggests a bipartisan state enforcement wave is rippling across the consumer finance industry, which follows a blueprint set out by former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra, who notably now leads a Democratic Attorneys General Association working group, say attorneys at Hudson Cook.
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How Attorneys Can Navigate Shifts In Financing Landscape
Direct government investment in companies in strategic sectors is expected to continue this year, with legal practitioners facing increased demands to navigate hybrid capital structures, evolving regulatory considerations and the alignment of financing terms with long-term business and strategic objectives, say attorneys at Skadden.
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A Primer On Law Enforcement Self-Defense Doctrine
In the wake of several shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, misconceptions persist about what the laws governing police use of force actually permit, and it’s essential for legal practitioners to understand the contours of the underlying constitutional doctrine, says Markus Funk at White & Case.