The federal law defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman sparked strong rhetoric in arguments Wednesday at the 1st Circuit. Paul Clement, representing Congress members who support the Defense of Marriage Act, argued that “government can rationally say [marriage] is too important of an institution to make a change to.”

It’s not often that industry representatives go before Congress to ask for more federal regulation, but cosmetics makers — part of a $60 billion industry that includes products like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and sunscreen as well as lipstick and eye shadow — would prefer that over 50 different state standards.

It’s not often that industry representatives go before Congress to ask for more federal regulation, but cosmetics makers — part of a $60 billion industry that includes products like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and sunscreen as well as lipstick and eye shadow — would prefer that over 50 different state standards.

States cannot be sued under the Family and Medical Leave Act if they deny sick leave to their employees, a divided U.S. Supreme Court has ruled.

Lawyers in Silicon Valley strongly support a jobs bill making its way through Congress that would make it easier for small companies to raise capital and go public, but they warn that a controversial “crowdfunding” provision in the act is fraught with risks, including a possible flood of securities litigation.