Today's Legal Pulse
DOJ says Title VII disparate impact liability is unconstitutional
The Office of Legal Counsel concluded that disparate impact liability under Title VII violates the Constitution. The Department of Justice echoed this view, declaring employment disparate impact rules unconstitutional.
Also developing:
Kennedy Sidestepping Court Order Sidelining ACIP?
BioWorld’s April 7 briefing highlights three notable developments: Jiangsu and Shanghai Hengrui have patented a new class of Nav1.8 sodium‑channel blockers aimed at chronic pain treatment; recent hematopoietic stem‑cell research underscores inflammation’s role in initiating leukemia; and Infinimmune presented preclinical data showing its anti‑IL‑22 antibody IFX‑101 effectively reduces inflammation in atopic dermatitis models. Each announcement points to emerging therapeutic avenues and potential market shifts in pain, oncology, and dermatology.
Missouri AI Regulations Stall as Lawmakers Fear Loss of Rural Broadband Funds
Missouri lawmakers stalled a statewide AI liability bill after concerns it could jeopardize roughly $900 million in remaining federal broadband funds earmarked for rural internet expansion. The legislation would hold individuals or companies liable for AI‑caused harms, prohibit AI legal personhood,...
Finra Fines J.P. Morgan $3.2M for Failing to Supervise Ex-Broker’s Investment Strategy
FINRA has censured and fined JPMorgan Advisors more than $3.2 million for failing to supervise a former broker’s high‑risk investment strategy. The broker ran concentrated, leveraged positions in high‑yield securities from 2016 to 2020, triggering over 10,000 supervisory alerts, many...
Uncertainty Reigns for Manufacturers Seeking Tariff Refunds
More than a month after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of the Trump administration’s IEEPA tariffs, manufacturers are scrambling to recover the duties they paid. Only a handful of the roughly 300,000 affected firms have sued in the...
Maine Is Close to Passing a Moratorium on New Datacenters
Maine’s Senate approved LD 307, imposing a moratorium on new data centers larger than 20 megawatts until November 1, 2027. The bill also creates a Data Center Coordination Council to oversee environmental and electricity impacts. The move follows secretive deals in Lewiston...
Federal Court Upholds Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium Mine Permit, Clearing Path to Construction
A federal judge in Nevada upheld the Bureau of Land Management’s permit for ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium‑Boron Project, rejecting a lawsuit that claimed the mine would endanger the rare Tiehm’s buckwheat. The ruling found the agencies complied with the Endangered...
Simpson Thacher Boosts Sports Offering with Three Major Hires
Simpson Thacher announced three senior hires to expand its sports law practice, adding former partners from leading sports‑focused firms. The new lawyers bring expertise in NFL contract negotiations, NBA collective‑bargaining, and global media‑rights transactions, collectively representing over $200 million in annual...
L&E Global Expands Coverage in Greece with Zepos & Yannopoulos
Jackson Lewis’s L&E Global alliance has added Zepos & Yannopoulos as its exclusive member firm for Greece. The partnership expands L&E Global’s European footprint, bringing the network’s 1,750 employment law professionals to better serve multinational clients with cross‑border workforce issues....
Okta Files IPR2026-00327 at the PTAB: A New Challenge to an Identity and Access Patent
Okta, Inc. filed inter partes review IPR2026-00327 with the PTAB on April 6, 2026, targeting a yet‑unidentified identity‑management patent. The petition will argue unpatentability under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103, likely citing anticipation or obviousness based on prior art. While details of...
Why AI Shouldn’t Be Used Even to Decide ‘Simple’ Court Cases
Generative AI is rapidly entering courtrooms, with judges already using it for drafting summaries, translating documents, and locating precedents. Jurisdictions such as the UK have issued guidelines that restrict AI to preparatory work and forbid its use for core judicial...
Ralph Nader and Bruce Fein Present: Expert Legal Symposium on Impeachment and the Meaning of “Bribery, or Other High Crimes...
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader and constitutional lawyer Bruce Fein are hosting a legal symposium on April 8, 2026, in the Rayburn House Office Building. The half‑day event features three panels that examine President Trump’s alleged misuse of war powers, potential obstruction of...
OpenAI Asks California and Delaware Attorneys General to Investigate Elon Musk for Anti-Competitive Behavior
OpenAI’s chief strategy officer Jason Kwon has written to the attorneys general of California and Delaware, asking them to investigate Elon Musk for alleged anti‑competitive conduct aimed at seizing control of the nonprofit arm. The request comes weeks before Musk’s...
Constitutions Evolve: SA Amended 21 Times, Zimbabwe Only Two
The South African Constitution is 30 years old… and the MK Party is pushing for a 22nd Amendment (To expropriate land without compensation). This means, in 30 years, the SA constitution was amended 21 times. In 13 years, the Zim...
Closing Detection Latency Gaps in Financial Crime
Opoint has released an 18‑page practical guide that treats detection latency in financial‑crime compliance as a measurable problem, not a people issue. It introduces a four‑timestamp framework to locate bottlenecks and supplies three Excel templates for rapid baseline scoring, readiness...
Revolut Faces €11.5m Penalty over Fee Claims
Revolut has been hit with an €11.5 million (≈ $12.5 million) fine by Italy’s competition authority for misleading advertising and opaque account‑restriction practices. The regulator found that claims of zero‑commission trading were inaccurate and that the neobank failed to provide clear pre‑contractual information...
Akin Tech Head Exits After Less than Two Years
Law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld announced that its head of technology, who joined less than two years ago, is leaving the firm. The executive’s tenure lasted roughly 22 months, ending amid a broader wave of leadership changes...
Why IT Teams Shouldn’t Build Financial Crime Risk Platforms
Financial institutions often attempt to replace spreadsheet‑based financial crime risk assessments with in‑house IT solutions, only to encounter soaring budgets, missed deadlines, and incomplete functionality. The article explains that these platforms require constant regulatory updates, extensive governance, and deep domain...
The CY 2027 Final Rule Is Out. What Changed, What's New, and Why It Matters If You Sell to Health...
CMS released the Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule, rolling back four health‑equity requirements, removing 11 of 12 STAR measures and adding a depression‑screening metric, and inserting supplemental‑benefit provisions from the prior year’s proposal. The agency also...
Closing the Gap in Regulatory Change Management
Financial services firms are drowning in an ever‑growing flood of regulatory updates across multiple jurisdictions, and most still rely on manual spreadsheets, basic document collectors, or half‑baked automation. While horizon‑scanning tools surface new rules, they rarely translate raw text into...
Titan's Banking AI Makes Compliance Auditable, Not Optional
Domain-Led AI for Banks: Titan's SLMs Aim to Make Compliance Auditable, Not Optional Titan launched banking-native small language models (SLMs) embedding banking logic + regulatory frameworks. Proprietary Banker Trust Index (BTI) + RAGAS benchmarks claim higher safety, reliability, supervisory alignment vs...
‘Smog and Sunshine’: Achieving Clean Air in California
Ann Carlson’s new book, “Smog and Sunshine,” chronicles how Los Angeles transformed from a smog‑choked metropolis to a model of air‑quality improvement. The narrative traces early scientific breakthroughs, such as Arie Haagen‑Smit’s ozone research, and highlights pivotal policies like the statewide...
The Promise of Non-Pipeline Alternatives to Gas Lines
California is moving faster to eliminate natural‑gas service lines, highlighted by Assemblymember Marc Berman’s Home Energy Choice Act (AB 2313). The bill would compel utilities to offer financial incentives for homeowners to electrify, letting participants forgo gas service and avoid costly...
Motta, Convicted Kingpin of Staged Truck Accident Scam, Seeks New Trial
Vanessa Motta, the convicted mastermind behind Louisiana's staged‑truck‑accident fraud, has filed a motion for a new trial, alleging prosecutors broke pre‑trial promises by threatening to link her to the 2020 murder of informant Cornelius Garrison. Her attorneys claim the threat...
Illinois AG Defends Card Fee Law
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul defended the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which bars merchants from passing interchange levies on sales tax and gratuities, before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The state argues the law does not conflict with the...
China Empowers State Council to Probe Foreign Supply‑chain Threats
Regulations of the State Council on the security of industrial and supply chains Article 15 If a foreign organization or individual violates normal market transaction principles, interrupts normal transactions with Chinese citizens or organizations, takes discriminatory measures against Chinese citizens or organizations,...
Michigan Court of Appeals Upholds Indirect Sales Tax Audit Method
The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the Department of Treasury’s right to conduct an indirect sales‑tax audit of Sav‑Time, Inc., after the retailer failed to itemize non‑taxable labor on its invoices. The court held that the taxpayer’s invoices did not...
Court of Appeals Weighs in on Vesttoo LOC Reinsurance Broker Responsibilities
The U.S. Court of Appeals reversed a district‑court dismissal, allowing Porch Group’s claim that reinsurance broker Gallagher Re failed to verify fraudulent letters of credit in Vesttoo transactions. The appellate panel held that Section 13 of the reinsurance intermediary‑authorization agreement likely...
Airport Operator Sued Over Alleged Unpaid Revenue
The city of Gastonia, North Carolina, has sued Academy of Aviation Gastonia, the fixed‑base operator of Gastonia Municipal Airport, alleging it failed to pay required fuel fees and a 3% share of flight‑school revenue, totaling over $25,000. The complaint says...
Inside View: Stewart Crane on Withers’ Technology Priorities and AI in Practice
In a recent Inside View interview, Stewart Crane, global IT director at Withers, outlined the firm’s technology agenda and its pragmatic AI rollout. Withers was an early adopter of Microsoft Copilot, deploying it firm‑wide to build internal AI expertise before...
PracticePanther Launches PantherAccounting Plus, a Native Trust and Operating Accounting Suite for Law Firms
PracticePanther, part of Paradigm, launched PantherAccounting Plus, a native trust and operating accounting suite fully integrated into its cloud‑based legal practice management platform. The module lets law firms manage client retainers, month‑end reconciliations and year‑end tax reporting without leaving the...
High Court Tackles Birthright Citizenship in Tense Oral Arguments
On April 1 the Supreme Court heard heated oral arguments on whether the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause extends to children born to undocumented immigrants. The justices grappled with the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” weighing originalist interpretations against modern...
Innovation Exemption, Reg Crypto on Track for Digital Asset Capital Raising
SEC Chair Paul Atkins reaffirmed plans to introduce a new “innovation exemption” and a dedicated “Reg Crypto” framework for digital‑asset fundraising. The proposals would create a time‑limited startup exemption allowing up to $5 million to be raised over four years, and...
VP Duterte Petition to Stop Impeachment 'a Clear Attempt to Mislead SC, Pinoys'--Ridon
Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team filed a 58‑page petition for certiorari and prohibition to nullify four impeachment complaints, arguing procedural violations. Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the House Committee on Justice, called the filing a misleading attempt to...
Popeyes Dodges Lawsuit over Fingerprint Scans, but Court Leaves Door Open for Redo
A U.S. District Court in Illinois dismissed Popeyes’ liability in a biometric privacy lawsuit, finding the fast‑food chain did not control the franchisee’s fingerprint‑scanning policy. The employee alleged violations of the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) after her thumbprint was...
Loved Public Defense, Yet Law School Left Me Traumatized
I knew I wanted to be a public defender EARLY. Well I actually wanted to be a judge but at some point I learned you had to be a lawyer first. So being a public defender was the obvious choice...
SEC Leaders Preview Upcoming Crypto Regulation Framework
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce and SEC Crypto Task Force Chief on the Upcoming SEC Crypto Rules https://t.co/p1dbQQYBdq
Legal Documentation in the UAE: Insights From the Best Lawyer Dr. Hassan Elhais
Dr. Hassan Elhais, a veteran UAE attorney, has built a reputation as the region’s premier specialist in legal documentation and corporate representation. Leveraging more than two decades of experience, he guides multinational firms through the UAE’s complex civil‑law framework, from...
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Discusses Crypto Regulation Live
🚨 Happening TODAY at 12PM ET 🚨 DEX in the City goes live with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce (@HesterPeirce ) & Sumeera Younis They’re joining @kkirkbos, @TuongvyLe12 & Jessi to break down what’s next for crypto, regulation, and innovation ⚖️🚀 Tap in 🎧 https://t.co/G3536Lnjsk
Sixth Circuit Sets Kalshi Appeal Timeline Amid OH‑TN Split
The Sixth Circuit has issued the following briefing schedule in Kalshi v. Tennessee: May 18: Tennessee's principal brief June 17: Kalshi's response brief July 8: Tennesee's reply brief Crucial appeal given the intra-circuit split (OH vs....
A Guide to the ADA Title II Accessibility Rule
The DOJ’s ADA Title II rule requires all public‑sector digital content to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA by April 24 2026, with a one‑year extension to April 26 2027 for entities serving under 50,000 residents. The regulation covers websites, mobile apps, online courses, and virtual events, directly...
Circle's Judge‑Only Freeze Policy Fails Amid $285M Hack
Circle’s policy: they only freeze funds if a judge orders it. For a $285M hack that just happened, that timeline doesn’t work. @tayvano_ and @kaiynne on why this is the wrong call. Uneasy Money: https://t.co/3LBYxJBwbb https://t.co/Yder2DQH5I
24‑Hour Threat to Pull Report on Oxford
We’ve just been given 24 hours to take down our report on a dodgy Oxford accounting firm. Here’s the correspondence. On the Richter scale of legal threats, it’s somewhere between cornflakes and a kitten: https://t.co/ftbhNlq9Vq
The Who, What, and Where of Gun Control
The Supreme Court’s recent Second Amendment jurisprudence is being parsed through three lenses—who may bear arms, what arms are protected, and where they may be carried. In United States v. Rahimi (2024) the Court affirmed that the government can temporarily...
Kwong Decision Opens Refund Claims for Penalties, Interest
“…the Kwong decision suggests that taxpayers should reevaluate penalties and interest previously paid and consider filing refund claims targeting those amounts, even when the underlying tax liability itself is not in dispute.” Kwong Opens New Path for COVID-19 Refunds https://t.co/6OGToPBe1j...
China Tightens Offshore Scrutiny, Dampening Tech Biotech IPOs
Stricter Chinese scrutiny of offshore vehicles a blow for tech and biotech IPO candidates Mainland’s stock market watchdog is discouraging establishment of ‘red-chip-structured’ companies in sensitive industries https://t.co/Pj3ZJqdAAm
Wall Street Watchdogs Pull Back Amid Trump’s Deregulatory Push
The Trump administration is accelerating a broad deregulation drive, reshaping U.S. financial oversight. The SEC’s workforce fell 18% since 2024 and it has dropped dozens of crypto enforcement actions, while the CFTC trimmed staff by 25% and is seeking greater...
Women in Northern Ireland Welcome Introduction of Miscarriage Leave
Northern Ireland has passed legislation granting statutory miscarriage leave, allowing employees up to five days of paid time off after a miscarriage. The measure aligns the region with England and Wales, which introduced similar provisions last year. Employers will treat...
France’s Ex-President Sarkozy Challenges Conviction over Alleged Libya Funding
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy maintained his innocence at a Paris appeal hearing, insisting no Libyan funds financed his 2007 campaign. He is challenging a September conviction for criminal conspiracy that linked his campaign to alleged payments from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime....
The EU AI Act Newsletter #99: Bridging the Atlantic
The European Parliament approved a simplification package for the EU AI Act, setting firm deadlines of 2 December 2027 for high‑risk AI systems and 2 August 2028 for sector‑specific safety rules, while giving providers until 2 November 2026 to meet watermarking requirements. The package also bans...
100% Bonus Depreciation Returns, Real‑Estate Investors Scramble Ahead of Tax Day
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently reinstates 100% bonus depreciation for qualified property placed in service after Jan. 19 2025, sparking an urgent push among real‑estate investors to complete cost‑segregation studies before the April 15 tax deadline. Experts warn that without...