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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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How Calif.'s Wildfire Insurance Crisis Might Affect Texas
Attorneys at Munsch Hardt examine the implications of California's wildfire insurance crisis for Texas, including potential shifts in coverage availability, regulatory differences and how the insurers in the second-largest U.S. state may react to a major wildfire event.
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New SEC Guidance May Change How Investors, Cos. Talk
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent updates to the Schedules 13D and G compliance and disclosure interpretations may mean large institutional investors substantially curtail the feedback they provide companies about their voting intentions in connection with shareholder meetings, which could result in negative voting outcomes for companies, say attorneys at Cleary.
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4 Key Payments Trends For White Collar Attys
As the payments landscape continues to innovate and the new administration looks to expand the role of digital currency in the American economy, white collar practitioners should be aware of several key issues in this space, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.
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Calif. Antitrust Bill Could Alter Enforcement Landscape
If enacted, a recently proposed California bill that would strengthen the state’s antitrust law could signal a notable shift in the U.S. enforcement environment, but questions remain about the types of cases the state could pursue, whether other states will follow suit and more, say attorneys at DLA Piper.
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Series
Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.
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Opinion
Upholding Tribal Sovereignty Benefits US And Indian Country
The Trump administration's broad moves to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs are negatively affecting many tribal programs, but supporting tribal sovereignty would serve the federal government's deregulatory goals and ensure that tribes have the resources they need, says Ellen Grover at BB&K.
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Constitutional Foundations Of Gov't-Guaranteed Investments
For attorneys advising clients with exposure to government-backed investments, understanding the constitutional guardrails on presidential impoundment offers essential guidance for risk assessment, contract strategy and litigation planning, says Mauni Jalali at Quinn Emanuel.
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Investor Essentials For Buying Federally Owned Property
Investors and developers can take advantage of the Trump administration's plan to sell government-owned real estate by becoming familiar with the process and eligible to bid, and should prepare to move quickly once the U.S. General Services Administration posts the list of properties for sale, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.
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How 2025 Is Shaping The Future Of Bank Mergers So Far
Whether the long-anticipated great wave of consolidation in the U.S. banking industry will finally arrive in 2025 remains to be seen, but the conditions for bank mergers are more favorable now than they have been in years, say attorneys at Skadden.
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Series
Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw
As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.
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What's Old And New In The CFTC's Self-Reporting Advisory
Attorneys at Blank Rome analyze the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's recent advisory that aims to provide clarity on self-reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, and review whether market participants should shift their thinking — or not — when it comes to cooperation with the CFTC.
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Weathering Policy Zig-Zags In Gov't Contracting Under Trump
To succeed amid the massive shift in federal contracting policies heralded by President Donald Trump's return to office, contractors should be prepared for increased costs and enhanced False Claims Act enforcement, and to act swiftly to avail themselves of contractual remedies, says Jacob Scott at Smith Currie.
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How Trump's Crypto Embrace Is Spurring Enforcement Reset
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent willingness to step away from ongoing enforcement investigations and actions underscores the changing regulatory landscape for crypto under the new administration, which now appears committed to working with stakeholders to develop a clearer regulatory framework, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.
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After CEQ's Rollback, Fate Of NEPA May Be In Justices' Hands
The White House Council on Environmental Quality recently announced its intention to rescind its own National Environmental Policy Act regulations, causing additional burdens to existing NEPA challenges, and raising questions for regulated entities and federal agencies that may only be resolved by a pending U.S. Supreme Court case, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.
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Making The Case For Rest In The Legal Profession
For too long, a culture of overwork has plagued the legal profession, but research shows that attorneys need rest to perform optimally and sustainably, so legal organizations and individuals must implement strategies that allow for restoration, says Marissa Alert at MDA Wellness, Carol Ross-Burnett at CRB Global, and Denise Robinson at The Still Center.