Public Policy

  • October 08, 2026

    Enviro Group, Feds End Suit Over Alaska Refuge Road Work

    The state of Alaska, the federal government and an environmental nonprofit have agreed to dismiss a dispute over a 500-acre land exchange that will allow road construction on Izembek National Wildlife Refuge lands.

  • October 08, 2026

    Split Congress Could Spur Competing Probes, Cleary Finds

    If the new year brings an era of divided Congress, then "dueling investigations" into the same topics should be expected, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP said in a report it released Thursday.

  • October 07, 2026

    House, Senate Dems Pitch Plans To Clamp Down On AI Harms

    A House Democrat floated draft legislation Wednesday aimed at making it easier for those harmed by emerging artificial intelligence systems to sue developers for damages, on the same day that the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee unveiled her own comprehensive framework for addressing "catastrophic" risks posed by AI.

  • October 07, 2026

    DNC Sues Over Trump's Taxpayer-Funded 'Propaganda Ads'

    The Democratic National Committee on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over its use of taxpayer dollars to air "political propaganda ads" promoting the president ahead of the November midterm elections.

  • October 07, 2026

    1st Circ. Clearing Appeals Over Old FCC Jail Phone Cap Order

    The First Circuit is clearing up a tangle of appeals it has on its plate challenging the Federal Communications Commission's prison phone rate caps after the agency threw a wrench in the plan by updating those regulations post-oral argument.

  • 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

    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.

  • 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.

Expert Analysis

  • Parsing Gov't Scrutiny Of Lending To Unauthorized Workers

    Author Photo

    Attorneys at Mayer Brown explain guidance recently issued by three banking regulators that addresses risks associated with lending to so-called non-work authorized individuals and discuss what the regulatory update could mean for fintech companies.

  • Discovery Into Insurers' AI Use Should Stay Proportional

    Author Photo

    As insurers increasingly use artificial intelligence to make claim decisions, plaintiffs in first-party coverage litigation should seek discovery that tracks how materially the automated system influenced the challenged decision, not whether the insurer used AI somewhere in its operations, says attorney Joe Zaid.

  • How FCC Covered List Blitz Is Sidelining Commerce Dept.

    Author Photo

    The swath of recent Federal Communications Commission rulemakings raises serious questions about the purpose and future of Commerce's Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services, and how the U.S. government will go forward in imposing national security regulation on domestic applications of adversary-linked technologies, says Peter Jeydel at Troutman.

  • DOJ Healthcare Declination Offers Self-Disclosure Checklist

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Department of Justice's declination of criminal charges against Campus Eye Management signals that its new self-disclosure policy provides a real path for healthcare companies to avoid criminal exposure, but that path is paved with speed, transparency and operational remediation, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.

  • SEC Rulemaking Radar: The Rubber Meets The Road

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's new rulemaking agenda shows its regulatory reset taking shape, with sweeping crypto proposals that could bring the biggest changes it has made to broker-dealer, exchange and trading compliance in decades, says Christopher Grobbel at Goodwin.

  • Monitor Exposure, Stay Flexible Amid Tariff Uncertainty

    Author Photo

    To navigate an unstable trade environment, businesses must evaluate their exposure to new tariffs invoked under a patchwork of statutory authorities and be prepared to adapt to further changes that may be on the horizon, says Bhargav Prajapati at Capital Trade.

  • CFPB Complaint Portal Overhaul Signals Changing Priorities

    Author Photo

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's updates to its consumer complaint portal and decision to cease publishing consumer complaint narratives should be viewed by companies as one component of a larger recalibration of how the CFPB collects information and allocates its supervisory and enforcement resources, say attorneys at Cooley.

  • Series

    Being In A Band Made Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Playing shows in storied New York City venues and rehearsing with my bandmates in poorly ventilated rooms helped develop the professional qualities I rely on as a litigator, including an ability to collaborate with strong-minded equals and the determination to treat each client with singular focus, says Eliad Shapiro at Herrick Feinstein.

  • Opinion

    Correctional Healthcare Requires Clearer Legal Standards

    Author Photo

    As the correctional healthcare industry increasingly faces financial instability due to litigation, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons should develop clear standards for constitutionally adequate care for incarcerated patients, says Susanne Moore at Blackstone Trial Group.

  • 6 Risk Areas Future Fla. Stablecoin Issuers Should Plan For

    Author Photo

    Companies hoping to issue stablecoins under Florida’s new supervision regime should prioritize constructing robust risk management architecture across key areas before the Oct. 1 effective date so they can secure licenses, avoid a web of potential liabilities, and operate sustainably as state and federal regulations evolve, says Elizabeth Brusa at Shumaker.

  • 6 Key Takeaways From CFIUS Annual Report

    Author Photo

    Attorneys at Simpson Thacher review highlights from the annual report of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., released to Congress this month, including the launch of the American First Investment Policy and the Known Investor Pilot Program, and the agency's continued focus on enforcement despite its resource constraints.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Surviving A Long Trial

    Author Photo

    Most of law school trial advocacy is geared toward the sprint of trying a short case, but beyond managing a cross-examination or closing argument, effectively handling the marathon of a lengthy trial requires the ability to maintain composure, organization and credibility with the jury, says Mihir Elchuri at Hirschler.

  • AI Chatbot's Medical Claims Highlight Enforcement Risks

    Author Photo

    The Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine's recent lawsuit against Character Technologies, arguing that an artificial intelligence chatbot engaged in the unlicensed practice of medicine, may provide other state licensing boards with a road map for going after AI platforms, and counsel should advise clients to calibrate compliance accordingly, say attorneys at Cooley.

  • A Deepening Patent-Trademark Divide Over Irreparable Harm

    Author Photo

    Recent Federal Circuit decisions, along with legislation being considered in Congress, may exacerbate the differences that patent owners and trademark owners face when seeking to stop infringement before irreparable harm is caused, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • Upping Fed, FDIC's Insider Loan Cap May Ease Bank Burdens

    Author Photo

    Coordinated Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Federal Reserve proposals to raise the 1970s-era cap for bank executives borrowing from their institutions represent a long-needed regulatory recalibration that would lighten compliance obligations caused by the outdated ceiling without diminishing the original protections against conflicts of interest, say attorneys at Ballard Spahr.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Public Policy archive.