October 2018 Washington Letter

Courts & Judiciary

Congress approves language supporting ALJ independence

Congress included language emphasizing the importance of the independence of administrative law judges (ALJs) in the conference report on H.R. 4167, a fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill signed into law Sept. 28 as P.L. 115-245.

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia hears arguments in ABA’s lawsuit concerning PSLF program

The ABA is awaiting a decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia following a Sept. 26 hearing on the association’s lawsuit over the Department of Education’s administration of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Disability

Marrakesh Treaty

President Trump signed legislation Oct. 9 to implement the ABA-supported Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works to Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.

Criminal

DNA Backlog

Legislation signed Oct. 9 by President Trump aims to increase the capacity of state local and local prosecutors to address the backlog of DNA analysis.

Health

Medicaid

The Support for Patients and Communities Act, a new law addressing the nation’s opioid crisis, includes provisions to protect Medicaid coverage for incarcerated juveniles.