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Public Policy
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May 14, 2025
Harvard Researcher Charged With Smuggling Amid ICE Case
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday unsealed criminal smuggling charges against a Russian national and Harvard Medical School researcher who has been challenging her monthslong detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after she returned to the U.S. from Europe carrying frog embryos.
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May 14, 2025
CFTC Forex Case Dismissed Over Sanctioned Conduct
A New Jersey federal judge on Wednesday approved sanctions against the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, one day after a special master's report said the agency acted in "bad faith" to gain a "tactical advantage" over a foreign exchange firm it accused of fraud.
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May 14, 2025
Risks Abound For Higher Ed As Top Court Ruling Turns 2
Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education admissions, schools around the country have been looking for innovative ways to achieve diversity on campus amid constant threats of additional litigation that could make them the next high-profile high court case.
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May 14, 2025
9th Circ. Says Trustee Is Liable Under New Social Media Test
A California school board member violated the First Amendment when she blocked two parents from making comments on her public Facebook and Twitter pages, the Ninth Circuit ruled Wednesday, reaffirming a district court's judgment after applying the U.S. Supreme Court's new state-action test.
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May 14, 2025
Fintech Group OK'd To Defend CFPB Open-Banking Rule
Fintech industry group the Financial Technology Association received the green light on Wednesday to defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's open banking rule in an ongoing legal challenge from the banking industry.
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May 14, 2025
Texas Judge Latest To Bar Removals Under Wartime Law
A Texas federal judge joined a chorus of other courts that have slammed the brakes on President Donald Trump's proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act to remove alleged Tren de Aragua gang members from the United States, saying the policy likely violates a slew of federal laws.
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May 14, 2025
Houston Midwife Says AG Has No Evidence To Close Clinics
A Houston-area midwife who was arrested earlier this year on a charge of providing an illegal abortion is arguing to a state appellate court that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton "came nowhere close to meeting the state's burden" in his bid to shut down her clinics.
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May 14, 2025
Newsom Blames 'Trump Slump' As Calif. Faces $12B Shortfall
California's fiscal situation has changed for the worse since January, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday, putting the blame on what he said was a "Trump slump" that has resulted in lower capital gains tax collections.
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May 14, 2025
Fla. High Court Asked If Parents Can Dispute Kids' Abortions
A Florida appellate court on Wednesday upheld a decision denying a 17-year-old to terminate her pregnancy without her father's consent, but certified a question of great public importance on whether parents have due process rights under the state's maturity and best-interest judicial waiver procedures.
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May 14, 2025
House Committee Tees Up FCC Auction Reauthorization
While the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday was voting to clawback billions of dollars earmarked during the Biden administration for climate spending, it also managed to tee up a provision allowing the FCC to auction off spectrum once again.
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May 14, 2025
Farm Groups Fight Further Delay In H-2A Wage Rule Suit
Farm groups on Wednesday countered the Trump administration's bid to further halt litigation challenging a Biden-era H-2A wage rule, telling a Florida federal judge there's no need to delay further for the U.S. Department of Labor to get familiarized with the case.
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May 14, 2025
Trump's Unorthodox US Atty Picks May Face Learning Curve
While some of President Donald Trump's picks for U.S. attorney fit the typical mold — former federal prosecutors and BigLaw alums — others lack the type of court experience that can be crucial for effective office management and earning the respect of judges, experts say.
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May 14, 2025
Pa. Justices Seem OK With Transit Crimes Special Prosecutor
Elements of Pennsylvania's Constitution seem to support the Legislature's ability to single out Philadelphia and its district attorney, Larry Krasner, for special treatment in a law establishing a "special prosecutor" for crimes committed within its regional transit agency, several state Supreme Court justices suggested during arguments on Krasner's challenge to the law Wednesday.
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May 14, 2025
FERC Chair Floats Plan To Slash Grid Project Perks
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of financial perks for $3 billion worth of transmission projects has prompted Chair Mark Christie to suggest a way to scale back the awarding of additional rate incentives to grid developers.
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May 14, 2025
Trump Scraps Biden-Era Restrictions On AI Chip Exports
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday it has rescinded guidelines on artificial intelligence technology exports issued under former President Joe Biden, saying it would take other steps "to strengthen export controls" on AI semiconductor chips.
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May 14, 2025
10th Circ. Wary Of Hemp Interests' Challenge To Wyoming Law
A Tenth Circuit panel on Wednesday appeared skeptical that a Wyoming state law regulating hemp-derived intoxicating products was preempted by the federal law legalizing hemp nationwide.
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May 14, 2025
EPA Plans Cutbacks And Delays To PFAS Drinking Water Regs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday said it will retain the current drinking water standards for two toxic PFAS but will delay compliance deadlines for public water systems and eliminate limits on other forever chemicals.
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May 14, 2025
States Ask Court To End Trump's Wind Project Freeze
A coalition of states on Wednesday asked a Massachusetts federal judge for a preliminary injunction ordering the Trump administration to end its freeze on wind energy project permitting, saying the policy could erase nearly $100 billion in investments and cost 40,000 jobs if left in place throughout the president's term.
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May 14, 2025
DC Judge Restores Canceled ABA Domestic Violence Grants
A D.C. federal judge on Wednesday reinstated terminated federal grant funding for the American Bar Association's Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, finding that "the First Amendment prohibits the type of reprisal DOJ appears likely to have taken."
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May 14, 2025
Judiciary To Share Pros, Cons Of AI For Courts With Congress
The federal judiciary is looking at the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence for the court system and will share its discoveries with Congress, top officials testified on Wednesday.
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May 14, 2025
CFTC's Mersinger Will Depart Agency To Lead Crypto Lobby
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commissioner Summer Mersinger is leaving the agency to lead cryptocurrency industry group the Blockchain Association, the organization announced Wednesday.
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May 14, 2025
RFK Jr. Defends HHS Cuts, Pledges To 'Spend Smarter'
In his first appearance on Capitol Hill since his confirmation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday characterized a massive reorganization and reductions in workforce as practical moves to optimize the sprawling agency.
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May 14, 2025
DOJ Says No Hiring Private Counsel From Firms Suing US
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has issued a memo directing the U.S. Department of Justice to avoid engaging with firms that are suing the government over its policies or that represent clients in similar suits.
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May 14, 2025
NY AG Says Capital One Denied Millions In Account Interest
New York's attorney general on Wednesday sued Capital One in New York federal court, alleging the bank deprived online savings customers of millions of dollars in interest, a case that echoes a lawsuit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently abandoned.
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May 14, 2025
Ex-FDNY Safety Chief Gets 3 Years For $57K Bribery Haul
A Manhattan federal judge hit a former fire prevention chief for the New York Fire Department with a three-year prison sentence Wednesday for taking bribes to expedite safety checks, saying the longtime, well-off public servant acted out of greed.
Expert Analysis
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A Primer On The Trading And Clearing Of Perpetual Contracts
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently released a request for comment on the trading and clearing of perpetual-style derivatives, most common in the cryptocurrency market, necessitating a deep look at how these contracts operate and their associated risks, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.
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Series
Teaching College Students Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Serving as an adjunct college professor has taught me the importance of building rapport, communicating effectively, and persuading individuals to critically analyze the difference between what they think and what they know — principles that have helped to improve my practice of law, says Sheria Clarke at Nelson Mullins.
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5 Areas Contractors Should Watch After 1st 100 Days
Federal agencies and contractors face challenges from staff reductions, contract terminations, pending regulatory reform and other actions from the second Trump administration's first 100 days, but other areas stand to become more efficient and cost-effective, say attorneys at Thompson Hine.
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Planning For Open Banking Despite CFPB Uncertainty
Though pending litigation or new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau leadership may reshape the Biden-era regulation governing access to consumer financial data, companies can use this uncertain period to take practical steps toward an open banking strategy that will work regardless of the rule’s ultimate form, says Adam Maarec at McGlinchey Stafford.
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Crunching The Numbers Of Trump SEC's 1st 100 Days
During the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought significantly fewer stand-alone enforcement actions than at the beginning of the Biden and the first Trump administrations, with every one of the federal court complaints including allegations of fraudulent conduct, say attorneys at Dentons.
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Charging A Separate Tariff Fee May Backfire For Retailers
In the wake of the Trump administration's newly imposed tariffs, retailers facing significant supply chain cost increases may be considering adding a tariff fee to offset these costs, but doing so risks violating state drip pricing bans, say attorneys at Benesch.
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Series
Adapting To Private Practice: From DOJ Enviro To Mid-Law
Practitioners leaving a longtime government role for private practice — as when I departed the U.S. Department of Justice’s environmental enforcement division — should prioritize finding a firm that shares their principles, values their experience and will invest in their transition, says John Cruden at Beveridge & Diamond.
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Independent Contractor Rule Up In The Air Under New DOL
In several recent court challenges, the U.S. Department of Labor has indicated its intent to revoke the 2024 independent contractor rule, sending a clear signal that it will not defend the Biden-era rule on the merits in anticipation of further rulemaking, say attorneys at Jackson Lewis.
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Why Trade Cases May Put Maple Leaf Deference On Review
When litigation challenging the president’s trade actions reaches the Federal Circuit, the court will have to reevaluate the Maple Leaf standard in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 Loper Bright decision limiting Chevron-like deference to cases involving statutory provisions in which Congress delegated discretionary authority to the executive branch, say attorneys at Wiley.
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Risk Control Tips For Banks With Cryptocurrency Customers
Given federal policy shifts, cryptocurrency's presence within the U.S. banking system will doubtless increase, so banks should keep in mind key risk control considerations when accepting funds related to cryptocurrency transactions — and make sure they know their customers and the crypto industry, says Jason Noto at Polsinelli.
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How The USPTO Might Find A Path Forward After Job Cuts
Recent layoff plans and other cost-reduction initiatives at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office call for a corresponding adjustment to improve operational efficiency, such as adding post-filing examination request procedures and artificial intelligence enhancements, says James Gourley at Carstens Allen.
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How Trump Orders Affect Health Orgs.' Care For Trans Minors
Two recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump regarding gender-affirming care for minors have put healthcare organizations in a precarious situation, and these institutions should prepare for various implications and potential scenarios, say attorneys at ArentFox.
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FDIC Rules Rollback Foretells More Pro-Industry Changes
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s March withdrawal of Biden-era proposals to tighten brokered deposit rules and impose new corporate governance standards shows that acting chair Travis Hill’s commitment to reviewing regulations that may restrict growth and innovation for financial institution and fintech companies is unlikely to flag soon, say attorneys at Cooley.
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Trump DOE's Plan On AI Offers Challenges, Opportunities
The Trump administration's push to make federal land available for development of artificial intelligence data centers follows a similar Biden administration proposal — but a new request for information from the U.S. Department of Energy envisions a rapid timeline that may prove challenging for both the DOE and industry stakeholders, say attorneys at HWG.
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NY Tax Talk: Sourcing, Retroactivity, Information Services
Attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland examine recent decisions by New York’s Tax Appeals Tribunal, Division of Taxation and Court of Appeals on location sourcing of broker-dealer receipts, a case of first impression on the retroactive application of Corporate Franchise Tax regulations and when fees for information services are excluded from taxation.