Federal Government

DC Circuit allows Trump to fire independent agency board members, for now; are administrative judges at risk?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday allowed President Donald Trump to fire board members of two independent executive branch agencies while a legal challenge continues.

Apr 1, 2025 9:43 AM CDT

1st Circuit refuses to lift block on Trump’s freeze on state grants during challenge

A Rhode Island federal judge’s order requiring President Donald Trump to keep appropriated grant flowing to the states will remain undisturbed during appeal after a federal appeals court declined to issue a stay.

Mar 31, 2025 3:51 PM CDT

Second, third associate quit Skadden after firm reaches settlement to avoid becoming Trump target

Updated: A second and third associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom have left the law firm amid disagreements over its reaction to President Donald Trump’s punitive actions against disfavored firms.

Mar 31, 2025 3:09 PM CDT

Lawyer who once said BigLaw is too woke obtains 1 of 2 TROs granted to large firms suing over Trump orders

Updated: Jenner & Block and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr obtained temporary restraining orders Friday that block parts of President Donald Trump’s executive orders that suspended their lawyers’ security clearances, restricted their access to government buildings, blocked government hiring of their employees and sought reassessment of their clients’ government contracts.

Mar 31, 2025 1:35 PM CDT

Justice Sonia Sotomayor calls for ‘fearlessly independent’ judges

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared to criticize recent attacks on the courts by President Donald Trump and his allies Friday evening in remarks at Georgetown University, calling for “fearlessly independent” judges.

Mar 31, 2025 9:45 AM CDT

Two more law firms sue Trump administration to stop sanctions

Two law firms sued the Trump administration on Friday, challenging executive orders signed by President Donald Trump that imposed sanctions on the firms as part of his broader campaign cracking down on lawyers based on the clients they represent.

Mar 28, 2025 10:30 AM CDT

ABA’s Disaster Legal Services program is suspending formal operations after FEMA freeze

The ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster Legal Services program is suspending its formal operations until further notice, according to a letter sent from the program’s director to its active partners Tuesday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency told the ABA last week that it would freeze all funding for Disaster Legal Services and other community services programs at the behest of its executive leaders.

Mar 27, 2025 3:13 PM CDT

Indicted SCOTUSblog founder Goldstein poses ‘economic danger,’ judge says in rejecting latest requests

SCOTUSblog co-founder Tom Goldstein isn’t entitled to see grand jury testimony in the tax fraud case against him and must continue to submit to monitoring of his electronic devices while he is on pretrial release, a federal judge has ruled.

Mar 27, 2025 12:16 PM CDT

ABA responds to federal cuts to legal services for unaccompanied children

The ABA is calling on lawyers to urge the Trump administration to reinstate full funding for legal services for tens of thousands of children who entered the United States alone.

Mar 27, 2025 11:25 AM CDT

Appeals court upholds temporary block on Alien Enemies Act deportations

A federal appeals panel on Wednesday refused to allow the Trump administration to summarily deport migrants under a rarely invoked wartime power while litigation on the matter continues.

Mar 27, 2025 9:50 AM CDT

Refugee ban can’t be enforced against those who received conditional approval, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration to stop approving new refugees for U.S. admission during a legal challenge but said the government can’t keep out refugees who received conditional approval before the resettlement program was halted Jan. 20.

Mar 26, 2025 2:29 PM CDT

Supreme Court upholds ‘ghost gun’ regulations, includes photos of ‘Buy Build Shoot’ parts kit

The federal government can regulate some “ghost guns” that can be made from kits under a federal law requiring vendor licensing, buyer background checks and stamping with serial numbers, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

Mar 26, 2025 11:53 AM CDT

Law firms refuse to represent Trump opponents in the wake of his attacks

President Donald Trump’s crackdown on lawyers is having a chilling effect on his opponents’ ability to defend themselves or challenge his actions in court, according to people who say they are struggling to find legal representation as a result of his challenges.

Mar 26, 2025 10:00 AM CDT

ABA, more than 50 bar associations condemn ‘government actions that seek to twist the scales of justice’

More than 50 state, local and specialty bar associations have joined with the ABA to “defend the rule of law and reject efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.”

Mar 26, 2025 9:43 AM CDT

Jenner & Block’s rehiring of lead Mueller prosecutor cited in executive order targeting firm

Jenner & Block has become the fourth BigLaw firm targeted by President Donald Trump in a punitive executive order.

Mar 26, 2025 9:16 AM CDT