Public Infrastructure

Settlement reached in shipping crash that destroyed Baltimore’s Key Bridge

The state of Maryland has reached a settlement agreement with the owner and the operator of the Dali cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge two years ago, killing six construction workers, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced Thursday.

Apr 10, 2026 9:30 AM CDT

Supreme Court denies hearing challenge to Illinois law banning concealed guns on public transportation

The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an opposition to an Illinois law that prohibits concealed-carry permit holders from bringing loaded guns onto public transportation, upholding a 2013 state provision that bans firearms from buses and trains.

Apr 7, 2026 11:22 AM CDT

Citing maintenance and management crisis, federal judiciary seeks control over courthouses

Citing delinquent repairs and poor oversight, the federal judiciary last month asked to take over the maintenance and management of federal courthouses from the executive branch.

Mar 4, 2026 10:11 AM CST

Judiciary says courthouses are crumbling nationwide, seeks control over properties

The federal judiciary asked Congress on Tuesday for permission to take over management of the nation’s courthouses, saying many are crumbling because of billions of dollars in unmet repairs to elevators, windows, roofs and more.

Feb 24, 2026 2:53 PM CST

BigLaw sees opportunity to support trillion-dollar data centers

The recent proliferation of new trillion-dollar data centers is bringing big business to BigLaw firms.

Feb 20, 2026 11:09 AM CST

Lawyer goes to bat for son over Little League suspension for celebrating home run

When a 12-year-old baseball player hit a home run in the sixth inning of a game, he did something to celebrate: He flipped his bat in the air. An umpire ejected him from the game for tossing his bat. Under Little League rules, an ejection also required him to be suspended for one additional game. The boy’s father, a lawyer, decided to take the league to court.

Oct 16, 2025 9:11 AM CDT

This 30-year-old film explains wiretap rules well

Columnist Adam Banner is a sucker for a Martin Scorsese crime film. While he was on vacation and looking for something to watch, he noticed the 1995 classic Casino streaming. He is a fan of the film and thought it was ripe for another viewing.

Jul 28, 2025 9:15 AM CDT

Nondelegation doctrine doesn’t nix FCC funding program for internet and phone service, Supreme Court rules

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Friday that a program to fund internet and communications services for underserved areas does not violate the nondelegation doctrine.

Jun 27, 2025 10:00 AM CDT

Supreme Court narrows scope of environmental reviews

The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously narrowed the scope of government-required environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects, overturning a lower-court block on a rail line in Utah that would carry billions of gallons of oil. The case became a proxy battle over how far federal agencies may go in assessing the environmental impact of highways, pipelines and other projects before deciding whether to approve them.

May 29, 2025 2:38 PM CDT

SCOTUS rejects 5th Circuit’s narrow ‘moment of threat’ test to evaluate officer’s shooting of fleeing man

Updated: The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday that a federal appeals court used a too-narrow time frame to evaluate whether a police officer’s fatal shooting of a fleeing man was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

May 15, 2025 11:51 AM CDT

After US prosecutors mistakenly file confidential memo, is their challenge to congestion pricing doomed?

Federal prosecutors have been kicked off a challenge to congestion pricing in New York City after they mistakenly filed a confidential memo saying the government is “very unlikely” to be successful.

Apr 28, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

No Horsing Around: What’s considered a ‘vehicle’ when it comes to drunk driving laws?

A horse is a horse, of course. But can a horse be considered a “vehicle” if you’re charged with riding it while drunk? Well, it depends. Police can charge a person with impaired driving while operating just about anything—from horse drawn carriages to riding lawn mowers.

Apr 21, 2025 8:55 AM CDT

Future Forward: How lawyers can embrace sustainability

Sustainable development means more than “being green,” says John Dernbach, an emeritus professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School and the founding director of its Environmental Law and Sustainability Center. Rather, he says, sustainable development balances environmental protection, economic development and social justice.

Apr 1, 2025 3:00 AM CDT

Going Green: Oday Salim works with Michigan Law students to amend city code

Oday Salim and his students at the University of Michigan Law School have launched a new partnership with the city of Dearborn to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for its residents.

Apr 1, 2025 12:45 AM CDT

Ex-Wisconsin justice who led election review should be compelled to sit for deposition in ethics case, motion says

A former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice should be compelled to sit for a deposition before a disciplinary review board, a lawyer for the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation argued in a Feb. 28 motion.

Mar 6, 2025 10:00 AM CST