Public Policy

  • May 04, 2026

    DOJ's In-House Detention Legal Aid Plan Is MIA

    A year ago, U.S. Department of Justice officials said the government would be taking over a program historically run by nonprofits to provide legal orientations and referrals for pro bono representation for adults in immigration detention facilities. But those involved in the program say the Trump administration hasn't taken any steps to run the program.

  • May 04, 2026

    Dell Asks Shareholders To Move Legal Home To Texas

    Dell Technologies Inc. became the latest company to consider the Lone Star State as its new legal home, telling shareholders Monday that updates to the state's corporate laws and its business-friendly attitude have created a compelling case to make the move.

  • May 04, 2026

    Kroger Fights AGs' $10M Fee Ask In Albertsons Merger Case

    Kroger and Albertsons are urging an Oregon federal judge to reject a $10 million legal fee request from nine attorneys general who joined the Federal Trade Commission in successfully challenging a proposed $24.6 billion merger of the grocery giants, saying the plaintiff states played a "minimal role" in the litigation.

  • May 04, 2026

    Spirit Airlines' Demise To Reshape Low-Cost Competition

    Rival airlines have scrambled to boost routes, plug service gaps and snatch up Spirit Airlines customers in the two days since the budget carrier's demise, raising alarms about what other casualties might be in store for an airline industry reeling from skyrocketing jet fuel costs.

  • May 04, 2026

    DOJ Apology For Hidden Warrant Not Satisfying For Judge

    A Rhode Island federal judge, whom the U.S. Department of Homeland Security criticized for releasing a noncitizen with an alleged overseas warrant for homicide, was dissatisfied with an assistant U.S. attorney's apology for not disclosing the warrant to the court beforehand.

  • May 04, 2026

    Calif. District OKs Civil Court Audio Feeds Including Musk Trial

    The Northern District of California modified local court rules late Friday to allow judges to stream audio for civil jury trials in the district, accompanying its announcement with a separate notice that the high-profile Elon Musk v. Sam Altman trial over OpenAI's for-profit conversion is available to access via audio stream.

  • May 04, 2026

    FTC Swears Off Media Matters' Boycott Probe, Forever

    Media Matters for America announced a "legally binding settlement" Monday resolving its retaliation claims against the Federal Trade Commission, securing a promise by the agency "to forgo ever reissuing or issuing a substantially similar" administrative subpoena to the left-leaning watchdog in the search for censorship of conservatives.

  • May 04, 2026

    Calif. Tribes Back Stay In Kalshi Case Before 9th Circ. Rules

    Three California tribes have asked a federal judge to stay their litigation seeking to stop prediction market platforms from conducting what they say is illegal gambling on their lands, saying they can wait until the Ninth Circuit rules on their appeal challenging a denied preliminary injunction.

  • May 04, 2026

    FCC Says Crackdown Killed 3M Listings For Risky Devices

    The Federal Communications Commission says its effort to stop e-commerce platforms from selling devices that pose "dangerous" security risks has stamped out more than three million retail listings in six months.

  • May 04, 2026

    Feds Say Minn.'s State Suit Usurps Climate Regulator Role

    The federal government moved to halt Minnesota's state court lawsuit accusing Exxon Mobil Corp. and others of lying to the public about fossil fuels' effects on climate, alleging in a new lawsuit on Monday that the state is usurping federal authority.

  • May 04, 2026

    Greer Doubles Down On Threat To Hike Tariffs On EU Vehicles

    U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Monday reasserted President Donald Trump's plan to increase tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union as the bloc continues to delay implementing a trade deal reached last July.

  • May 04, 2026

    Colo. Justices Back Water Entity's Eminent Domain Rights

    The Colorado Supreme Court unanimously ruled Monday that a water activity enterprise can use eminent domain to condemn private property, ruling against a private landowner in Weld County seeking to prevent the construction of a water pipeline on its property.

  • May 04, 2026

    Calif. Seeks To Halt Trump Admin's Coastal Pipeline Restart

    California Attorney General Rob Bonta has urged a California federal court to block a Trump administration order that invoked emergency powers under the Defense Production Act to restart a Santa Barbara oil pipeline on the state's coast.

  • May 04, 2026

    Feds Say Challenge To Drilling Near SD Worship Site Baseless

    The U.S. Forest Service is fighting three Indigenous rights and conservation nonprofits' bid to undo its streamlined approval of exploratory drilling within Black Hills National Forest that they say will harm a sacred worship site, arguing to a South Dakota federal court that the groups' allegations are just speculation.

  • May 04, 2026

    Meatpacking Probe Continues, Agri Stats Deal Expected

    Federal officials said Monday an investigation into potential collusion and foreign ownership in the cattle meatpacking industry is continuing, as the Justice Department separately nears a settlement with Agri Stats over claims that it helped processors exchange sensitive information.

  • May 04, 2026

    Justices Skip Wait To Remand Louisiana Election Map Case

    The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to remand to Louisiana district court a fight over the state's election map, which the justices just deemed an "unconstitutional racial gerrymander," bypassing the typical waiting period to allow state lawmakers to draw up a new map ahead of midterms. 

  • May 04, 2026

    Fla. Cites Petty Defense Of Social Media Law, Groups Say

    Tech groups urged a Florida federal court to deny an attempt to end a lawsuit challenging a state law that punishes social media websites for banning accounts of political candidates' based on viewpoint, calling officials' defense of the legislation "borderline frivolous."

  • May 04, 2026

    10th Circ. Upholds CBP Officer's Conviction Sans Video

    A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer sentenced to over 1.5 years in prison for depriving a man of his rights at a New Mexico port of entry and falsifying a report about the incident cannot have his conviction overturned, a Tenth Circuit panel said on Monday.

  • May 04, 2026

    Mass. Justices Uneasy Over Judge's Handling Of ICE Incident

    Massachusetts' top court on Monday appeared concerned that a state district court judge in 2018 offered to detain a defendant sought by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, as the justices considered a public reprimand.

  • May 04, 2026

    Mass. Justices Hint Tax Cut Measure Summary Is Confusing

    Massachusetts' highest court on Monday was critical of the summary for a ballot proposal to reduce the state income tax during a trio of oral arguments on voter initiatives, including separate measures to repeal recreational marijuana legalization and to eliminate one-party primary elections.

  • May 04, 2026

    Fintech Cos., States Split On Scope Of Prediction Market Regs

    Fintech platforms have told the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission that few events should be off-limits for trading as the agency crafts rules for prediction markets, while tribes, consumer groups and states are calling on the agency to ban sports markets altogether as off-label gambling.

  • May 04, 2026

    Philly DA Touts Violent Crime Reduction In $60M Budget Pitch

    Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner asked City Council on Monday to approve a $60 million proposed budget for his office for fiscal year 2027, pointing to what he called a "historic" reduction in gun violence and homicides as indicators of his office's success.

  • May 04, 2026

    Groups Say Feds Neglected Whale Habitat Revision Petition

    Conservation groups told a D.C. federal court Monday that the federal government failed to respond to a petition to revise a whale species' critical habitat designation under the Endangered Species Act, noting more than a year has elapsed.

  • May 04, 2026

    Mich. Pot Regulators Ask Judge To Toss Whistleblower Suit

    Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency officials have asked a federal judge to toss a whistleblower suit filed by a former dispensary employee, arguing they have qualified immunity through the Eleventh Amendment.

  • May 04, 2026

    Trump Broadens Sanctions On Cuban Government

    President Donald Trump has expanded his sanctions regime against Cuba, issuing an executive order targeting Cuban government officials while also implementing second-order sanctions against financial institutions that carry out transactions with sanctioned individuals.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • OCC Rule Tests Nonfiduciary Powers Of Trust Banks

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    The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's updates to its final rule on national bank chartering, effective April 1, may augur a showdown between the OCC, states and traditional banking institutions over both the authority of national trust banks to engage in nonfiduciary activities under the National Bank Act, and the scope of federal preemption, says Audrey Carroll at Stinson.

  • Proposed Oracle Act Tests NY's Prediction Markets Clout

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    New York's proposed Oracle Act could if passed force a high-stakes showdown over event contracts in the prediction markets as well as state gambling laws, and legal practitioners should closely monitor litigation, parallel developments in other states, Commodity Futures Trading Commission rulemaking and congressional action, says Linda Goldstein at CM Law.

  • How A High Court Music Piracy Ruling Shrinks ISP Liability

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent opinion in Cox Communications Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment, which concerned the boundaries of contributory copyright infringement for internet service providers, dramatically lessens both the risk that an ISP will be held contributorily liable and, relatedly, the incentives an ISP may have to help combat online copyright infringement, say attorneys at Debevoise.

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