Public Policy

  • October 07, 2026

    California Federal Judge Jeffrey White To Retire After 24 Years

    Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White will retire at the end of the year after nearly a quarter-century on the federal bench in Northern California.

  • October 07, 2026

    States Urge Justices To Fix Prediction Markets' Legal 'Chaos'

    A coalition of 39 states and the District of Columbia urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to resolve a circuit split over the regulation of prediction markets like Kalshi, saying the industry's "aggressive theory of preemption" threatens states' sovereignty and ability to protect their residents. 

  • October 07, 2026

    Trump 'Outsourced' White House Press Functions, Judge Told

    Media organizations urged a New York federal judge on Wednesday to stop President Donald Trump from using Truth Social for his communications as long as the company offers paid early access to those posts, arguing that the private company's "entwinement" with the president violates the First Amendment.

  • October 07, 2026

    Trump Admin Challenge To Mich. Egg Rules Tossed For Now

    A Michigan federal judge on Wednesday threw out the federal government's suit over the state's ban on eggs produced by caged hens, ruling that the government lacks standing to challenge the law, though she allowed it to file an amended complaint.

  • October 07, 2026

    Justices Wary Of Prolonging Guam Ammo Disposal Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared wary of ruling that a Guam-based nonprofit can't challenge the U.S. Air Force's plan to explode expired munitions because its application to do so has yet to be approved by the territory's Environmental Protection Agency.

  • October 07, 2026

    Okla. Pot Agency Accused Of Retaliating Over Gender Pay Gap

    The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority was hit with a sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit by a former employee who claims the agency reprimanded her for pointing out that she was paid less than her male colleagues, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday.

  • October 07, 2026

    RI Says Changed Law Moots Challenges To Pot Program

    It's time to bring to an end three lawsuits that challenged Rhode Island's social equity and adult-use cannabis licensing program, the state has told a federal court, arguing that the litigation is moot now that the legislature has changed the challenged provisions.

  • October 07, 2026

    Local Banks Want In On Plan To Use Banks To Stop Robocalls

    Community banks want to make sure they qualify to issue letters of credit to voice providers if the Federal Communications Commission decides to go through with rules that would require companies to show they have financial backing in the hopes of staunching the onslaught of robocalls.

  • October 07, 2026

    FCC Eyes Spectrum Sale To Boost 5G, Satellite D2D

    The Federal Communications Commission's staff has teed up a proposal that would pave the way for a new auction of 25 megahertz worth of spectrum that could be used for advanced Earth-based wireless service and satellite connectivity to smart devices.

  • October 07, 2026

    PhRMA Sues To Block Medicare Foreign Drug Price Rule

    The pharmaceutical industry's top lobbying group asked a D.C. federal judge Wednesday to block a new Medicare rule tying Part B drug payments to prices abroad, claiming that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is imposing a "most-favored-nation" price control that Congress has repeatedly declined to enact.

  • October 07, 2026

    1st Circ. Seems Torn On DOJ Bid For Trans Care Records

    The First Circuit on Wednesday appeared divided over whether the Trump administration may access a wide array of documents related to gender-affirming care at Boston Children's Hospital, with judges asking pointed questions of lawyers on both sides.

  • October 07, 2026

    4th Circ. Says FCC Defied Congress Through Political Ad Rule

    A split Fourth Circuit panel Wednesday granted a request from Democratic candidates to force the Federal Communications Commission to issue a ruling on whether broadcasters may only charge the lowest possible rate for ads purchased by political committees attached to candidates.

  • October 07, 2026

    1st Circ. Presses NEA On 'Gender Ideology' Grant Criteria

    A First Circuit panel had sharp questions for the federal government Wednesday about its decision to disfavor National Endowment for the Arts grant applicants who "promote gender ideology," with one judge saying the arts program is supposed to be insulated from politics.

  • October 07, 2026

    DHS Eyes Up To $100K Foreign Student Work Program Fee

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule Wednesday that would impose a $70,000 fee for foreign students to work in their fields, and another $30,000 tacked on for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

  • October 07, 2026

    DOT Unveils Plan To Modernize Space Launch Licensing

    U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration is proposing five new rules to streamline and modernize the commercial space launch and reentry regulations.

  • October 07, 2026

    States Say DHS Is Tying Grants To Immigration Agenda, Again

    A coalition of 20 states and the District of Columbia told a Rhode Island federal court Wednesday that the Trump administration is still unlawfully tying certain grant funding to their assistance with immigration enforcement efforts, in violation of the court's permanent injunction rulings.

  • October 07, 2026

    8th Circ. Upholds $35,000 Costs Award In DAPL Protest Case

    An Eighth Circuit panel has upheld a lower court's award of more than $35,000 in costs to Morton County, North Dakota, and its officials in a challenge by an environmentalist who was severely injured by law enforcement during a protest over the Dakota Access pipeline.

  • October 07, 2026

    1st Circ. Skeptical Of Legal Basis For IRS-ICE Data Sharing

    The First Circuit repeatedly suggested during a hearing Wednesday that the Trump administration's use of a privacy exception in the tax code for criminal investigations to justify demanding tax records of noncitizens could allow it to target nearly anyone's private returns.

  • October 07, 2026

    DOJ Urges Judge To Lift Block On Birthright Citizenship Order

    The Trump administration is urging a Maryland federal judge to dissolve her injunction blocking its latest executive order aiming to limit birthright citizenship, claiming that new agency guidance confirming that the policy only applies to children born after it takes effect leaves the families who originally sued without standing.

  • October 07, 2026

    Tenn. Judge Tosses Developer's Data Centers Moratorium Suit

    A Tennessee federal judge has tossed a data center developer's challenge to a moratorium on data centers without prejudice, ruling in part that the suit is inconsistent when it comes to the type of property interest that the developer is asserting with its allegations.

  • October 07, 2026

    Colo. Legislative Aide Says He Was Fired For Pay Complaints

    A Colorado state representative fired a senior legislative aide after he objected to doing campaign work on taxpayer-funded time and complained that she failed to fairly pay him for hundreds of hours of campaign work, according to a suit filed in Colorado state court.

  • October 07, 2026

    Family Tells 5th Circ. Penske Can't Evade Crash Liability

    The family of a man killed in a Texas collision said a Fifth Circuit panel faithfully followed federal law when it revived its lawsuit alleging freight broker and trucking giant Penske is vicariously liable for the 2018 accident, and en banc review before the full court is unwarranted.

  • October 07, 2026

    Don't Let Post-Merger Iridium Disrupt Astronomy, FCC Told

    Astronomers have warned the Federal Communications Commission that aerospace company Rocket Lab USA Inc. must fulfill its obligations to avoid harmful interference if the agency approves the license transfer needed for its proposed $8 billion purchase of satellite operator Iridium Communications.

  • October 07, 2026

    Mich. Tribal Officials Detail Missing Persons Plan At Summit

    Officials from the Bay Mills Indian Community outlined how they plan to respond to cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people at a summit in Michigan on Wednesday, explaining how the tribe will coordinate law enforcement, victim services and community resources and sharing lessons learned from previous missing persons cases. 

  • October 07, 2026

    Copyright Office Probes AI's Role in Streaming Fraud

     The U.S. Copyright Office is examining whether music-streaming fraud and artificial intelligence-generated music are affecting royalty payments and licensing systems as part of a broader inquiry requested by Congress.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • NLRB Memo Signals Narrower View Of Protected Activism

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    A recent National Labor Relations Board memo concluding that Microsoft lawfully discharged two employees who conducted a pro-Palestinian protest on company property indicates that the current NLRB general counsel may take a more restrictive view of when political or social advocacy qualifies as protected activity, say attorneys at Franczek.

  • What Insurers Need To Know About 2 New California Laws

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    California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two measures last week that while addressing distinct issues — catastrophe claims handling and insurers' corrective actions, respectively — reflect similar themes, including insurers' preparation before problems arise, transparency while they are being addressed, and meaningful remediation afterward, says Lucy Wang at Hinshaw.

  • Opinion

    PTAB Panels Should Revamp Their IPR Merits Decisions

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    In light of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires' recent announcement about returning merits institution determinations to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the implementing framework should strengthen PTAB panels' responsibility for the benefit of both petitioners and patent owners, says Brandon Theiss at AddyHart.

  • FCC Covered List Is Pushing Limits Of Supply Chain Scrutiny

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    Companies outside the traditional telecommunications sector may now need to factor the Federal Communications Commission's equipment authorization requirements into supply chain compliance as the FCC covered list continues to expand as a national security tool, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • SEC's Shareholder Activism Role After The '26 Proxy Season

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently proposed eliminating its shareholder proposal rule, but this proxy season's combination of elevated campaign activity, limited formal escalation and measured voting outcomes illustrates why a targeted SEC role remains important, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Series

    NY Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

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    Several developments from New York financial services regulators in the third quarter reflect a common theme — regulators are increasingly seeking to apply established supervisory expectations to newer market participants and emerging financial products, say attorneys at Blank Rome.

  • AG Watch: Texas Takes A Lone State Stand Against Tech Cos.

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    A look at Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's recent actions against Meta Platforms and Amazon.com illustrates how Texas is distancing itself from multistate coordination, offering practitioners a crucial perspective on navigating individual state actions amid coordinated attorney general litigation, say attorneys at Kelley Drye.

  • Contact Lens Rule's Evolution Steers FTC Guidance Program

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    The history of the Federal Trade Commission's Contact Lens Rule illustrates the goals of the FTC's recently announced guidance program, which aims to strengthen consumer protection and safeguard competition, say attorneys at Wilson Sonsini.

  • Upholding Energy Efficiency Rules If DOE Eases Enforcement

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    Despite recent moves by the Energy Department and Congress to limit energy efficiency enforcement, companies should maintain current efficiency standards and testing procedures lest they risk state or private action, enforcement lookbacks during future administrations, truth-in-advertising complaints and more, say attorneys at HWG.

  • DOJ-Agri Stats Settlement Offers Key Benchmarking Lessons

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    A Minnesota federal court's recent approval of the Agri Stats settlement marks a significant milestone as it's the most granular U.S. Justice Department guidance on permissible competitor benchmarking since the 2023 withdrawal of the safety zone, lending predictability for companies in data-pooling arrangements, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Abbott FCA Deal Shows Enforcement Adequacy Quandaries

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    Abbott Laboratories’ recent False Claims Act resolution illustrates several tricky questions that both prosecutors and defense counsel must address when weighing whether a civil enforcement action alone adequately addresses allegedly wrongful conduct, says James Koukios at MoFo.

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