Federal Government

Supreme Court refuses to disturb federal moratorium on evictions; Kavanaugh explains his vote

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday evening refused to lift a nationwide moratorium on evictions ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jun 30, 2021 9:58 AM CDT

Doctrine of laches, ‘speculative’ claim doom antitrust suits against Facebook; FTC gets second chance

In a pair of decisions Monday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., tossed antitrust lawsuits filed against Facebook by the Federal Trade Commission and the vast majority of state attorneys general.

Jun 28, 2021 4:22 PM CDT

To protect homeowners and renters still affected by COVID-19, ABA and White House team up on new initiative

The ABA is working with the White House on a new initiative to protect renters and homeowners who remain affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic instability.

Jun 28, 2021 3:05 PM CDT

DOJ files suit contending Georgia election law violates Voting Rights Act

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it filed a lawsuit challenging new voting procedures in Georgia as a violation of the Voting Rights Act.

Jun 25, 2021 2:08 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS overturns another agency structure; corporate diversity suit allowed

Supreme Court rules FHFA structure is unconstitutional The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is unconstitutional because its director can only be removed by a U.S. president for cause. The decision will allow President Joe Biden to replace the Trump appointee leading…

Jun 23, 2021 4:21 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Suit tossed over ‘stateless’ BigLaw partners; Lafayette Square claims dismissed

Perkins Coie wins suit dismissal because of ‘stateless’ partners The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago has ruled that former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page can’t sue Perkins Coie for defamation in federal court. Page had alleged that the law firm and the Democratic National Committee retained Fusion…

Jun 22, 2021 4:53 PM CDT

Biden reverses course on Trump’s immigration policies—but will high-skilled workers return?

President Joe Biden has made clear that he wishes to make it easier for immigrants to live and work in the U.S.—and he’s connecting this to America’s ability to succeed.

Jun 22, 2021 1:01 PM CDT

Garland vacates DOJ opinions restricting asylum in cases of domestic abuse and gang violence

Attorney General Merrick Garland has vacated opinions by his Trump-era predecessors that made it more difficult to obtain asylum as a result of domestic abuse and gang violence.

Jun 21, 2021 10:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS tosses child slavery case; DOJ drops suit and probe over Bolton book

SCOTUS tosses suit over child slavery in Ivory Coast The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Nestlé USA and Cargill can’t be sued here under the Alien Tort Statute for allegedly providing assistance to Ivory Coast cocoa farms that used child slaves. In an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, the…

Jun 17, 2021 3:48 PM CDT

Affordable Care Act survives again; states have no standing to challenge individual mandate, SCOTUS rules

The Affordable Care Act remains intact after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Thursday that challengers do not have standing to challenge the law’s requirement to carry health insurance.

Jun 17, 2021 9:11 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Hate speech mustn’t be normalized, ABA president says; Title IX protects gay and transgender students

ABA president: Hate speech legitimizes intolerance ABA President Patricia Lee Refo said Tuesday the association is “deeply troubled” by recent hate speech directed at Jewish, LGBTQ, Asian American and Muslim people. Refo said studies show a correlation between exposure to hate speech and the increase in hate crimes. Hate speech…

Jun 16, 2021 3:45 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Senate confirms Biden appellate judge; how SCOTUS justices supplemented their 2020 income

Senate confirms Biden’s first appellate judge On Monday, the U.S. Senate confirmed U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Jackson is President Joe Biden’s first affirmed appellate judge and will replace Merrick Garland, who is now the U.S. attorney…

Jun 15, 2021 3:41 PM CDT

Judge pursues criminal charges against 3 US marshals after underling won’t disclose COVID-19 vaccination status

A federal judge in South Dakota has said three supervisory U.S. marshals will face criminal charges after an underling refused to disclose her COVID-19 vaccination status and left the courthouse with three defendants scheduled for court hearings.

Jun 15, 2021 10:16 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Dechert associate wins ‘Jeopardy!’ and fans’ hearts; judge sides with hospital requiring vaccines

Dechert associate wins over Jeopardy! fans Dechert associate Julia Markham Cameron won over Jeopardy! fans with her quirky facial expressions during an appearance earlier this month in which she won more than $16,000. “It’s certainly not what I thought I would be known for at this stage in my career.…

Jun 14, 2021 4:29 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Toobin returns to CNN after Zoom exposure; DOJ inspector general will review leak subpoenas

Jeffrey Toobin returns to CNN after Zoom incident Journalist and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin has returned to CNN eight months after he masturbated during a break in a Zoom call with colleagues at the New Yorker. Toobin was fired from the New Yorker after 27 years with the magazine. In…

Jun 11, 2021 3:18 PM CDT