Asylum seekers wait in a shelter, demonstrating the impact of immigration policies on families and individuals seeking refuge.
Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Restrictive Post-COVID-19 Asylum Rules

With less than two weeks before President-elect Biden takes office, a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s proposed asylum restrictions that would have overhauled the immigration system with restrictive new provisions. The new rule was to take effect on January 11. While the granting of... Read More »

Sign indicating a rideshare pick-up zone.
The U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Guidance to States on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Extending Coverage for Gig Workers and “Mixed Earners”

On December 30, 2020, just days after President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2021 into law, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration published guidance for states on implementing unemployment insurance programs. After waiting weeks for Congress to agree on the finalized budget for 2021, the stimulus... Read More »

A gavel and scales of justice symbolizing the legal system.
First Female Judge Will Head Cook County Criminal Court

One of the busiest felony courthouses in the nation will be led for the first time by a woman judge. Judge Erica Reddick was appointed as acting presiding judge over the Cook County Circuit Court’s Criminal Division. Her appointment was announced by Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ office on Monday, January... Read More »

Boeing 787-10 aircraft displayed at an event, showcasing its design and branding.
Boeing Reaches a $2.5 Billion Settlement with U.S. Department of Justice

Boeing Co. has reached a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice to the tune of 2.5 billion dollars. This settlement comes after Boeing faced a criminal charge of defrauding the Federal Aviation Administration's Aircraft Evaluation Group (FAA AEG) after withholding information about the 737 Max airplane. The airplane in... Read More »

A woman sitting at a table, working on a notepad while using a tablet and laptop in a well-lit home environment.
U.S. Department of Labor Publishes Opinion Letters on FLSA

The Department of Labor announced two opinion letters on December 31, 2020, addressing compliance issues with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) raised by two separate employers. One of the two letters addresses compensation for travel time occurring on partial telework days; the other on “whether certain overtime payments based... Read More »

Ghislaine Maxwell sitting in a car, reflecting a moment of contemplation.
Court of Appeals Hearing Could Result in Prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein’s Co-Conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell, in jail, asked to be released on a $28.5 million bond

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit heard an appeal on December 3, 2020. The appeal was to determine whether a 2007 non-prosecution agreement (NPA) that shielded Jeffrey Epstein from child sex charges would stand. To nullify the NPA would impact Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal case. Maxwell was accused... Read More »