Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

A federal appeals court has struck down an order from the White House that forced a coal plant in Michigan to stay open past its scheduled retirement date. The Energy Department has for more than a year ordered the J.H. Campbell facility in West Olive, Michigan, to maintain operations despite its plans to close in May 2025, citing an “energy emergency.” On Friday, a three-judge panel at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Trump administration had overreached in its use of emergency powers. The challenge was brought by attorneys-general from Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, and environmental groups.

 

Financial Times

Detroit Free Press

New York Times

The White House has agreed to updated ethics provision in the Clarity Act ahead of a key vote on the cryptocurrency regulation bill in the Senate tomorrow. The provision, which prohibits public officials from issuing or sponsoring digital assets, could be enforced by both state attorneys general and the Department of Justice (DOJ) under new language released by Senate Republicans late yesterday that was a key demand from Democrats. “After a year of intense daily bipartisan negotiations, this bill is ready,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) said, adding: “A no vote on Tuesday means opposing real ethics reforms on politicians' personal investments, handing American leadership in digital assets to our foreign competitors, and leaving Americans with zero protections in the digital asset markets . . . Democrats got what they wanted; now they need to take yes for an answer.”

 

The Hill

A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to reduce the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) workforce by 50%, saying that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) overstepped its legal authority. The ruling is a significant win for labor groups that argued the cuts violated protections meant to ensure FEMA's independence. Although the cuts were not implemented, the agency has faced significant staff departures, with over 4,300 employees leaving in the 2025 budget year. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston observed: “Frankly, the FEMA staffing plan number appears as if pulled from thin air.” FEMA responded in a statement late Saturday, saying: “DHS and FEMA are ready for the 2026 hurricane season . . . We're ensuring workforce stability and a strong, deployable force for upcoming national events and potential disasters; making the agency leaner, faster and laser-focused on supporting state, local, tribal and territorial partners before, during and after disasters . . . FEMA continues to maintain a roster of experienced leadership and support staff across headquarters and regional offices.”

 

Los Angeles Times

U.S. Tax Court nominee Andrew De Mello faces scrutiny from Senate Democrats over his involvement in a controversial Trump-IRS settlement and related investigations. Senator Ron Wyden said De Mello declined to answer numerous questions during a bipartisan Senate Finance Committee vetting meeting, although he agreed to provide written responses. De Mello, a Trump ally who rose to acting IRS chief counsel in 2025, has been nominated for a 15-year Tax Court term. Wyden’s letter signals that Democrats are likely to press De Mello about the IRS settlement and other controversial matters during his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing.

 

Bloomberg Tax

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slowdown in AI development following warnings from industry researchers that a superintelligent AI would be a threat to humanity. In an essay, Amodei proposed inserting independent evaluators into frontier AI companies, applying common safety standards among developers and negotiating international cooperation. OpenAI's Sam Altman and Elon Musk have backed Amodei's call for a more measured approach. However, some are questioning Amodei's motives: sceptics suggest he may be trying to engineer state regulation to suppress open source competition. President Trump, meanwhile,    told reporters on Sunday it was imperative for the U.S. to retain its international leadership in AI. “Look, we’re leading China in AI . . . and, frankly, I want to keep it that way, because whoever wins AI, wins,” Trump said.

 

Financial Times

CNBC

Reuters

The Verge

The Guardian

Amazon has paused operations with cargo carrier 21 Air after an Amazon-branded aircraft overshot the runway at Miami International Airport, killing five people and crashing into nearby vehicles before stopping 1,300 feet beyond the runway with its right engine on fire. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident, with 21 Air’s safety practices, its relationship with Amazon and the pilots’ actions among the areas under scrutiny after investigators indicated that the pilots belatedly decided to redo their landing before opting to brake and stop the aircraft. 21 Air, which is owned by logistics businessman and Houston Astros owner Jim Crane, operates around 17 aircraft, including eight that fly for Amazon, and has worked with the ecommerce group for nearly two years.

 

Wall Street Journal

Ashurst Perkins Coie has recruited Ben Plotnik from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer as the former seeks to expand its global private capital team following a transatlantic merger. Plotnik was promoted to special counsel at Freehills three years ago.

 

Financial Review

Richard Bloomfield, a former M&A lawyer at the London office of U.S. law firm Goodwin Procter, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of insider dealing related to Seraphine Group shares. The U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) charged Bloomfield for allegedly using confidential information from his role in an acquisition to trade shares between 28 March 2022 and 10 January 2023. The case is now at Southwark Crown Court in London, with a trial date proposed for 11 September 2028.

 

Financial Times

City AM

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has launched an investigation into the financing of a film about former President Jair Bolsonaro, citing suspicions of connections to a criminal network. Justice Flávio Dino's decision may further complicate matters for Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the ex-leader's eldest son, who is already under investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering related to the film "Dark Horse." Dino noted that evidence suggests a complex scheme involving public funds and irregular contracts. The investigation has also targeted Bolsonaro ally Mário Frias, who allegedly funneled 2m reais ($400,000) to a nonprofit linked to the film. Frias denies any wrongdoing, claiming he did not allocate funds for the film.

 

U.S. News

Disposable vapes could pose a significant environmental risk due to high levels of lead and other heavy metals found in their remaining e-liquid, alongside the difficulties involved in recycling their batteries, circuitry and plastics. Researchers testing discarded devices collected in the U.K. and U.S. found some contained extremely high lead concentrations, with tests on a small number of unused vapes suggesting the contamination was present from the outset. Researchers warned that discarded devices could contaminate groundwater and add to landfill waste, while lithium batteries can cause fires when crushed in waste systems. The study recommended tighter monitoring of e-liquids for harmful metals and design changes including removable batteries, recyclable plastics and refillable devices, although it did not establish whether the metals detected in e-liquid are transferred into vapor and inhaled by users.

 

US News and World Report