Less than 1: PM Edition, July 16

Less than 1: PM Edition, July 16

This evening on Less than 1: Judge VanDyke urges the Supreme Court to "benchslap" the 9th Circuit over gun cases, California gun restrictions face renewed constitutional challenges, and the state Supreme Court upholds a restitution requirement for an attorney's reinstatement. Also: a judge rejects a bid to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, Epic and Google abandon their bid to rewrite the Google Play injunction, the U.S. moves to tighten visa rules for foreign students and journalists, and California sues Costa Mesa and four other cities over their failure to plan for housing. Stories mentioned in this episode: VanDyke urges Supreme Court to 'benchslap' 9th Circuit https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393044-vandyke-urges-supreme-court-to-benchslap-9th-circuit California gun restrictions face renewed constitutional challenges https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393041-california-gun-restrictions-face-renewed-constitutional-challenges California Supreme Court upholds restitution requirement for attorney's reinstatement https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393043-california-supreme-court-upholds-restitution-requirement-for-attorney-s-reinstatement Judge rejects bid to block Paramount-Warner Bros merger https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393047-judge-rejects-bid-to-block-paramount-warner-bros-merger Epic, Google abandon bid to rewrite Google Play injunction https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393046-epic-google-abandon-bid-to-rewrite-google-play-injunction (Reuters) US to tighten visa regulations for foreign students, journalists https://www.reuters.com/world/us-change-visa-regulations-foreign-students-journalists-2026-07-16/ (LAist) In failing to plan for new housing, Costa Mesa finds itself in state’s legal crosshairs https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/costa-mesa-housing-element-lawsuit-california-state-attorney-general-bonta-newsom

Less than 1: AM Edition, July 16

This morning on Less than 1: LA County seeks to share confidential DTLA Law Group records with the State Bar, a judge weighs a $75 million Northrop Grumman groundwater settlement, and Epic and Google seek a modified injunction in their Android antitrust case. Also: a federal judge relates the challenges to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, bond denials grow sharply under Trump, Ohio moves to limit the ABA's role in lawyer admissions, IRS tax liens are on the rise, and New York becomes the first state to impose a data center moratorium. Stories mentioned in this episode: Federal judge relates challenges to Paramount-Warner Bros merger https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392979-federal-judge-relates-challenges-to-paramount-warner-bros-merger (LAist) 'Deportation machine' or long-overdue enforcement? Bond denials grow sharply under Trump https://laist.com/news/adelanto-immigration-bond-denials-2026 (Reuters) State bar, FTC back Ohio proposal to limit ABA role in lawyer admissions https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/state-bar-ftc-back-ohio-proposal-limit-aba-role-lawyer-admissions-2026-07-15/ (CNBC) IRS tax liens can be a ‘kiss of death,’ consumer advocate says — and they’re on the rise https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/16/irs-tax-liens-increasing.html (Reuters) New York becomes the first state to impose a data center moratorium https://www.reuters.com/world/new-york-becomes-first-state-impose-data-center-moratorium-2026-07-14/

Less than 1: PM Edition, July 15

This evening on Less than 1: the LA sheriff oversight commission's chair accuses deputies' union of trying to intimidate the panel, Palisades Fire plaintiffs get another chance to amend their complaint, and Meta is sued over alleged AI-driven layoffs targeting protected workers. Also: the attorney general urges the appeals court to uphold the Ferguson murder conviction, the California Supreme Court approves the NextGen bar exam beginning in 2028, and the U.S. weighs a $100,000 bond for some green-card applicants abroad. Stories mentioned in this episode: Oversight chair accuses LA deputies' union of trying to intimidate commission https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393006-oversight-chair-accuses-la-deputies-union-of-trying-to-intimidate-commission Palisades Fire plaintiffs get another chance to amend complaint https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393009-palisades-fire-plaintiffs-get-another-chance-to-amend-complaint Meta sued over alleged AI-driven layoffs targeting protected workers https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393003-meta-sued-over-alleged-ai-driven-layoffs-targeting-protected-workers Attorney general urges appeals court to uphold Ferguson murder conviction https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393002-attorney-general-urges-appeals-court-to-uphold-ferguson-murder-conviction California Supreme Court approves NextGen bar exam beginning in July 2028 https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/393010-california-supreme-court-approves-nextgen-bar-exam-beginning-in-july-2028 (WSJ) U.S. Weighs Bond of $100,000 for Some Green-Card Applicants Abroad https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/u-s-weighs-bond-of-100-000-for-some-green-card-applicants-abroad-a9cd68c8

Less than 1: AM Edition, July 15

This morning on Less than 1: the SF police union backs a lawsuit against new parole regulations, and Fresno faces a legal challenge over a cannabis grow fine against an unaware landlord. Also: a new law lets prosecutors combine sex crime cases across county lines, law firm WilmerHale is sued after a data breach, advocacy groups sue over Trump's ICC sanctions, and a court rules an addiction treatment center isn't liable for a fleeing patient's death. Stories mentioned in this episode: New law lets prosecutors combine sex crime cases across county lines https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392967-new-law-lets-prosecutors-combine-sex-crime-cases-across-county-lines (Reuters) Law firm WilmerHale sued in class action after data breach https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/law-firm-wilmerhale-sued-class-action-after-data-breach-2026-07-15/ (Reuters) Trump's ICC order violates free speech, advocacy groups say in lawsuit https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-icc-order-violates-free-speech-advocacy-groups-say-lawsuit-2026-07-15/

Less than 1: PM Edition, July 14

This evening on Less than 1: the Writers Guild follows states in a bid to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, the DOJ drops its 15-year economic espionage case against a Chinese steel company, and the 9th Circuit orders a new trial in a $40 million Comet trade secrets case. Also: OpenAI seeks $1 million in fees over xAI's bad-faith trade secrets suit, a towing company pays $160,000 over the sale of servicemembers' vehicles, consumers sue Driscoll's over alleged "forever chemicals" in berries, and ICE halts most traffic stops after a fatal shooting in Maine. Stories mentioned in this episode: Writers Guild follows states in bid to block Paramount-Warner Bros. merger https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392974-writers-guild-follows-states-in-bid-to-block-paramount-warner-bros-merger Consumers sue Driscoll's over alleged 'forever chemicals' in berries https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392959-consumers-sue-driscoll-s-over-alleged-forever-chemicals-in-berries DOJ drops economic espionage case against Chinese steel company after 15 years https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392973-doj-drops-economic-espionage-case-against-chinese-steel-company-after-15-years 9th Circuit orders new trial in $40M Comet trade secrets case https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392972-9th-circuit-orders-new-trial-in-40m-comet-trade-secrets-cas OpenAI seeks $1M in fees, accuses xAI of bad-faith trade secrets suit https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392970-openai-seeks-1m-in-fees-accuses-xai-of-bad-faith-trade-secrets-suit Towing company to pay $160,000 over sale of servicemembers' vehicles https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392969-towing-company-to-pay-160-000-over-sale-of-servicemembers-vehicles (Reuters) ICE suspends traffic stops in wake of Maine fatal shooting, border czar says https://www.reuters.com/world/ice-suspends-vehicle-stops-us-immigration-enforcement-sources-say-2026-07-14/