After a series of defeats at the Supreme Court over birthright citizenship, Donald Trump issued executive orders claiming he had won the legal battles.
Trump had bitterly complained about losing the birthright citizenship cases before pivoting to assert victory through fresh executive action.
The move drew immediate attention given the gap between the court’s rulings and the White House’s characterisation of the outcomes.
Meanwhile, the Senate confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General of the United States proved closer than almost anyone had anticipated heading into the vote.
Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski both voted no, while Mitch McConnell was absent from the chamber for the vote entirely.
Bill Cassidy ultimately backed the nomination, providing a critical voice in a confirmation process that exposed deep divisions within the Republican caucus.
On the legal profession front, Washington state’s bar exam waiver policy is drawing sharp criticism for the uneven way it has been applied to recent graduates.
First-time candidates who were shut out during the troubled administration of the exam are being granted waivers to enter the profession without a passing score.
However, those who sat through the broken exam and received scores are being held to those results, creating a two-tier system among graduates from the same class.
The disparity has frustrated many in the legal community who argue the policy rewards those who avoided the process over those who attempted it in good faith.
In the world of large law firms, Biglaw associates are still waiting on salary raises that have been widely discussed but not yet delivered by major practices.
Industry observers say firms need to stop waiting for Cravath to move first, arguing the delay is damaging morale and putting pressure on associate retention.
Finally, the co-founder of the Federalist Society drew attention this week after expressing public bewilderment over green bananas, a moment that quickly circulated online.