Legislation & Lobbying

Trump signs bipartisan criminal justice reform bill; ABA applauds ‘First Step’

Updated: President Donald Trump has signed a bipartisan criminal reform bill that lowers some federal sentences and aims to reduce recidivism.

Dec 21, 2018 1:53 PM CST

2018’s most important legal tech stories

What were 2018's most important legal tech stories? ABA Journal legal affairs writer Jason Tashea takes a look back on the biggest news in law and technology, including Facebook’s never-ending missteps, the creation of new data privacy standards and the destruction of federal net neutrality.

Dec 21, 2018 6:30 AM CST

Rapid-fire bump stocks banned under new regulation; lawsuit filed same day

A new regulation announced on Tuesday bans bump stocks that are used to accelerate gunfire on semi-automatic weapons. The final rule is a reinterpretation of existing law, report the New York Times, the Washington Post, Courthouse News Service and USA Today. Bump stocks didn’t exist when a federal law outlawed…

Dec 19, 2018 12:16 PM CST

Judge strikes down entire health care law because of Congress’ elimination of tax penalty

The Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate requiring Americans to maintain health insurance coverage is no longer constitutional after Congress’ effective elimination of the tax penalty for failure to comply, a federal judge has ruled.

Dec 17, 2018 9:19 AM CST

ABA-supported juvenile justice bill with ‘rehabilitative purpose’ passes Congress

A bipartisan bill aiming to improve protections for youths in the juvenile justice system now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature after approval by the House of Representatives on Thursday. One of the bill’s sponsors, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, tweeted the news, saying the bill…

Dec 14, 2018 7:00 AM CST

ABA applauds vote for compromise criminal justice reform bill on sentencing

ABA President Bob Carlson is praising plans for a vote on a compromise criminal justice reform bill that shortens some sentences and gives judges leeway to bypass mandatory minimum sentences in more cases. Carlson thanked House and Senate leaders for their work to advance the bill, known as the First…

Dec 13, 2018 11:18 AM CST

9th Circuit: New asylum restrictions likely violate federal law; Bybee wrote opinion

A federal appeals court on Friday refused the Trump administration’s request for a stay of a judge’s decision that blocked new asylum restrictions from taking effect. The 2-1 opinion by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco said the administration’s decision to restrict asylum claims to those…

Dec 10, 2018 10:07 AM CST

Colorado town repeals snowball ban after 9-year-old boy makes his case; what’s his next pet project?

Trustees in the Colorado town of Severance quickly warmed up to a 9-year-old boy who took aim at its snowball ban on Monday. Town trustees agreed to repeal the century-old ban after Dane Best made out his case, report NPR, Colorado Public Radio, the Coloradan and the Greeley Tribune in…

Dec 5, 2018 12:09 PM CST

Law firms are making sure they comply with the Foreign Agents Registration Act

The Foreign Agents Registration Act requires anyone lobbying or doing public relations for a foreign government, company or other entity to register with the Department of Justice and file detailed reports about their work every six months. Violations carry penalties of up to $10,000 and five years in prison.

Dec 1, 2018 2:05 AM CST

ABA-backed legislation will help domestic violence survivors get pro bono legal help

The Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2018 moved through Congress with strong bipartisan support. The ABA is applauding the enactment this past fall of legislation to help survivors of domestic violence gain access to pro bono legal services.

Dec 1, 2018 1:00 AM CST

Trump backs sentencing reform bill that shortens mandatory minimums, expands ‘safety valves’

President Donald Trump endorsed bipartisan sentencing and prison reform legislation on Wednesday that shortens some mandatory minimum sentences and promotes vocational training in prison.

Nov 15, 2018 9:29 AM CST

Supreme Court rules federal age-bias law applies to state and local governments of any size

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 applies to state and local governments, regardless of their size. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the 8-0 opinion, the first of the term. The case was argued on Oct. 1, before Brett M. Kavanaugh joined…

Nov 6, 2018 2:47 PM CST