The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with a specialty construction company, ruling that its asbestos abatement work falls under the “building and construction industry” exception, thereby shielding the company from significant withdrawal liability under federal pension laws. This decision clarifies a key ambiguity in the Multiemployer Pension Plan…
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$10 Billion Childcare Funding Freeze Sparks Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
A coalition of five U.S. states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trump’s administration for freezing nearly $10 billion in childcare and family assistance funding, arguing that the move violates federal law and threatens critical support for working families and low-income households. The lawsuit, filed in federal…
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Eighth Circuit Upholds Denial of Compassionate Release for Inmate with Extensive Medical Issues
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has affirmed a district court’s decision to deny Robbie Dean Fetters compassionate release, despite the inmate presenting a lengthy list of serious and worsening medical conditions. The appellate court found that the lower court did not abuse its discretion when…
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Federal Judge Gives Trump-Appointed Prosecutor 7 Days to Explain Use of ‘U.S. Attorney’ Title
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Lindsey Halligan, the interim prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia, to justify why she continues to use the title “U.S. Attorney” after another court ruled her appointment unlawful. In a terse order, U.S. District Judge David J. Novak — himself a Trump appointee…
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Georgia Lawyer Gets 12-Month Suspension for Misconduct While Public Official
The Supreme Court of Georgia has accepted the voluntary discipline petition of attorney Stephanie Dianne Woodard, imposing a 12-month suspension for her admitted professional misconduct stemming from actions taken while serving as the Solicitor General of Hall County. This decision marks the second time the high court has reviewed Woodard’s…
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NJ Court Upholds Sweeping Environmental Justice Rules Despite Industry Pushback
The New Jersey Appellate Division has affirmed the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) adoption of its comprehensive Environmental Justice Rules (EJRules), rejecting challenges brought by industry groups claiming the regulations exceeded the agency’s statutory authority or were arbitrary and capricious. The court granted substantial deference to the DEP’s interpretation of…
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Appeals Court Blocks Trump Administration’s NIH Research Funding Cuts
In a major legal setback for the Trump administration’s controversial revamp of federal science funding, a federal appeals court on Monday delivered a decisive defeat to efforts aimed at slashing research dollars at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ruling, handed down by a three-judge panel of the…
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Ninth Circuit Denies Rehearing in Fight Over Trump Administration’s Internal RIF Plans
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied a petition for rehearing, both at the panel level and en banc, in a high-stakes legal battle concerning the disclosure of internal government documents related to planned large-scale federal workforce reductions (RIFs) initiated under President Donald J. Trump’s Executive…
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Nebraska Court Upholds Denial of Post-Release Supervision Termination Despite Multiple Sentences
The Nebraska Supreme Court has affirmed a district court’s decision to deny a motion seeking to terminate post-release supervision, ruling that the defendant was required to complete all prison time before supervision could begin, regardless of consecutive sentences imposed in different counties. The case involved Melvin L. Jackson, who appealed…
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Gas Pipeline Fees Struck Down: Township Cannot Regulate Utility Inspections, Court Rules
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has issued a significant ruling limiting the power of local townships to impose fees on natural gas utilities for infrastructure projects, declaring that certain inspection fees enacted by Menallen Township are preempted by state law. In a decision filed January 2, 2026, the Court granted partial…