Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

The deadline for President Donald Trump to request a reconsideration of the Supreme Court's ruling on birthright citizenship has passed without any new filings. The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in June rejected Trump's executive order aimed at denying automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented or temporarily present parents. Law professor Aaron-Andrew Bruhl noted, "The bar to grant a petition for rehearing is high," emphasizing the difficulty of overturning such a ruling. Trump's administration had previously faced setbacks in lower courts, and the Supreme Court has not granted a rehearing in over 50 years.

 

U.S. News

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President Trump has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn an $83.3m jury verdict against him in E. Jean Carroll's defamation case. The petition, filed on Tuesday, argues that Trump's statements about Carroll were made in the course of his official duties as president, claiming: “Because accusations bearing on the President's fitness for office are unquestionably matters of public concern.” This appeal follows a previous dismissal of his challenge to a related $5m verdict in a separate case. Trump's legal team contends that the Second Circuit Court of Appeals did not adequately consider presidential immunity in their ruling. The Justice Department is expected to intervene on Trump's behalf, seeking to substitute the U.S. government for him in the case, which would lead to the dismissal of the lawsuit under the Westfall Act.

 

Bloomberg Tax

The DOJ has issued subpoenas to 14 major law firms in response to an American Bar Association (ABA) lawsuit challenging Trump-era executive orders. The subpoenas seek detailed records and depositions from firms that either negotiated with the White House or were affected by these orders. The DOJ aims to gather communications related to the executive orders and agreements with the administration, including exchanges with Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn. The ABA's lawsuit claims that the Trump administration pressured firms regarding their clients and diversity programs, threatening their federal work and security clearances. A DOJ spokesperson stated that the subpoenas are necessary for the ABA to obtain evidence while protecting the privacy of Trump's legal advice. This situation raises significant concerns about attorney-client privilege and reputational risks for the firms involved, as they navigate the complexities of compliance and potential defiance.

 

LawFuel

The Justice Department's claims regarding increased indictments in Nevada are being challenged by a Bloomberg Law analysis, which found a 6.4% decline in federal grand jury indictments in 2025 compared to the previous year. While DOJ spokespersons reported a 15% increase in total cases charged, this surge was largely attributed to illegal reentry immigration cases, which do not involve grand juries. Sigal Chattah, the chief prosecutor in Nevada, has faced criticism for her management style, with former prosecutors noting that indictments have continued to fall since her appointment. Susan Long, a statistics professor, cautioned against accepting government claims without detailed evidence, stating: “I wouldn't believe anything without underlying details.” The analysis raises concerns about the DOJ's overall metrics and productivity assessments.

 

Bloomberg Law

Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), are pressing the DOJ for clarity regarding its recent subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters. The subpoenas, which sought communications records of the reporters and their families, were perceived as an attempt to intimidate the press following negative coverage of President Trump's Air Force One jet gifted by Qatar. The lawmakers expressed concern over the DOJ's "lack of transparency and aggressive action toward journalists," highlighting a troubling trend of pressuring news organizations. The NYT condemned the subpoenas as a "bad faith effort to harass" its journalists. Although the DOJ claimed the reporters were not the focus of the investigation, the subpoenas raised alarms about potential chilling effects on whistleblowers and press freedom. The administration has since announced it would withdraw the subpoenas.

 

The Hill

The U.S. Supreme Court's approval rating has dropped to a record low of 33%, according to a recent Gallup poll. This marks a significant decline from 39% a year ago, primarily driven by a steep decrease in approval among Republican respondents, which fell from 79% to 58%. The poll, conducted between July 1 and July 19, followed the court's final decisions for the 2025-2026 term. Notably, 61% of those surveyed expressed disapproval of the justices' performance, indicating a growing dissatisfaction with the court's actions, particularly in relation to President Donald Trump's agenda.

 

ABA Journal

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing around 800,000 federal workers, has filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for suspending all class action federal-sector cases. The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that the EEOC violated the Administrative Procedure Act by halting the processing of these cases. This legal action is part of the union's ongoing efforts to counter what it perceives as destabilizing actions by the Trump administration against the federal workforce. As a result of the freeze, administrative judges are unable to certify lawsuits, set hearings, or provide classwide relief.

 

Bloomberg Tax

Two female prison employees, Deanna Chelette and Alexzandria Boyd, along with the American Federation of Government Employees, have filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for unlawfully halting their sexual harassment case. The lawsuit claims that the EEOC's indefinite suspension of federal-sector class complaints violates its own regulations, leaving the plaintiffs vulnerable to ongoing harassment. Joseph Sellers, co-chair of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll's civil rights and employment practice, stated, “Without an explanation, it's hard to infer what the EEOC's intentions behind this were.” The case highlights broader concerns about the EEOC's recent changes in civil rights enforcement priorities under Chair Andrea Lucas.

 

The Globe and Mail

U.S. News

Another class-action lawsuit has been filed against PJIOWA, a Papa John's franchise in Iowa, alleging that food-delivery drivers are paid less than the minimum wage due to inadequate reimbursement for vehicle expenses. The lawsuit claims that while the average cost of operating a vehicle is between 77 cents and 82 cents per mile, PJIOWA reimburses drivers only 35 cents per mile, in addition to a base pay of $5 per hour, which includes a tip credit. Christina Knox, a named plaintiff, states that her net wages have decreased by approximately $6.30 per hour due to these policies. The lawsuit asserts that all delivery drivers at PJIOWA have faced similar issues, leading to potential minimum-wage violations. PJIOWA has not yet responded to the lawsuit but has previously denied similar allegations.

 

The Gazette Cedar Rapids Iowa

William Savitt, co-leader at Wachtell Lipton, is leaving for Gibson Dunn, bringing along partners Sarah Eddy, Randall Jackson, Ryan McLeod, Anitha Reddy, and Bradley Wilson. Savitt will co-chair Gibson Dunn's litigation practice group. Barbara Becker, managing partner at Gibson Dunn, stated: “This is a rare and powerful combination,” highlighting the strength of their new team in corporate governance and high-stakes litigation.

 

Bloomberg Law

Financial Times

In the latest installment of the Litigation Leaders conversation, Steve Dettelbach, chair of the litigation practice group at Baker & Hostetler, discusses his role in managing a team of over 420 lawyers. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork in handling complex disputes, stating that the firm's litigators “don't mind scrapping.” Dettelbach's insights shed light on the strategies that drive success in high-stakes legal battles.

 

Law

Freshfields has bolstered its New York office by hiring Keith Hallam, a prominent M&A partner from White & Case. Hallam, who previously spent nearly a decade at Cravath, is recognized for his expertise in significant corporate transactions. U.S.

 

LawFuel