Public Policy

  • July 21, 2026

    Khalil Sues Feds For Damages Over Legal Process 'Abuse'

    Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil is seeking damages from the federal government over its efforts to "weaponize immigration laws" to falsely imprison him in retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism on campus, according to a new lawsuit filed in New York federal court.

  • July 21, 2026

    NJ Court Revives Challenge To Prom Season Motel Rental Limits

    A New Jersey appeals court on Monday revived a constitutional challenge to a municipal ordinance banning anyone under 21 from booking a hotel or motel room during prom and graduation season, giving Jersey Shore motel owners another chance to argue that the ordinance violates would-be hotel customers' constitutional rights, at least under the state constitution.

  • 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."

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Mich. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

    Author Photo

    The second quarter brought several notable financial services law developments to Michigan, including a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on state tax foreclosures, progress on a money transmission modernization bill package, and continued legislative momentum on cryptocurrency and mortgage lending, say attorneys at Dykema.

  • How New FERC Orders Are Prepping Grid For Large Loads

    Author Photo

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's recent show-cause orders to grid operators to justify how their rates and regulations account for the interconnection of large and colocated loads like data centers may be just the first step in FERC's efforts to address anticipated reliability and affordability challenges in the coming years, say attorneys at Baker Donelson.

  • FDA Moves Leave Peptides In A Legal Gray Zone

    Author Photo

    While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken a concrete step forward on reclassifying certain peptides, the practical consequence of their interim status cannot be overstated — these substances are no longer designated as posing a significant safety risk, but they have not been affirmatively authorized for compounding, say attorneys at Sheppard.

  • Series

    Bass Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Landing a trophy striped bass and closing a big deal both require cultivating the patience to finesse — not force — your way to desired outcomes, changing course when your old approach isn’t working and learning from the ones that got away, says Jon Ruiss at Alston & Bird.

  • What Consent Decree Trends Mean For Deal Clearances

    Author Photo

    With merger remedies back on the table under the current administration, an analysis of recent Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice consent decrees reveals that prior approval and prior notice provisions are no longer a foregone conclusion, and companies may be able to negotiate narrowly tailored obligations, say attorneys at Weil.

  • Series

    NY Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

    Author Photo

    The year's second quarter brought several notable banking law developments to New York, including a proposal to align state stablecoin rules with the federal Genius Act, fresh fair lending and cybersecurity guidance from state regulators, and a significant Second Circuit holding on preemption, say attorneys at Ashurst Perkins Coie.

  • How Reincorporating In Texas May Alter Earnout Disputes

    Author Photo

    While the DExit debate has focused on shareholder suits, far less attention has been paid to what reincorporating in Texas means for M&A disputes, making it particularly important to understand the nuances between Delaware and Texas earnout jurisprudence, say attorneys at Selendy Gay.

  • What To Know If DOL Raises Overtime Salary Floor

    Author Photo

    With the U.S. Department of Labor recently rescinding a 2024 rule that increased the minimum salary for the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime exemptions, employers should assess how a future increase would affect their workforce, paying particular attention to job duties requirements and state laws, says James Coleman at Constangy.

  • Roundup

    The Most Talked-About Supreme Court Decisions Of 2026

    Author Photo

    This term, 11 U.S. Supreme Court decisions quickly became hot topics among Law360's guest writers.

  • Structuring Space Nuclear Deals For Regulatory Risk

    Author Photo

    With the White House's recent focus on space nuclear power, a highly important question for companies that want to build orbital reactors, lunar surface systems or critical components is whether the transaction documents can handle foreign investment constraints, export controls and treaty-linked liability, says Kristie Blase at Frazer + Blase.

  • Proof, Not Just Timing, Will Decide Clean Energy Credits

    Author Photo

    For wind and solar projects that sprinted to begin construction before the accelerated placed-in-service deadline of July 4, project owners must now assemble and maintain documentation to qualify the project and defend against a potential clean energy credit audit, says Peter Lowy at Nelson Mullins.

  • Coordinating Life Sciences IP Strategies In The US And EU

    Author Photo

    As postgrant practice for life sciences patents is restructured in the U.S. and European Union simultaneously, patent owners will need to implement transatlantic coordination that treats international proceedings as components of a single intellectual property risk architecture, says Paul Calvo at Sterne Kessler.

  • Texas Business Court Rulings Show Deal Terms Paramount

    Author Photo

    As the courts within the Texas Business Court system have begun reaching the substantive merits of the cases before them, they are persuasively demonstrating they will not only enforce the terms of transactions as written, but will also embrace a holistic approach to complex transaction documentation interpretation, says Christopher Pace at Winston Taylor.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

    Author Photo

    The year's second quarter brought several noteworthy financial services developments to California, including activity around a commercial finance oversight bill, the former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau head's appointment to lead a new consumer agency, and a ruling reinforcing viable bank-fintech partnerships, say attorneys at Manatt.

  • Trademark Law As A Tool To Bolster NIL Rights Against AI

    Author Photo

    The meteoric rise of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes is prompting high-profile celebrities to protect their name, image and likeness rights using federal trademark law — a powerful yet limited supplement to traditional NIL claims, says Susan Natland at BakerHostetler.

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.