Public Policy

  • November 02, 2026

    Broadview 6 'Deflection' Ousted Chicago's FBI Head, Suit Says

    Chicago's former FBI head claimed Monday in federal court that he was forced to retire from the local field office once U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros mounted a political pressure campaign "to deflect from his own malfeasance" that turned a criminal protest prosecution against six individuals into an "unprecedented disaster."

  • November 02, 2026

    Energy Co. Says Toad Listing Ignores Key Geothermal Data

    A Nevada geothermal company seeks an early win in its D.C. federal court suit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's listing of the Dixie Valley toad as an endangered species, arguing that the agency hasn't considered the best available scientific and commercial data.

  • November 02, 2026

    USDA Appoints Tribal Advisory Members To Ag Panel

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it has appointed four members to its tribal advisory committee and is seeking nominations for another eight people to serve on the panel that advises the USDA's secretary on matters related to Indian affairs.

  • November 02, 2026

    BlackRock, State Street Get State AG Coal Suit Trimmed

    BlackRock and State Street have pared down a lawsuit by Republican state attorneys general accusing them of driving up coal prices, but a Texas federal judge let stand claims brought by Iowa and Nebraska on behalf of their resident electricity consumers.

  • November 02, 2026

    Xbox Buyer's Microsoft Tariff Refund Suit Sent To Arbitration

    A Washington federal judge said Monday that an Xbox buyer must arbitrate his claims that Microsoft unjustly pocketed refunds meant for consumers after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration's global tariff regime, citing an arbitration pact described by the console's packaging and included documents.

  • November 02, 2026

    NJ Parents' Suit Challenging Storing Baby DNA Gets Tossed

    A New Jersey federal judge tossed a proposed class action Friday challenging the Garden State's practice of keeping newborn babies' residual blood spots without parental consent, finding the parents haven't alleged viable Fourth or Fourteenth Amendment claims, in part because the state agreed to destroy the blood spots at issue.

  • November 02, 2026

    DOJ Loses Bid To Revive Voter Roll Checks Ahead Of Election

    A Washington, D.C., federal judge Monday refused to pause her order striking down the U.S. Department of Justice's new policy of collecting states' unredacted voter information to cross-check voter rolls against immigration databases while it appeals her decision.

  • November 02, 2026

    FCC To Vote On Extending Rural Broadband Support Fund

    The Federal Communications Commission wants to extend the Connect America Fund's alternative cost model by another two years instead of letting it sunset at the end of the year.

  • November 02, 2026

    5th Circ. Weighs Law Student's Kirk Comment Discipline

    A Fifth Circuit panel wanted to know what harm a former Texas Tech law student is currently experiencing as she seeks to overturn a disciplinary action related to statements she made allegedly celebrating Charlie Kirk's death, saying Monday the alleged harm seemed "speculative."

  • November 02, 2026

    Feds Blocked From Rushing Childrens' Asylum Proceedings

    A Maryland federal judge has blocked the government from carrying out policies that legal groups allege provide inadequate asylum interview notices for unaccompanied minors and make it harder to reschedule interviews, saying the policies likely flout the law and will irreparably harm the noncitizen children.

  • November 02, 2026

    ICE Says Calif. Detention Facility Meets Improvement Order

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement urged a California federal judge to reject immigrant detainees' claims that it's failing to abide by a preliminary injunction requiring humane conditions and independent monitoring at a detention facility in the Mojave Desert. 

  • November 02, 2026

    D.C., Virginia Sue To Block Trump's 250-Foot Arch

    Washington, D.C., and Virginia have teamed up in a new bid to stop President Donald Trump's planned 250-foot arch just east of Arlington National Cemetery, claiming in a lawsuit that the project lacks required congressional approval.

  • November 02, 2026

    Teachers Union Sues Ed. Dept. Over Loan Forgiveness Delays

    The American Federation of Teachers and nine borrowers sued the U.S. Department of Education, saying it is illegally blocking forgiveness of federal student loans for individuals who have worked in public service.

  • November 02, 2026

    9th Circ. Won't Extend Block On Venezuela TPS Ruling

    The Ninth Circuit denied the Trump administration's request to block a district court order that stymied its cancellation of a temporary protected status extension for Venezuela and is set to snap back into effect after a U.S. Supreme Court stay of the order expires this week.

  • November 02, 2026

    50 Cos. Object To Listing On OKX Tokenized Stock Venue

    Fifty publicly traded firms including Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and Nvidia have directed the tokenized stock trading venue OKXICE not to list blockchain-based forms of their shares, according to the crypto platform's latest disclosure.

  • November 02, 2026

    Contractor Says SBA Suspension Relied On Deceptive Video

    A tribally owned contractor urged a D.C. federal court to temporarily halt its suspension by the Small Business Administration from government contracting, arguing misconduct allegations against it stem from a "salacious" video published by a far-right influencer wearing a wig.

  • November 02, 2026

    Fuel Groups Say Courts Must Stay Out Of Calif. Waiver Fight

    Groups representing the natural gas and oil industry urged the D.C. Circuit to reverse preliminary injunction rulings over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's procedural move sending certain Clean Air Act waivers for California to Congress, arguing that judicial review is barred.

  • November 02, 2026

    More Amicus Briefs Flood NYT, OpenAI Copyright Case

    Actors, writers groups, advocacy organizations, law professors and current and former political leaders weighed in on the OpenAI copyright multidistrict litigation in New York federal court, with some arguing that fair use does not protect the artificial intelligence developer, while others contended that training models on copyrighted works was all above board.

  • November 02, 2026

    HHS Says Wash. Has No Stake In Noncitizen Medicaid Fight

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is fighting Washington state's bid to join a legal challenge to the Trump administration's attempts to withdraw federal Medicaid funding for certain noncitizens receiving supplemental security income, arguing Friday the state has pointed to "speculative downstream effects" of the targeted policy.

  • November 02, 2026

    AI Agents Raise Stakes For Banks As Legal Fights Loom

    As major banks move to keep artificial intelligence agents from accessing customer accounts, financial services attorneys say the growing use of these tools in financial transactions could test the limits of existing consumer protection laws and set the stage for litigation.

  • November 02, 2026

    Justices Probe Late Defense In Ex-Aide's Pregnancy Bias Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday closely scrutinized the procedures governing late-raised legal defenses amid a former political aide's fight to reinstate her pregnancy discrimination lawsuit, with some justices hinting that the case should be sent back down for review under a different federal rule set.

  • November 02, 2026

    Maine's Canada Trade Exemption May Ride On Midterms

    The fate of Maine's relief from the trade war between the U.S. and Canada may lie in the balance of Tuesday's midterm election results, a dynamic that shows how trade policy can be influenced by the political winds, experts said.

  • November 02, 2026

    Ferry Cos. Say Mackinac Island Hid Rate-Freeze Facts

    Two Michigan ferry operators asked a federal judge on Friday to compel city of Mackinac Island officials to submit to depositions, accusing the city of blocking access to historical ferry rate data and key interpretations of a franchise agreement.

  • November 02, 2026

    Split Full 9th Circ. Backs Block On ICE Voter Fraud Probe

    A Ninth Circuit majority kept in place Friday a panel's recent ruling refusing to pause an injunction blocking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from carrying out a "surge initiative" to question individuals in nine states about their voter status, while seven judges criticized the panel's opinion in dissent.

  • November 02, 2026

    Carroll Asks High Court To Skip Trump Defamation Appeal

    Writer E. Jean Carroll has asked the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear President Donald Trump's appeal of an $83.3 million jury verdict finding that he defamed her after she accused him of sexual assault, saying Trump waived his presidential immunity argument.

Expert Analysis

  • NY Severance Rules Persist Despite McLaren Macomb Threat

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    Despite recent calls to overturn the National Labor Relations Board's decision in McLaren Macomb, New York's robust regulation will remain intact, limiting practitioners' ability to offer nonsupervisory employees severance agreements with confidentiality and nondisclosure provisions, says Matthew Berman at Valli Kane.

  • What To Know As State 'Neural Data' Privacy Laws Emerge

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    Attorneys at Goodwin discuss new state laws aimed at regulating consumer data generated from nervous system activity, explain why neurotechnology is attracting state and federal legislators’ attention, and highlight the compliance obligations that industry players should address now.

  • Bank Regulators' New Risk Guidance Offers More Flexibility

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    Newly proposed interagency guidance on banks’ third-party risk management would shift rigid compliance frameworks to a principles-based, risk-proportionate approach, potentially creating new opportunities for bank-fintech partnerships and giving smaller institutions a clearer path to innovation, say attorneys at Davis Wright.

  • Mo. Official's Indictment Tests Limits Of Federal Bribery Laws

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    The recent bribery charges filed against a Missouri county executive raise questions about whether field-clearing conversations and job offers between rival candidates can rise to the level of illegal quid pro quos, potentially muddying the line between politics as usual and the federal bribery statutes, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • Conn. Insurers Should Prepare To Explain Premium Hikes

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    As of Jan. 1, Connecticut insurers must provide a reasonable explanation for personal risk insurance premium increases upon policyholder request, and thus should familiarize themselves with a recent bulletin that prescribes the details, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • Where The 3 Prediction Market Appellate Rulings Diverge

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    Although the recent Third, Sixth and Ninth Circuit opinions concerning prediction markets overlap on some issues, they differ on key statutory questions, deepening a circuit split over both the classification of sports event contracts and the scope of federal preemption, says Levi Giovanetto at Sheppard.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

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    California's financial regulators spent the third quarter of 2026 focusing on consumer protection enforcement at home while resisting federal efforts to displace state oversight — reinforcing the state's intention to shape the compliance landscape for institutions operating within its borders despite federal deregulatory trends, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • DOJ's Unusual Warning Puts Protests In FARA Crosshairs

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    The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent atypical press release about Foreign Agents Registration Act liability may signal greater scrutiny of public demonstrations and foreign-directed advocacy — but it does not change the statutory requirements for companies and individuals, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • Changing Strategies To Protect Your Autonomous AI's IP

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    After Insilico recently named only human inventors on a patent application for an autonomous artificial intelligence's drug discovery, companies should take concrete steps to preserve the strongest possible intellectual property protection for AI-assisted work, including documenting human contributions and strengthening trade secret controls, says Stephen Ball at Husch Blackwell.

  • How States May Enter The Shareholder Proposal Landscape

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    Rescission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's shareholder proposal rule doesn't herald the end of shareholder activism, but it allows state legislatures to play a central role in determining the future of shareholder proposals, with that uncertainty creating new opportunities for both issuers and activists, say attorneys at Thompson Coburn.

  • Series

    Mentalism Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Convincing strangers I can read their minds may seem like an unusual second career for a legal practitioner, but both disciplines share several important requirements, including trust and preparation, says Warren Biro at Manatt.

  • Why And How To Build A Neurodiversity-Informed Practice

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    By better understanding neurodiversity and implementing simple accommodations for clients with autism, ADHD or learning differences, attorneys can build stronger relationships with those who may otherwise struggle to obtain and benefit from legal services, while developing good habits that will benefit everyone they represent, says Ting Cheung at Sanford Heisler.

  • Series

    Illinois Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

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    Recent banking developments in Illinois include significant new consumer protection legislation, three meaningful Seventh Circuit decisions, and a high-profile constitutional challenge to the state's new digital asset tax, say attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg.

  • How FTC Win Charts A Court-1st Merger Litigation Playbook

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    A New York federal court's recent decision blocking Henkel's acquisition of Liquid Nails marked a decisive trial win for the Federal Trade Commission, and tips for merging parties in similar transactions now include preparing for full-blown federal litigation, including a complete evidentiary trial, say attorneys at Cooley.

  • How SEC Is Changing The Shareholder Proposal Landscape

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission continues to place its shareholder proposal rule at the center of its agenda, now with a newly proposed rule that would rescind it entirely, showcasing an agency seeking to narrow its overall focus, say attorneys at Thompson Coburn.

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