Attorney Wire Briefing: May 15, 2026
Includes the Federal Circuit tariff stay, Alabama voting map litigation, Murdaugh conviction reversal, Baltimore bridge collapse charges, an FTC subscription settlement, and appeals over law firm executive orders.
Good morning — it’s Friday, May 15, 2026.
Here are six key legal developments we’re following.
Estimated read time: 3 minutes
Lead Story
Federal Circuit Pauses Ruling Against Trump Tariffs
What happened: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit paused a ruling against President Trump’s 10% global tariffs while the administration seeks appellate relief. The underlying decision from the U.S. Court of International Trade held that the administration’s tariffs were unauthorized under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Why it matters: The case places a significant trade-authority dispute before the Federal Circuit and could affect companies facing import costs, customs compliance obligations, and pricing pressure. It also raises questions about executive authority over trade measures and emergency economic policy.
Implication: Companies affected by the tariffs should consider claim preservation, refund procedures, contract pricing, and sourcing risk. Counsel advising importers, retailers, manufacturers, and trade associations should expect client questions before the merits are resolved.
The Docket
Supreme Court Clears Way for Alabama Voting Map
The U.S. Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling blocking Alabama Republicans’ preferred congressional map, sending the case back for reconsideration in light of its recent Voting Rights Act decision. The dispute centers on whether Alabama can reduce its majority-minority districts from two to one.
Why it matters: The order shows how quickly the Court’s recent Voting Rights Act ruling is reshaping redistricting litigation, particularly cases involving minority opportunity districts. Election lawyers will be reassessing whether race-conscious map challenges remain viable under the narrower standard.
Read more: New York Times | Order
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Murdaugh Murder Convictions Reversed
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions and ordered a new trial, finding juror-related misconduct compromised the trial’s fairness. The court said the trial clerk’s actions created an unacceptable risk of prejudice, warranting relief despite the high bar for overturning a jury verdict. Prosecutors intend to retry the case.
Why it matters: The ruling is a reminder that convictions can be overturned not only for evidentiary or legal error, but also for procedural misconduct affecting jury impartiality. For trial lawyers, the decision underscores preserving the record on juror communications, courtroom administration, and post-verdict prejudice claims.
Read more: Wall Street Journal | Opinion
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DOJ Brings Criminal Charges Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Federal prosecutors indicted two foreign companies and an individual in connection with the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, alleging preventable safety failures, false statements, and obstruction. Prosecutors allege the cargo ship involved in the disaster left port despite known hazardous conditions that contributed to the fatal collision, which killed six construction workers.
Why it matters: The case marks a rare criminal prosecution arising from a maritime infrastructure disaster, signaling heightened enforcement risk where compliance failures, maintenance lapses, and incident response intersect. For maritime, logistics, and transportation operators, it underscores that safety decisions can create both civil liability and criminal exposure.
Read more: Associated Press | Indictment
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Shutterstock to Pay $35 Million in FTC Settlement
Shutterstock agreed to pay $35 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations involving subscription plans and cancellation practices. The agency alleged that the company charged consumers without proper consent and imposed difficult termination procedures.
Why it matters: The settlement reflects continued federal scrutiny of auto-renewal practices. Companies using subscription models should review consent flows, renewal disclosures, cancellation mechanisms, and recordkeeping before drawing enforcement scrutiny.
Read more: Federal Trade Commission | Stipulated Order
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Federal Appeals Court to Review Trump Orders Targeting Major Law Firms
The Trump administration asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reinstate executive orders targeting Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey after lower courts permanently blocked the measures. The orders cited the firms’ litigation activity and diversity initiatives, restricted facility access for firm personnel, and targeted government contracts with certain firm clients.
Why it matters: The appeal tests executive authority over private legal practice and raises First Amendment, separation-of-powers, and attorney-client independence concerns. The litigation could affect how law firms assess representations involving clients or matters adverse to the executive branch.
Read more: Reuters
Partner Signal
Anthropic Expands Claude Integrations for Legal Practice
Anthropic released 12 legal-focused plugins for Claude targeting commercial, employment, and litigation workflows. The company says its data shows law firm demand shifting from general-purpose generative AI toward practice-specific tools.
What We’re Watching
Federal Government Begins $160 Billion IEEPA Tariff Refunds
The federal government initiated distribution of approximately $160 billion in refunds for tariffs invalidated under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trade litigators are monitoring the disbursement timeline and the government’s appeal concerning the 10% universal replacement tariff.
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