Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

Members of Congress in both parties have questioned the legality of President Donald Trump’s military strikes on Iran. At least two GOP lawmakers joined Democrats to suggest it was unconstitutional for him to bomb Iran without approval from Congress. “While President Trump’s decision may prove just, it’s hard to conceive a rationale that’s Constitutional,” Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, who typically aligns with Trump, wrote on X. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., wrote on social media: “This is not about the merits of Iran’s nuclear program. No president has the authority to bomb another country that does not pose an imminent threat to the U.S. without the approval of Congress. This is an unambiguous impeachable offense.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Trump respects the Constitution. “The President fully respects the Article I power of Congress, and [the] necessary, limited, and targeted strike follows the history and tradition of similar military actions under presidents of both parties,” Johnson said in a statement.

 

NBC News

A panel of three federal appellate judges has declared a Louisiana law mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms unconstitutional. The ruling, which is being seen as a significant victory for civil liberties advocates, emphasizes that the law infringes on the separation of church and state, potentially alienating non-Christian students. The law, supported by Republicans including President Donald Trump, was challenged by parents from diverse religious backgrounds who argued it violated the First Amendment. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a previous decision by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, who stated that the mandate should not be enforced. Legal experts anticipate that this case may reach the U.S. Supreme Court, testing the boundaries of religion in government.

 

Courthouse News Service

New York Times

U.S. News

Washington Post

Apple is facing a proposed securities fraud class action lawsuit from shareholders who allege the company misrepresented the timeline for integrating advanced artificial intelligence into its Siri voice assistant. The lawsuit claims this misrepresentation has led to significant financial losses, potentially amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars. Shareholders, led by Eric Tucker, argue that Apple misled them about the capabilities of AI in the upcoming iPhone 16, stating that the company lacked a functional prototype for the promised features. The lawsuit follows a decline in Apple’s stock value, which has dropped nearly 25% since its peak in December 2024, resulting in a loss of approximately $900bn in market value.

 

Reuters

The city of Los Angeles is initiating legal action against the Trump administration to prevent federal agents from conducting unconstitutional stops and arrests. The proposal, backed by seven council members including Katy Yaroslavsky, aims to protect the civil rights of residents amid rising immigration arrests. Yaroslavsky highlighted concerns over individuals posing as federal agents without proper identification, stating, “You can't do that under the 4th Amendment.” The city plans to model its lawsuit after a recent case by United Farm Workers, which alleged unlawful detentions by border patrol agents. The council has allocated $250,000 for legal support to address potential federal actions during their summer recess.

 

Los Angeles Times

Walmart has agreed to pay $10m to settle a U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit alleging it ignored signs of fraud in its money transfer services. The FTC claimed fraudsters used Walmart’s services to scam consumers out of hundreds of millions. Filed in Chicago federal court, the settlement awaits judicial approval. Walmart, without admitting wrongdoing, also pledged to halt suspicious transfers and avoid aiding fraudulent sellers or telemarketers. The FTC said Walmart failed to act on fraud warnings and let scams such as impersonation and lottery schemes persist. The retailer, an agent for MoneyGram, Ria, and Western Union, said it supports protecting consumers from fraud-induced transfers.

 

Reuters

In California, a new bill, the “No Robo Bosses Act” (Senate Bill 7), aims to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in hiring and employee management. Introduced by state Sen. Jerry McNerney, the bill seeks to ensure human oversight in automated decision-making processes. “When it comes to people's lives and their careers, you don't want these automated decision-making systems to operate without any oversight,” McNerney said. If passed, it would prevent employers from relying primarily on AI for promotions, discipline, or terminations. The bill has faced opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce, which argues that its requirements are impractical. The legislation is part of a broader discussion on the need for accountability in AI technologies, especially as they become more prevalent in the workplace.

 

The Columbian

A federal judge has granted a Massachusetts nonprofit’s request to block an attempt by the Trump administration to cut the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Judge Myong J. Joun approved a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts that requires the White House to stop employee layoffs for that office and blocks them from reinstating a March 11 reduction-in-staff directive. The injunction is effective immediately, and the Trump administration must also provide the court a notice of the employees’ return within 24 hours. The Victims Rights Law Center brought the case on behalf of two students over the directive, arguing that it created a resource gap significantly harming students experiencing sexual, racial and disability discrimination. The preliminary injunction orders the administration to file status reports to the court until the office is “restored to the status quo prior to January 20, 2025.”

 

Bloomberg Law

LexisNexis and Harvey have formed a strategic alliance to enhance legal workflows through AI integration. The partnership combines LexisNexis’s generative AI technology and legal content with Harvey's legal-specific AI platform. Users of Harvey can now pose complex legal questions to LexisNexis's AI assistant, receiving AI-generated responses based on a comprehensive library of U.S. case law and statutes, validated by Shepard’s Citations technology. Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of LexisNexis North America, said: "Our strategic alliance with Harvey reflects our commitment to deliver the highest-quality answers and make legal work easier and more efficient." The collaboration also aims to develop new Gen AI-powered workflows, including automated legal motions, that enhance the efficiency of legal processes.

 

ABA Journal

The Global Legal Post

Cybersecurity remains a critical issue for enterprises, and law firms face heightened risks. The FBI recently revealed that the Silent Ransom Group (SRG) is specifically targeting law firms through voice phishing, or 'vishing'. Meanwhile, a report by Wolters Kluwer indicates that in-house attorneys are more inclined to use AI tools compared to their law firm counterparts, which may jeopardise their businesses. Professor Ifeoma Ajunwa from Emory University School of Law remarked: "These lawyers are not understanding the limitations of these tools."

 

Law.com

On June 12th the Supreme Court ruled that the Tax Court lost jurisdiction over a due process hearing when there was no ongoing levy. The case involved taxpayer Jennifer Zuch, who had filed multiple tax returns showing overpayments. The IRS applied these overpayments to her outstanding tax liability, which eventually reached zero. The Supreme Court's 8-1 decision, with Justice Neil Gorsuch dissenting, established a precedent that limits the taxpayer's choice of forum for tax disputes. Anshuman Vaidya from Hinshaw & Culbertson noted: "A taxpayer ordinarily gets to choose whether to go to the U.S. Tax Court . . . However, if the IRS drops its levy, the Tax Court no longer has jurisdiction." The ruling raises concerns about taxpayer rights, as highlighted by Beth Milito of the National Federation of Independent Business, who said: "This decision will allow continued abuse of administrative authority."

 

Accounting Today

Latham & Watkins is set to enhance its global mergers and acquisitions practice by hiring Zach Podolsky from Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz. Podolsky, known for leading significant deals at Wachtell, is the second partner from the firm to join Latham this year, following John Sobolewski's appointment as global chair of liability management in February. A source familiar with the situation confirmed the move, which underscores Latham's strategic expansion in the competitive M&A landscape.

 

Law

Bloomberg Law

Law

Iran's legal sector faces severe disruptions as escalating tensions and infrastructure breakdowns limit communication and operations, forcing many local law firms to close or scale back activities, Law.com reports.

 

Law