Public Policy

  • July 21, 2026

    USPTO Calls For More Info In Anonymous Reexam Requests

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday called for ending the practice of allowing those requesting patent reexamination to remain completely anonymous, instead proposing a rule that would require them to identify themselves and interested parties to the office, but not the public.

  • July 21, 2026

    Pa. Justices Reject Prior Case, End 'Open Fields Doctrine'

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday issued stronger protections for private property owners, holding that the state's charter protects against an "open fields doctrine" that allows state game authorities to search a property without a warrant for game violations.

  • July 21, 2026

    DC Circ. Orders SEC To Rethink FINRA Arbitration Challenge

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's "largely boilerplate" letter rejecting financial service company Thrivent's bid to challenge the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's arbitration authority didn't offer enough explanation to secure it judicial deference, a D.C. Circuit panel ruled Tuesday.

  • July 21, 2026

    7th Circ. Told To Keep Judge's MAGA Firing Fight In Fed. Court

    A retired judge looking to hold the Illinois Supreme Court liable for canceling his temporary reinstatement over a pro-MAGA opinion column told the Seventh Circuit Monday that his case belongs in federal court, saying he has no unbiased state court forum because his claims "would inevitably reach defendants themselves."

  • July 21, 2026

    7th Circ. Backs UChicago, TIAA In Spousal Pension Fight

    The Seventh Circuit backed a Wisconsin federal court's decision to hand the University of Chicago and its pension plan manager TIAA an early win in a dispute over a deceased worker's spousal pension benefits, and declined to certify a question about power of attorney authority to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

  • July 21, 2026

    Trump Nominates FCC's Top Atty For DOJ Antitrust Chief

    President Donald Trump on Tuesday officially nominated the Federal Communications Commission's general counsel to serve as the top antitrust official in the U.S. Department of Justice.

  • July 21, 2026

    DC Circ. Backs Nuclear Plant Enviro Review Rules

    The D.C. Circuit on Tuesday upheld the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's updated rules for renewing nuclear power plant licenses, rejecting arguments from antinuclear groups that the rules don't adequately account for climate change risks.

  • July 21, 2026

    Ohio Can't Pause Halt Of Hemp Law During Appeal, Judge Says

    Ohio lost its bid Monday in federal court to be allowed to enforce a new law that reclassifies hemp products as marijuana, as a judge rejected the state's arguments that the hemp product manufacturers and sellers waited too long to file their lawsuit.

  • July 21, 2026

    FCC Launches 1st Foreign Drone Enforcement Action

    The Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday that it has launched the first action to revoke authorizations from a company for allegedly trying to get around a blanket ban on foreign-made drones.

  • July 21, 2026

    Chamber Asks 2nd Circ. To Back Toss Of Pepsi Smoking Suit

    A New York federal judge rightly tossed allegations that Pepsi violated federal benefits law by making employees who smoke pay more for health insurance, the nation's largest business lobby argued in an amicus brief, urging the Second Circuit to affirm dismissal of the suit.

  • July 21, 2026

    DC Circ. Sides With FCC In Spectrum Revamp Row

    The D.C. Circuit on Tuesday rejected challenges to the Federal Communications Commission's overhaul of the 4.9 gigahertz public safety band, ruling that the Spectrum Act gave AT&T partner FirstNet broad authority to build its network without confining it to just one band.

  • July 21, 2026

    Senate Confirms Trade Court Pick Despite Past GOP Posts

    The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 Tuesday evening to confirm Kara Westercamp, associate counsel to the president, to the U.S. Court of International Trade, who said during her confirmation in March she regretted her past social media posts critical of Republicans, including Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the late Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

  • July 21, 2026

    10th Circ. Backs Kan. Library's Ban On Protest Signs Inside

    A Kansas public library can prohibit protesting and the display of signs inside its property, the Tenth Circuit held Tuesday in finding the library's policies prohibiting disruptive behavior did not violate the First Amendment.

  • July 21, 2026

    18 State AGs Sue EPA Over Hydrofluorocarbons Rollback

    Eighteen Democratic attorneys general and the city of New York filed a petition with the D.C. Circuit Tuesday over a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule they argue will weaken federal limits on hydrofluorocarbons, which are refrigerants used in air conditioning and cooling systems.

  • July 21, 2026

    DOJ Says Enforcing Colo. Magazine Ban Violates Civil Rights

    The federal government pushed back on Colorado's claim that the statute it cited to challenge the constitutionality of a 2013 Colorado law banning large-capacity magazines is too narrow, arguing Congress intentionally created the statute to be broad and that the law applies to the challenge, according to a response brief filed Tuesday.

  • July 21, 2026

    FCC Aims For Changes To Rural Healthcare Program

    The Federal Communications Commission will consider a plan next month to let rural healthcare providers use previously approved rates in a telehealth program without needing to file new paperwork to justify costs.

  • July 21, 2026

    NJ Gov. Says Software Glitch Let 400 Noncitizens Vote

    New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Tuesday that a software glitch in the state's motor vehicle system between 2023 and 2024 accidentally registered about 6,600 individuals to vote and that roughly 400 of them voted.

  • July 21, 2026

    Peter Navarro Loses DC Circ. Appeal Of Contempt Conviction

    The D.C. Circuit Tuesday upheld Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro's contempt of Congress conviction, saying President Donald Trump never invoked executive privilege to allow Navarro to flout congressional subpoenas concerning the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

  • July 21, 2026

    High Court Ruling Doesn't Impact Pipeline Fight, 9th Circ. Told

    California and environmental groups have told the Ninth Circuit that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision clarifying federal arbitration jurisdictional lines has no bearing on their lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's assertion of jurisdiction over an in-state oil pipeline system.

  • July 21, 2026

    DC Circ. Revives Challenge To EPA's $3B Grant Cut

    The D.C. Circuit on Tuesday revived a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's termination of nearly $3 billion in environmental justice grants, saying a district court had neglected a key jurisdictional question when it dismissed the suit.

  • July 21, 2026

    Judge Tosses Another Suit Challenging Seattle Housing Law

    A Washington federal judge leaned on a prior ruling to reject a constitutional challenge to Seattle's Mandatory Housing Affordability program, which requires developers to pay the city a fee in lieu of adding affordable units to project plans.

  • July 21, 2026

    DC Circ. Backs FAA In Conn. Airport Fight After Seven County

    The D.C. Circuit ruled Tuesday that the Federal Aviation Administration sufficiently analyzed the environmental impacts of a regional Connecticut airport expansion project, saying the U.S. Supreme Court's Seven County ruling made clear that courts cannot override agencies' reasonable National Environmental Policy Act judgments or explanations.

  • July 21, 2026

    Mother Of Musk's Child Asks Texas Court To Toss XAI Suit

    The mother of one of Elon Musk's children has asked a Texas federal court to toss a suit brought by Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, that alleges breach of contract, telling the court that xAI's actions constituted "a race to the courthouse dressed up as a lawsuit."

  • July 21, 2026

    Dems Press Skadden On Trump Pro Bono Pact, Intel Deal Work

    A group of Democrats demanded Tuesday that Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP disclose details of its pro bono arrangement with the Trump administration in light of allegations the firm advised both Intel Corp. and the U.S. Department of Commerce when the administration received a 10% company stake.

  • July 21, 2026

    Squires Pressed On 'Board Of Peace' TM Apps He Withdrew

    A Maryland congressman has asked U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires for more information about what he said was his "baffling and legally dubious" push to secure trademark protections for President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace."

Expert Analysis

  • A Look At The Court's Next Steps In Live Nation Antitrust Case

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    Following a recent jury verdict that Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as a monopoly to fix ticket prices, a New York federal court stands to weigh Live Nation's bid for a new trial, approve the U.S. Department of Justice's March settlement with the defendants, and impose remedies that include full structural separation, say attorneys at Crowell.

  • How Crypto Firms Can Prep As Clarity Act Inches Toward Law

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    Though the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act’s road to enactment remains uncertain, the statutory framework for regulating digital commodities recently advanced by the Senate Banking Committee is now sufficiently developed that market participants can begin preparing in several areas where the complicated legislation would affect them, say attorneys at Cahill Gordon.

  • Checking For AI Errors Is Now A Two-Way Street

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    A handful of recent federal and state cases demonstrate the importance of checking for errors generated by artificial intelligence not only in your own court submissions, but also your opponent's, as well as when catching opposing counsel's AI mistakes could result in an award for attorney fees, says Tamara Barago at Hollingsworth.

  • Opinion

    SEC Enforcement Reforms Must Address Post-Wells Limbo

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent changes to how it notifies companies of a potential enforcement action fail to address what happens after the Wells process is over, highlighting the need for meaningful process reform that includes a formal closure determination, says Kimble Cannon at Mahdavi Bacon.

  • Green Card Memo Warps Long-Standing Adjustment Process

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    A recent policy memorandum that treats a nonimmigrant visa holder’s decision to seek adjustment of status in the U.S., rather than at a U.S. consulate, as an adverse factor reinterprets existing discretionary frameworks, compounds risks for applicants required to apply abroad and changes practitioner approaches to application preparation, says attorney Jack Jrada.

  • Opinion

    Congress Must Bolster Wrongful Conviction Framework

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    The Trump administration's recent decision to abandon its flawed “anti-weaponization” fund should not end the conversation about compensating those wronged by the U.S. justice system, — it should open the door for Congress to build a principled system that strengthens and expands the existing framework, say Marc Levin and Khalil Cumberbatch at the Council on Criminal Justice.

  • Series

    The Biz Court Digest: Shoring Up Corporate Law In Maryland

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    Launched more than 20 years ago to improve complex corporate adjudication, Maryland's Business and Technology Case Management Program has been a solid success in some areas, but there always is room for improvement, says Bill Krulak at Miles & Stockbridge.

  • How End Of SEC 'Gag Rule' Affects Free Speech Certiorari Bid

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    The Securities and Exchange Commission's recent rescission of the so-called gag rule, which forbade defendants in settlements from denying the SEC’s allegations, may sway the outcome of a petition to the Supreme Court in a case challenging the rule on First Amendment grounds, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • 7 Ways Va. Employers Can Prep For New Noncompete Limits

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    As of July 1, Virginia noncompete agreements with employees fired without "cause" must provide "severance benefits" — but with those key terms undefined, employers should implement several flexible but defensible compliance strategies to limit their exposure once the rule is rolled out, say attorneys at Cooley.

  • Data Collection Push Signals New Era For Bank Compliance

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    An executive order pushing for broad bank collection of beneficiary data and a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network geographic targeting order in Minnesota should prompt financial institutions to run checks on customer diligence and privacy controls, as these directives may be part of a wider compliance shift, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • Federal Officer Removal After Justices' La. Pollution Ruling

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    In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in Chevron USA v. Plaquemines Parish, companies seeking to use federal officer removal to move litigation out of state court should ask three questions, focusing on government contract language, federally directed activity and related conduct, say attorneys at Hollingsworth.

  • Series

    Competing At Poker Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Playing poker in male-dominated rooms taught me to treat skepticism as background noise when my opponents seem to underestimate me, to apply pressure when it matters and to adapt without losing strategic discipline — skills that are all indispensable in restructuring and insolvency matters, says Alexis Gambale at Pashman Stein.

  • FTC Sweep Signals Increased 'Made In USA' Claim Scrutiny

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    After the Federal Trade Commission's recent enforcement sweep targeting allegedly deceptive "Made in USA" claims, companies should expect continued scrutiny of both traditional and digital marketing channels, coupled with sustained focus on supply chain transparency and claim substantiation, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • 5 Things Associates Must Ask About Their Firm's Merger Plan

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    The associates who navigate law firm mergers best ask the right questions early, such as inquiring about partners' plans, to assess how the merger could affect their workflow and career path, says Jackie Bokser-LeFebvre at Major Lindsey.

  • CFTC Trading Rule Can't Police Prediction Markets Yet

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    The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s recent efforts to police insider trading in prediction markets through a post-Dodd-Frank anti-fraud rule exposes doctrinal gaps around misappropriation theory, leaving platforms to fill the void with win-rate-based surveillance, says attorney Tamara de Silva.

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