In February, the New York State Board of Regents passed a rule permitting certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to apply for professional teaching certificates and for licenses in 57 professions.  Today, the rule goes into effect.  According to the New York Times, the Regents passed the rule after a 2015 State Supreme Court decision that allowed the licensing of an undocumented New York lawyer.  Janet Calvo, a law professor at the City University of New York, wrote a memo persuading the Regents that because of Vargas and similar case law, non-citizens should be able to apply for other licenses, too.

The AFL-CIO has filed an amicus brief on behalf of Tom Brady’s “Deflategate” appeal.  In its brief, the AFL-CIO argued that the 2nd Circuit panel that reinstated Brady’s four-game suspension erred in granting “highly deferential” status to Commission Roger Goodell’s findings, as Goodell “acted in the self-serving role of an employer justifying his own disciplinary decision rather than as a neutral arbitrator considering an appeal.”  USA Today reports that the AFL-CIO said it joined the case because it has extensive experience working with arbitration provisions like the one in Brady’s case, and that it has an interest in any decision that helps define the future limits of arbitration.

In international news, French President François Hollande has vowed to continue supporting a contentious labor bill.  The bill would grant companies greater latitude to negotiate directly with their employees on pay and working conditions, and its introduction has fueled weeks of walkouts, blockades, and protest marches.  Union leaders say that the measures reduce their power to negotiate contracts across entire sectors.  As the Wall Street Journal notes, public opinion is divided over both the labor bill and perceptions of the leader of France’s largest union.