Public Policy

  • April 16, 2026

    DOL Benefits Chief Pressed On Labor Secretary's Conduct

    The head of the U.S. Department of Labor's employee benefits arm faced tough questions from House Democrats at an oversight hearing Thursday, fielding questions about the labor secretary's on-the-job conduct as well as the DOL's take on mental health parity enforcement. 

  • April 16, 2026

    Foreign Truckers Sue Over 'Catastrophic' License Ban

    Nineteen foreign truckers sued the federal trucking regulator and Florida's motor vehicle agency over a federal rule barring roughly 200,000 noncitizen truckers from getting commercial driver's licenses, saying those with valid federal work permits are being left in the lurch.

  • April 16, 2026

    Calif. Lawyer Sues Over State Bar Investigations

    A California trial lawyer claimed in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that he has been unfairly investigated by the state bar since 2019, alleging the office "illegally prioritizes revenue-generation over protection of the public."

  • April 16, 2026

    USPTO Ends COVID Patent Appeals Program

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has decided to end a program launched five years ago that aimed to prioritize and fast-track ex parte appeals of rejections on patent applications for inventions related to combating COVID-19.

  • April 16, 2026

    Dems Call On Watchdog To Probe DOJ Antitrust Work

    A group of Democratic federal lawmakers this week called on the U.S. Department of Justice's acting inspector general to investigate the possibility that lobbying has led to misconduct in the department's antitrust work, including the DOJ's recent surprise settlement with event ticketing giant Live Nation.

  • April 16, 2026

    ICE Ordered To Stop Work On Maryland Detention Center

    A Maryland federal court blocked the Trump administration from continuing construction work to convert an existing warehouse into an immigrant detention center while a challenge brought by the state under federal environmental regulations plays out.

  • April 16, 2026

    Higher Ed Group Seeks Fees After Beating DOE Research Cap

    An organization of public and private research universities has asked a Massachusetts federal judge to award attorney fees and costs in a successful challenge to a U.S. Department of Energy limit on reimbursements for indirect costs of grant-funded research, the third such request since last fall.

  • April 16, 2026

    8th Circ. Weighs Link Between Cannabis Use And Danger

    An Eighth Circuit panel weighing a man's conviction for owning a firearm as an unlawful marijuana user appeared inclined Thursday to reject his Second Amendment challenge and rule that his violent actions warranted the charge as it was applied to him.

  • April 16, 2026

    Texas Judge Vacates IRS' Steep Microcaptive Reporting Rule

    A Texas federal judge vacated a tax code regulation designating microcaptive insurance transactions as listed transactions subject to deep scrutiny and hefty penalties, saying the Internal Revenue Service didn't prove that they are mostly for tax avoidance and not really for insurance.

  • April 16, 2026

    Nebraska Inmates Sue Over Access To Native Religious Area

    Two Indigenous men are asking a federal court to block a Nebraska Department of Corrections' 60-day ban on access to a religious space within a Lincoln prison yard, arguing that the policy is keeping roughly 60 inmates from practicing essential elements of their faith.

  • April 16, 2026

    Pa. Justices Eye New Approach For 'De Facto' Juvenile Lifers

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court seemed open Thursday to subjecting "de facto life sentences" for juvenile offenders to additional scrutiny, though several justices hypothesized that heinous crimes could still carry long prison terms if a court weighed all the necessary factors.

  • April 16, 2026

    Feds Can't Block Hawaii's Suit Against Oil, Gas Companies

    A Hawaii federal judge has dismissed with prejudice a suit from the U.S. government aiming to block the state from suing oil and gas companies on climate change-related claims, finding the government's complaint fails to establish any of the elements of standing.

  • April 15, 2026

    Immigration Board Won't Undo Removable Finding For Khalil

    The Board of Immigration Appeals has affirmed an administrative law judge's order finding that Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil can be removed because of alleged misrepresentations he made on his green card application and "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences," according to an opinion made public Wednesday.

  • April 15, 2026

    Food Apps' NYC Data Win Seems 'Weird' To 2nd Circ. Judges

    Does the First Amendment allow Uber Eats to keep your Chick-fil-A order a secret? At the Second Circuit on Wednesday, the fate of a New York City law aimed at reducing restaurant reliance on food delivery apps appeared to hinge heavily on that curious question.

  • April 15, 2026

    Justice Jackson Slams Court's 'Oblivious' Emergency Orders

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson this week slammed her conservative colleagues' use of the court's emergency docket, which has repeatedly benefited the Trump administration, saying that such "scratch-paper" orders don't acknowledge the harms that can follow such decisions, making the orders "seem oblivious and thus ring hollow."

  • April 15, 2026

    John Eastman Disbarred Over Bid To Overturn 2020 Election

    California's highest court on Wednesday ordered the disbarment of California attorney John Charles Eastman, who a state bar court found had helped plan and promote President Donald Trump's strategy to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

  • April 15, 2026

    Trump Defends DOJ Investigation Of 'Incompetent' Fed Chair

    President Donald Trump expressed support Wednesday for the U.S. Department of Justice continuing to investigate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over the Fed's headquarters renovation, saying the government must "find out what happened" with the project's $2.5 billion price tag.

  • April 15, 2026

    Roblox To Pay $12.5M, Boost Child Safety In Deal With Nev.

    Roblox has agreed to implement enhanced safeguards for children who use the popular interactive gaming platform and pay $12.5 million to fund an online safety awareness campaign and other initiatives as part of what Nevada's attorney general on Wednesday called a first-of-its-kind agreement to resolve claims that the company failed to adequately protect its youngest users. 

  • April 15, 2026

    Amneal Trims But Can't Nix AGs' Drug Price-Fixing Suit

    There is enough evidence from which a jury could conclude that Amneal Pharmaceuticals participated in a conspiracy to fix the price of an epilepsy medication, but not enough to show it participated in the overarching antitrust conspiracy alleged by dozens of state attorneys general, a Connecticut federal judge ruled Wednesday.

  • April 15, 2026

    'Deemed' Admissions End Tribal Cannabis Raid Suit

    A California federal judge tossed a lawsuit claiming Riverside County in Southern California and its sheriff's department illegally raided a cannabis operation on sovereign tribal land, due to insufficient discovery responses that resulted in "deemed" admissions. 

  • April 15, 2026

    NY Appeals Panel Doubts NYC's Climate Suit Can Be Revived

    New York state appeals judges voiced skepticism Wednesday of New York City's bid to revive its lawsuit against major energy companies for "greenwashing" their gasoline products, highlighting the lack of alleged false claims and questioning whether they were even misleading.

  • April 15, 2026

    Alaska's Pebble Mine Allies Say EPA Project Veto Is Illegal

    Two Alaska Native groups, the state and a mining company have urged a federal judge to vacate a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency veto blocking a proposed mineral project that could harm salmon populations, saying the EPA overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act.

  • April 15, 2026

    Energy Sec. Defends Grant Cuts To House Reps

    U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday appeared to contradict statements from government attorneys who admitted that cancellations of clean energy grants were politically motivated, seeking to clarify instead the extent of the perceived political bias.

  • April 15, 2026

    Texas Can't Revive Anti-ESG Law While Appeal Plays Out

    A Texas federal judge refused to pause an injunction pending appeal on a state law restricting state investments in businesses that aim to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, finding the law's language clearly intends to disfavor groups with certain viewpoints and is unlikely to survive appeal.

  • April 15, 2026

    Ga. Election Board Debates Fix As Ballot Count Crisis Looms

    Georgia's State Election Board expressed frustration with state legislators Wednesday, saying their failure to pass a replacement method for vote tabulation that does not involve QR codes before ending the legislative session has created a crisis for election officials across the state.

Expert Analysis

  • Parsing Rule 12(c) Motion Overuse In Securities Class Actions

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    Defendants in securities class actions have more frequently been filing motions for judgment on the pleadings following the denial of motions to dismiss, but courts have recently demonstrated an increasing willingness to reject these previously rare motions, finding them transparent attempts to relitigate already-decided issues, say attorneys at Labaton Keller.

  • Preparing For New Calif. Pay Data Reporting Requirements

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    California's S.B. 464 overhauls the state's pay data reporting framework by requiring employers to use job categories that are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, increasing both the potential visibility of pay disparities and the complexity of compliance, say attorneys at Kaufman Dolowich.

  • Series

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

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    Michigan's financial services sector saw several significant developments in 2026's first quarter, including the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services' issuance of a bulletin on the use of artificial intelligence and the Michigan House's introduction of a bill based on the Model Money Transmission Modernization Act, say attorneys at Dykema.

  • 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.

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