2014 in American law

2014 in American law
Year	2014
Country	United States
Field	Law

2014 in American law saw major developments across federal legislation, judicial decisions, criminal justice reforms, state ballot measures, and legal appointments that involved prominent figures, institutions, and landmark controversies. The year featured activity from the Barack Obama administration, decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States, litigation involving corporations such as Microsoft Corporation, Motorola, and Comcast, and state initiatives in California, Colorado, and Texas that reshaped statutory and constitutional landscapes. High-profile appointments, regulatory rulemaking by agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice (United States), and Federal Trade Commission intersected with litigation in federal circuits and state supreme courts.

Major federal legislation and executive actions

In 2014 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act continued to generate executive actions from the White House and administrative guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services, involving the Internal Revenue Service and debates with House Committee on Ways and Means Republicans. The Immigration reform debate included executive actions by Barack Obama and enforcement priorities from the Department of Homeland Security, interacting with litigation brought by states including Texas and Arizona to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Energy and environmental executive actions from the Environmental Protection Agency on the Clean Power Plan precursor engaged stakeholders such as Peabody Energy and the American Petroleum Institute. Financial regulatory developments included rulemaking by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, and continued implementation of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act by the Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Significant Supreme Court decisions

The Supreme Court of the United States issued decisions that affected civil rights, administrative law, and criminal procedure. In cases addressing same-sex marriage and constitutional questions, the Court’s actions followed precedents such as United States v. Windsor and anticipated later rulings involving Obergefell v. Hodges. The Court granted and decided petitions from litigants including Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.-related claimants, and issued opinions implicating statutory interpretation doctrines like Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. deference. The Court also resolved disputes involving the Fourth Amendment and search-and-seizure law tied to decisions from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, with notable justices including Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Antonin Scalia authoring opinions or dissents.

Federal and state court cases and litigation developments

High-profile litigation in 2014 included antitrust and intellectual property suits between technology firms such as Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, and Google LLC, with proceedings in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Consumer class actions targeted corporations like Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corporation, while securities litigation named underwriters including Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. Civil rights litigation involving Ferguson, Missouri-related policing policies prompted consent decrees with the Department of Justice (United States), and state supreme courts in Pennsylvania and New York (state) issued opinions shaping municipal liability doctrines. Immigration litigation included habeas corpus petitions and preemption challenges from states including Arizona and Alabama.

Criminal justice and sentencing reforms

Criminal justice reform advocacy by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Sentencing Project influenced legislative and prosecutorial changes. The Department of Justice (United States) under Eric Holder issued policy guidance on charging and sentencing priorities, while state reforms in Texas and Ohio addressed felony reclassification and parole procedures. Cases in federal courts considered the application of the Armed Career Criminal Act and guidelines sentencing under the United States Sentencing Commission, and notable prosecutions involved defendants charged under statutes enforced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Death penalty litigation proceeded in states such as Florida and Georgia, engaging constitutional claims brought to state supreme courts and the Supreme Court of the United States.

State-level legislative changes and ballot measures

Several states enacted significant statutes and ballot measures. In Colorado and Washington (state), marijuana legalization initiatives from earlier cycles continued to produce statutory frameworks and administrative rules adopted by governors and state agencies. California voters and the California State Legislature addressed criminal justice reforms and ballot propositions concerning sentencing. Maryland and Massachusetts enacted criminal and civil statutes affecting policing and public accommodations, while Florida and Arizona considered measures involving voting rights and redistricting contested in state courts. Taxation and labor law changes in New York (state) and Kentucky prompted litigation before state supreme courts and federal appellate panels.

Legal profession, regulatory updates, and notable appointments

2014 saw confirmations and appointments affecting the judiciary and regulatory agencies, including nominees to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and district courts recommended by Senate Judiciary Committee members. The American Bar Association provided evaluations influencing confirmations, while state bar associations in Illinois and California issued ethics opinions affecting attorney conduct. Regulatory enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Labor involved mergers reviewed under the Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and wage-and-hour enforcement under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Prominent legal hires and partner moves at firms representing clients such as ExxonMobil and Facebook drew attention in legal trade press.

Category:2014 in law Category:United States law