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:
Germany Set to Secure Win for Industry in AI Talks
Germany is poised to win a key concession in EU artificial‑intelligence legislation, securing an exemption for industrial machinery from the AI Act. EU ambassadors backed the move after Germany, backed by France and other states, pushed for a sector‑specific carve‑out. The change would shift AI requirements for machines to existing machinery rules and delay high‑risk AI restrictions by more than a year. The deal marks the EU’s first major rollback of digital rules amid competitive pressure from the United States.
Wednesday: What’s Hot on CanLII? – April 2026
Slaw’s April 2026 roundup highlights the three most‑viewed English and French decisions on CanLII. In Canada’s Supreme Court, the majority rejected the long‑standing implied licence that lets police step onto private driveways, leading the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal to exclude the...
The Recent Voting Rights Act Case
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais overturns decades of precedent that allowed the Voting Rights Act’s Section 2 to be enforced on the basis of disparate impact. The majority opinion requires proof of intentional racial discrimination before a districting...
Movers and Shakers: K&L Gates; Morgan Lewis, Axinn, Eversheds, Harvey, LegalEng & Litera
Legal technology leaders are reshaping North American law firms, with K&L Gates naming a global AI head to steer its digital transformation. Morgan Lewis, Axinn, Eversheds, Harvey, LegalEng and Litera also announced senior hires and strategic roles aimed at boosting...
Legal Update on Two DOJ Rule of Law Abuses
A live interview scheduled for noon ET will examine two alleged DOJ abuses. First, the Justice Department is accused of using subpoena authority to obtain the names of every Georgia 2020 election worker, a move critics say aims to influence...
The Pushback Against Personalized Grocery Pricing Begins
Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act, prohibiting grocers and third‑party delivery services from using personal data to set higher prices for individual shoppers. The law, which targets dynamic, algorithmic and surveillance pricing, applies to large...
Are Your Disciplinary Processes up to Code?
The updated Code of Good Practice: Dismissals (Schedule 8), gazetted on 4 September 2025, forces South African employers to overhaul disciplinary policies. It requires written notice, language‑appropriate hearings, and a genuine opportunity for employees to respond. Non‑compliance can lead the CCMA to deem...
The Time Is Now: Permitting Reform Is the Foundation of America’s Energy Future
The American Public Power Association is urging the Senate to adopt bipartisan permitting reform after a House package passed the SPEED and PERMIT Acts. NERC forecasts a 224 GW, roughly 70% jump in summer peak demand over the next decade, driven...
Restricting Speech By Purportedly Protecting Children
Governments worldwide are invoking child‑protection arguments to impose speech restrictions, from Russia's 2012 website blacklist to recent U.S. and U.K. legislation. In Utah, the Minor Protection in Social Media Act—requiring age verification and restrictive defaults for minors—was halted by a...
US Copyright Office Proposes Massive Fee Hike: What It Means
The U.S. Copyright Office has proposed a 43% average increase in registration fees, eliminating the $45 single‑application option and raising the standard electronic filing to $85. Paper filings would exceed $200, reflecting a push toward electronic processing. A coalition of...
A 2-3-4 Wild Card Court; and Blanche V. Lau Made Easy
Rory Little challenges the common 3‑3‑3 view of the Supreme Court, proposing a 2‑3‑4 “wild card” model that places Gorsuch, Barrett, Roberts and Kavanaugh as pivotal swing votes in closely divided cases. He argues that these four justices often break...
Connecticut Senate Passes Stricter Homeschooling Rules 22-14 Amid GOP Opposition
The Connecticut Senate voted 22-14 to approve House Bill 5468, mandating yearly education filings and background checks for families withdrawing children from public schools. The measure, championed as a child‑safety safeguard, faces fierce criticism from Republican lawmakers and homeschooling advocates...
FCC Overhauls Satellite Spectrum‑Sharing Rules, Unlocking $2 Billion Economic Gain
The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to replace the decades‑old Equivalent Power Flux Density framework with a performance‑based spectrum‑sharing regime for non‑geostationary satellites. The new rules, effective May 1, 2026, are projected to generate more than $2 billion in economic benefits and reshape...
SEC Signals Lighter Touch as Options Volume Projected to Near 18 Billion Contracts in 2026
During Tuesday’s Options Industry Conference in Palm Beach Gardens, SEC senior official Jamie Selway signaled a shift toward lighter oversight of options markets, while Cboe Global Markets’ Henry Schwartz forecast 2026 options volume at 17.5‑18 billion contracts, up from roughly 4 billion...
Clarra and NetDocuments Unite Case and Document Management in New Integration
Clarra announced a partnership with NetDocuments that embeds NetDocuments workspaces directly into its cloud‑based case management platform. The integration, now live for eligible subscribers, aims to eliminate the friction of juggling separate systems and is backed by implementation partners Sikich,...
Guardian HR Launches Guardian University, a Compliance‑training Platform for Payroll and HR Teams
Guardian HR announced the launch of Guardian University, a compliance‑training platform that pairs a new learning management system with a legal‑reviewed course library. Developed with law firm Fisher Phillips, the solution aims to simplify mandatory training for payroll and HR...
Legora’s Third Acquisition and Everlaw Tie‑Up Accelerate Legal‑Tech Consolidation
Legal AI startup Legora announced its third acquisition in three months—Graceview, a regulatory‑change monitoring platform—while also sealing a partnership with litigation platform Everlaw. The moves broaden Legora’s AI suite and signal a rapid consolidation phase in legal technology.
California Empowers Police to Ticket Driverless Cars Starting July 1
California's Department of Motor Vehicles approved new rules that let police issue tickets to autonomous vehicles beginning July 1, making the vehicle owner responsible for fines. The policy also opens the state to heavy driverless trucks and midibuses, and raises...
Treasury Proposes AML Rule to Bring Stablecoin Issuers Under BSA
The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a joint notice of proposed rulemaking that would classify permitted payment stablecoin issuers as financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act. The rule expands anti‑money‑laundering and...
FDA Accepts Opus Genetics’ OPGx‑LCA5 Gene Therapy Into Rare Disease Evidence Program
Opus Genetics announced that its investigational LCA5 gene therapy, OPGx‑LCA5, has been accepted into the FDA’s Rare Disease Evidence Principles (RDEP) program. The acceptance aligns the company with early‑stage regulatory collaboration for a Phase 3 trial targeting Leber congenital amaurosis type 5,...
Is the Court Done with Callais?
The Supreme Court promptly finalized *Louisiana v. Callais*, invalidating the state’s 2022 congressional map and ordering a new map for the 2026 elections. Black voters defending the struck map filed a motion to recall the judgment, arguing the Court ignored...
ACEDS Announces New Affiliate Partnership with Array
ACEDS, the leading e‑discovery certification body, announced an affiliate partnership with Array, a litigation‑support firm that leverages AI to manage data‑intensive disputes. Array provides end‑to‑end services—including eDiscovery, intelligent document review, court reporting, and paper discovery—across the United States, Canada, and...
Finance Leaders Struggle to Keep Up With Tax Rules as AI Use Grows
A Sovos survey reveals that finance leaders are overwhelmed by rapidly changing global tax regulations, with 58% labeling compliance complex and 44% citing rule velocity as a major issue. The complexity is hindering strategic decisions, as 75% say tax‑compliance limits...
UK Financial Conduct Authority Investigates PayPal, Mastercard, Visa Under Competition Act
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has opened an investigation into PayPal, Visa and Mastercard over alleged anti‑competitive behavior tied to PayPal’s digital wallet. The probe follows PayPal’s 10‑Q filing that disclosed the regulator’s involvement and confirmed the company’s cooperation. The...
Police Wrongly Identified Solicitor Fahad Ansari as Hamas Member During Schedule 7 Phone Seizure
A North Wales police officer mistakenly recorded solicitor Fahad Ansari as a Hamas member while exercising Schedule 7 powers, leading to the seizure and download of his work phone. The phone contained legally privileged communications, prompting a judicial review that the Court...
World’s Most Powerful Are Suing Media Outlets Before Stories Are Even Published, Says Editor
Powerful individuals are increasingly threatening lawsuits before stories go live, a tactic WSJ editor Emma Tucker described as “lawfare.” Tucker cited Donald Trump’s pre‑emptive suit over the paper’s reporting on his alleged connection to Jeffrey Epstein as a prime example....
King & Spalding Adds Two London Partners in as Many Days
King & Spalding announced the addition of two senior lawyers to its London office within 24 hours, bolstering its antitrust and real‑estate private‑equity capabilities. Jade‑Alexandra Fearns, formerly of Paul Hastings, joins as the firm’s sole antitrust partner, covering technology, pharma,...
This Trump FCC Cybersecurity ‘Fix’ Is About To Make Hardware Way More Expensive For Everyone
The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, announced a ban on any testing labs that maintain offices in China from certifying electronic devices for the U.S. market. Roughly 75% of U.S.-bound smartphones, cameras and computers are currently tested in Chinese...
Delhi HC Upholds Compulsory Retirement of IAF Civilian Employee in Forgery Case
The Delhi High Court upheld the compulsory retirement of a civilian carpenter employed by the Indian Air Force after he was found guilty of forging union receipt books and collecting subscription fees without authorization. The bench rejected the employee’s claim...
Reddit's Copyright Bans Surge 90% Amid DMCA Flood
Reddit and takedown requests -> Reddit Reports Resurgence in User Bans over Copyright Infringement First, the volume of content published on Reddit: "Overall, the transparency report reveals the massive volume of content that’s added to the site. In just six months, Redditors...
Russian Lawmakers Unveil $0 Package to Boost Responsible Fatherhood Nationwide
Russia's Committee on Family, Women, Children and Youth introduced a comprehensive support package for responsible fatherhood, guaranteeing equal parental‑leave rights, a one‑time birth allowance and new cultural programs. Lawmakers say the plan could raise the share of fathers taking leave...
UK High Court Dismisses Facial-Recognition Judicial Review Case
The UK High Court dismissed a judicial review brought by anti‑knife activist Shaun Thompson and privacy advocate Silkie Carlo, finding that the Metropolitan Police’s live facial‑recognition (LFR) policy contains sufficient legal constraints. The court rejected claims that the policy is...
To Tax or Not to Tax Mineral Rights in India? SC to Hear Pleas on May 20
The Indian Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for May 20 to decide whether Parliament can tax mineral rights, after the Centre filed a pending curative petition. A nine‑judge bench in July 2024 had ruled 8‑1 that such taxing power resides with the...
Securitize Secures FINRA Approval, Advancing Tokenized Securities Into Regulated Broker-Dealer Operations
Securitize announced that its subsidiary Securitize Markets received expanded FINRA approval, becoming the first traditional broker‑dealer authorized to custody tokenized securities. The approval lets the firm handle custody, clearing and settlement in‑house, enabling atomic on‑chain settlement and stablecoin payments. It...
Coinbase Faces Lawsuit over Frozen Funds From $55M Crypto Theft
Coinbase is being sued in a San Francisco federal court over $55 million in DAI that it froze after the funds were traced to a retail user account. The plaintiff, a Puerto Rico resident, alleges the crypto originated from an August 2024 phishing theft...
FAA Releases Long-Awaited NPRM for Drone Restrictions Around Critical Infrastructure
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to create a petition‑based framework for restricting unmanned aircraft around critical infrastructure. The 181‑page proposal adds a new 14 CFR Part 74, introducing Standard and Special Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restrictions (UAFRs) with...
Huntington Park Medical Practice and Doctor to Pay More Than $6.7 Million to Settle Allegations of Billing Medicare for Unnecessary...
Dr. Feliciano Serrano and his Huntington Park vascular practice agreed to pay more than $6.73 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they billed Medicare for medically unnecessary dialysis‑access and peripheral artery procedures. The settlement includes roughly $6.51 million to the federal...
‘GothFerrari’ Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Role in Massive Cryptocurrency Heist
Marlon Ferro, a 20‑year‑old from Santa Ana, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his role in a nationwide cryptocurrency burglary ring that stole more than $250 million in digital assets. The scheme combined online social‑engineering fraud with physical...
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Role in Multi-State Firearm Trafficking Operation in Connection With HSTF Case
A Baltimore man, Rodney Allen Farrar, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for his role in a multi‑state firearm trafficking conspiracy. Prosecutors said Farrar and co‑conspirator Brian Keith Adams moved more than 100 guns from North and South...
Pennsylvania Sues Chatbot for Faking Psychiatrist Credentials
Oh boy, it even gave a bogus license number -> Pennsylvania sues https://t.co/Xso93XhOzA, alleging that one of its characters posed as a psychiatrist, as the state seeks to prevent chatbots from impersonating doctors "One character, "Emilie," allegedly told a...
Tech QB Hires Top Sports Litigator to Challenge NCAA
Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby has hired the Michael Jordan of sports litigators—Jeffrey Kessler. What could be Sorsby's legal strategy against the NCAA? What would NCAA argue in defense? For @Sportico, I do a deep dive into the many legal issues at...
Part 3, the Trump Admin INVITES Destruction of MAHA IN COURT
A federal judge ordered a freeze and reversal of every vaccine policy change made by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra (referred to as Kennedy) since taking office. The Justice Department filed a consent filing rather than a traditional appeal, effectively endorsing...
FCC Still Bars Deceased From Lifeline Benefits?
Is it still @FCC policy that dead people are ineligible for federal Lifeline program support intended to trim the cost of monthly phone and Internet bills for low-income Americans, @BrendanCarrFCC ? https://t.co/ZulmH0tTGh
Jury Verdict
lol, it’s not just “theater” when a jury finds they violated the existing law(s). Remedies are remedies. You’ll get a chance to appeal but suggesting the AG is anything but doing his job protecting public is weak sauce. Andy Stone...
Tarn Brown | Meet the Speakers: Med-Tech Expo 2026
At Med‑Tech Expo 2026, Columbus Global’s Tarn Brown will discuss turning regulatory compliance into a competitive edge. She argues that regulations are intended to support safety and can be leveraged through digital technologies to streamline the compliance process. Brown highlights...
Regulation Must Shift to Adaptive, Real-Time Frameworks
As AI scales and climate governance tightens, regulation must evolve from static rules to adaptive, real-time frameworks. https://t.co/VKx5SUXgXb
Athletes Must Get NIL Contracts Reviewed by Lawyers
Same issues we talk about in my NIL classes at UF all the time. Athletes, you absolutely have get these reviewed by an attorney when nis experienced in this area.
Wealthy Money In Politics Preceded Citizens United
very good NYT piece pointing out that it was not Citizens United that opened the door to rich people's money flooding politics https://t.co/NSrcZsh0zD
Disney Flags FCC License Renewal Risk in 10‑Q
Disney has updated the "risk factors" section of its 10-Q to include the FCC's move to call in its broadcast licenses for renewal. https://t.co/pUePgeqz9P
Techlash Mislabels Legit Legal Action, Not Anti‑tech
💯 agree, Adam. “Techlash” was always a term I disputed that attempted to frame regulators’ lawsuits (still active) against your clients Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta as “anti-tech” rather than just good law enforcement. If anything it was a “Facebook-lash” at...