National Law Journal

Trump Picks Miller & Chevalier Tax Lawyer as IRS Chief Counsel Nominee

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:39:48 EST

If James Gadwood is confirmed, he would be the fourth IRS chief counsel since Trump retook office.

6th Circuit Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking Michigan's Unredacted Voter File

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:33:32 EST

In its 2-1 decision, the Sixth Circuit held that Michigan's qualified voter file—which includes voters' driver's license numbers, birth dates and partial Social Security numbers—is not subject to the 1960 Civil Rights Act, which gives the U.S. attorney general power to obtain certain state voting records to enforce federal election law.

Senators Grill Trump DOJ Pick on Tweets Disparaging Police, Democratic Lawmakers

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:35:37 EST

Konstantinos Ligris, a tech entrepreneur and consultant, has been nominated to be assistant U.S. attorney general in charge of the Office of Justice Programs, which oversees awarding grants to support public safety and criminal justice programs around the country.

Supreme Court Lets Government Strip Protections From Green Card Holders Accused of Crime

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:28:04 EST

The decision is a loss for a Chinese green card holder who was paroled back into the United States in 2012 as an alien "seeking admission" after a border officer discovered a pending state criminal charge against him for counterfeiting.

Supreme Court Preserves Long Practice of Tax Foreclosure Auctions

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:40:45 EST

"Neither the Fifth nor the Eighth Amendment requires the government to compensate former owners based on the hypothetical fair market value of their property," Justice Samuel Alito Jr. wrote for the court in Pung v. Isabella County.

10th Circuit Nominee Defends Stance on Trump's Mandatory Immigration Detention Policy

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:08:07 EST

"Ultimately I think if you look deeper into my record on those immigration cases, you'll see that I have ruled in favor of petitioners in a number of those cases on separate bases," Daniel Domenico told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Kirkland Taps Quinn Emanuel Appellate Co-Chair to Lead Supreme Court Practice

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:59:59 EST

Christopher Michel, former co-chair of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan's national appellate practice, will lead Kirkland's Supreme Court and appellate practice.

Ropes & Gray, Winston Taylor and Holland & Knight Add DC Partners, Crowell & Moring Hires Cadwalader CIO

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:59:59 EST

Over a dozen law firms have announced partner or counsel hires in Washington, D.C., so far this month.

Judge Vacates Trump's Courthouse Immigration Arrest Policy Nationwide

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:07:19 EST

U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts of California's Northern District said policies authorizing arrests of immigrants going to and from federal courthouse proceedings is "arbitrary and capricious."

'Serious Matter': Delta, Aeromexico Urge 11th Circuit to Undo DOT Order Ending Joint Venture

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:52:33 EST

Delta's attorney, Eugene Scalia, told the appeals court that the U.S. Transportation Department offered no reasoned justification for dissolving the nine-year partnership by revoking antitrust immunity for the airlines.

Complaint Lodged with Attorney Grievance Committee Against Acting AG Todd Blanche

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:59:13 EST

The 69-page complaint asks the Attorney Grievance Committee for a Manhattan-based appeals court that governs disciplinary matters to look into alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Split Supreme Court Rules Inmates Can't Sue Guards for Damages

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:50:42 EST

The Supreme Court ruled against a Rastafarian inmate whose locks were forcibly cut by prison guards, ruling that prisoners may not pursue damages against individual guards over alleged religious violations.

DC Circuit Lets Trump Continue Expanded Rapid Deportations

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:29:53 EST

Judge Justin Walker, writing for the majority, said the Trump administration's fast-track deportation policy likely doesn't violate the Constitution's Due Process Clause. Walker added that an immigrant rights group failed to show the quick process denies its members notice and an opportunity to be heard before removal.

Brown Rudnick's Revenue Surpassed $300M, Profits Saw Double-Digit Increases in 2025

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:42:22 EST

Brown Rudnick passed the $300 million threshold last year, as its gross revenue climbed more than 9% to $308.95 million in 2025.

Exxon May Sue Cuban State Entities Over Alleged Stolen Property, Supreme Court Rules

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:22:04 EST

The court said a 1996 federal law allowing plaintiffs to sue anyone who traffics in property stolen during the Cuban revolution trumps the ordinary immunity protecting foreign governments from U.S. lawsuits.

Supreme Court Ends Lawsuit Accusing Cisco of Aiding China's Crackdown on Minorities

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:34:01 EST

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court's conservative majority closed the door on new types of claims arising out of the 18th Century Alien Tort Statute.

Supreme Court To Review Whether Prisoner Can Sue Nurse for Neglecting Injury From Gang Attack

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:16:05 EST

The question in the case is whether a federal inmate may invoke the court's 1971 disfavored ruling in Bivens v. Six Unkown Named Agents to sue a staff nurse for violating his constitutional rights through the denial of medical care.

Regulators Propose Customer-ID Rules for Stablecoin Issuers

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:03:18 EST

The proposal is part of a broader effort to bring stablecoin issuers under the same anti-money laundering framework that apply to traditional banks and other financial institutions.

Plaintiffs' Lawyers Sanctioned in Two MDLs For Violating Protective Orders: 'For Me, Professionally, This Was a Big Deal'

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:54:12 EST

U.S. District Court Senior Judge Denise Cote, in the Southern District of New York, sanctioned Ashley Keller last month in the multidistrict litigation alleging prenatal acetaminophen use cause autism and ADHD. Keller told Law.com, 'Pointing to the existence of confidential documents is not using confidential information.'

Veteran D.C. Regulatory Lawyers Jump to O'Melveny From Cleary

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:42:27 EST

Jim Burns and Brant Brown have worked together for the better part of two decades. They jointly made the decision to join O'Melveny & Myers due to the firm's platform, stellar reputation and familiar faces.

Kannon Shanmugam On His Move to Davis Polk, the Shrinking SCOTUS Docket and Appellate Strategy

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:04:31 EST

In his interview with Litigation Daily, Shanmugam says he has become more active in the federal appeals and district courts given the “vanishingly small number of commercial cases at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Wants Trump Administration's View on New Jersey State Bar Association's DEI Program

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:22:13 EST

The U.S. Supreme Court has called for the views of the solicitor general about whether private groups, such as the New Jersey State Bar Association, have a First Amendment right to set aside seats for members of underrepresented groups to promote diversity.

Supreme Court Says Smoking Weed No Grounds for Gun Prosecution

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:13:37 EST

In this podcast edition of Supreme Court Brief, host Jimmy Hoover breaks down Thursday's decision barring federal gun prosecutions of recreational marijuana users, and other new developments at the high court.

Divided Supreme Court Upholds Doctrine Against State Do-Overs in Federal Court

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:09:57 EST

"The court today neither expands nor constrains Rooker-Feldman," Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her decision for the majority. "Instead, the court leaves the doctrine as it found it."

Senate Panel Advances Bills to Allow Cameras in US Supreme Court, Lower Courts

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:40:56 EST

“The public has a right to observe the cases before the highest court, and these Supreme Court decisions have national importance, and they affect the lives of every American," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "This legislation ensures access to all Americans, even those who may not have resources to travel to Washington, D.C., and observe the court in person.

Supreme Court Says Appeal Waivers Unenforceable if They Lead to 'Miscarriage of Justice'

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:42:12 EST

The Supreme Court rejected the federal government's argument that an appeal waiver signed by a criminal defendant during a plea agreement is virtually always enforceable, no matter the circumstances.

Supreme Court Says Gun Charge for Marijuana Use Alone Unconstitutional

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:38:54 EST

In a major ruling for marijuana and gun rights activists, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government may not prosecute individuals simply for being a habitual drug user in possession of a firearm.

Sidley Adds to Chicago Skyline in Upcoming 'Big Deal' Office Move

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:37:41 EST

The Windy City-founded firm announced it will become the anchor tenant of a new building developed by Related Midwest in the Fulton Market neighborhood.

Heat Is On for Employers as Regulatory Climate Shifts for Workplace Temperature Safety

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:32:33 EST

Under President Donald Trump's administration, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is continuing with development of rules for addressing hazards from extreme heat in the workplace, a project started during the administration of Joe Biden. The agency's current director, with a background in private industry, seems "largely unaffected by the broader administration priorities," one attorney said.

Don't Expect Investor Suits Against Funds to End, Even After SCOTUS Imposition of Curbs

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:38:57 EST

Attorneys who represent investment funds are hailing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision restraining investor suits as a win for the industry. But even they acknowledge that investors are likely to find new avenues of litigation.

Luigi Mangione Will Mount Psychiatric Defense, Judge Reveals

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:21:39 EST

Mangione's defense team served a notice of intent back in September, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro said. Carro said he was unsealing the record relating to that litigation.

Clayton Nomination as DNI Is Placed on Hold Until McDonald Can Be Confirmed as Manhattan U.S. Attorney

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:09:37 EST

In a Truth Social post hours before Clayton was expected to appear before the Senate, Trump said the nomination was on pause, because "I may not be able to get the extraordinary Sullivan & Cromwell Partner, Jamie, approved, and I don't want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie is in place."

As Top Pay Rises, Plenty of Partners See Cuts

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:24:38 EST

The need to allocate a law firm's profits more efficiently has increased as rival firms continue to lure talented partners for larger sums of money.

EEOC Moves to End Collection of Demographic Data, But States May Fill the Void

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 19:51:27 EST

Even if the EEOC ends its demographic reporting requirements, employers could still be subject to similar state laws, lawyers say.

Sullivan & Cromwell, Holtzman Vogel, Baker & Hostetler Recruit DC Laterals

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:48:18 EST

The new hires are joining the firm's tax, antitrust, litigation and investigations practices.

DOJ Sues New Mexico Supreme Court, Board of Bar Examiners Over Alleged SCRA Violations

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:37:33 EST

The U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division warns that state supreme courts and bar associations should take note of the New Mexico lawsuit, and if states do not come into full compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, they risk getting sued by the DOJ.

'From Black Box to Real Transparency': Legal Teams Seek Better Ways to Measure Outside Counsel Spend

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:17:24 EST

Legal leaders have historically faced a difficult task when trying to quantify their contribution to the business, particularly because much of their value comes from preventing problems that never materialize.

Embattled Federal Judge Recuses Herself from DOJ's Georgia Election Lawsuit

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:12:39 EST

Ross wrote that she found recusal appropriate given the DOJ's intention to obtain voter rolls and Willis's role in prosecuting Trump over alleged election interference.

New Lawsuit Against IBM Offers Glimpse at Future of AI Discrimination Claims

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:12:23 EST

Andrew Adams, a partner at DarrowEverett, said he expected to see more claims brought by applicants who received form rejections that appeared to originate with AI systems. That could be “enough to get in the door for at least an EEOC complaint, he said.

Texas Teens Ask Supreme Court to Block Parental Consent Law for App Downloads

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:15:23 EST

"Every day the law is enforced, Applicants are denied their basic rights to organize, advocate, express ideas, and discover new perspectives through the most important medium for human communication," lawyers for the challengers told the Supreme Court in an emergency application this week.

Senate Confirms Trump's Ex-Personal Attorney to 8th Circuit Seat

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:10:19 EST

Justin Smith, as an attorney at the boutique firm James Otis Law Group, represented Trump in his effort to overturn a 2023 jury verdict finding him liable for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.

The Largest Law Firms in DC and Who Gained Ground

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:01:12 EST

Covington, Arnold & Porter, Williams & Connolly, Wilmer, Wiley and Crowell all held or gained ground in 2025, compared with the year prior.

Justices Will Consider Bond Hearings for Immigrants Held by DHS for Crimes

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:10:44 EST

The justices took up an appeal from the Trump administration arguing that immigrants held in detention pending deportation for serious crimes have no constitutional right to a bond hearing.

How Sullivan & Cromwell Has Cemented Itself as Trump's Favored Law Firm

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:47:53 EST

No other Big Law firm appears to match Sullivan & Cromwell's unique history and connections with Trump.

Second Complaint Against US Circuit Judge Closed After Renewed Vow to Improve Workplace Culture

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:29:07 EST

An order issued by the Second Circuit Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston resolved the latter of two complaints filed against U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam. Livingston, who investigated the matter, wrote that that the clerks had resolved the management issues themselves with Merriam before the second complaint was filed.

9th Circuit Rule Automatically Pausing Deportation Survives En Banc Review

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:41:30 EST

The U.S. Justice Department—and some of the court's most conservative members—argued the Ninth Circuit's practice violates the U.S. Supreme Court's 2009 Nken v. Holder decision that judges must not “reflexively hold a final order in abeyance pending review and instead evaluate the petitioner's likelihood of success on the merits.

Supreme Court Won't Review Pauline Newman's Suspension From Federal Circuit

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:49:39 EST

The court denied a petition from 98-year-old Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman seeking to challenge her suspension over her mental fitness in court.

Supreme Court to Consider Constitutionality of Six-Person Juries

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:12:52 EST

The justices will consider whether the Sixth Amendment's jury trial right entitles defendants in serious criminal cases to a 12-person jury.

Meet the Sullivan & Cromwell Partner Who Is the President's Pick to Serve as Manhattan US Attorney

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:35:45 EST

James McDonald, a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, and currently a Sullivan & Cromwell litigation partner, has drawn a favorable response from the office. McDonald co-heads S&C's securities and commodities investigations practice and its commodities futures and derivatives group.

DOJ Healthcare Fraud Veteran Joins BCLP

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:59:59 EST

False Claims Act specialist Susan Carney Lynch will service robust client demand in healthcare fraud matters, practice leader Lee Marshall said.