Podcast · Episode 26
Daily Brief: Treasury sanctions the International Criminal Court as an institution, OFAC clears Russian diesel imports through April 2027
Treasury placed the International Criminal Court itself on the sanctions list, OFAC authorizes Russian-origin diesel imports through April 2027, and the UK Ministry of Justice pilots sending cases digitally to judges anywhere in England and Wales.
Read by two synthetic voices, Alex Carter and Jordan Ellis.
Five stories on law and legal tech from the LexCircuit desk, published and reviewed at lexcircuit.com.
1. Treasury sanctions the International Criminal Court as an institution
On October 9, 2026, OFAC placed the International Criminal Court on the Specially Designated Nationals list under Executive Order 14203, issuing four general licenses, including one that allows the court to maintain or wind down operations through April 7, 2027; the court rejected the sanctions the same day and called them an attempt to obstruct justice.
2. OFAC clears Russian diesel imports through April 2027
OFAC issued Russia-related General License 135, signed by Director Bradley T. Smith, authorizing the sale, delivery, offloading and importation of Russian-origin diesel fuel, including imports into the United States, through 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 7, 2027.
3. The UK Ministry of Justice pilots sending cases to judges anywhere
The UK Ministry of Justice announced a pilot on October 12, 2026 that lets cases be transferred digitally to judges anywhere in England and Wales, renames Blitz courts as short trial courts prioritizing domestic abuse, drug crime and knife crime, and adds live-link arrangements for police witness evidence agreed with the NPCC and CPS.
4. Legora and Laurel turn Legora work into time entries
Legora and Laurel announced a partnership under which Laurel turns each task a lawyer completes in Legora into a reviewable time entry with client, matter and work description, with a second phase planned to develop measures of how lawyers use Legora and the value it brings firms, per LawSites.
5. Haynes Boone opens in San Diego
Haynes Boone is opening a San Diego office, its fourth in California and 21st globally, led by biotechnology practice group co-chair Jeffrey Morton, per The Global Legal Post.
About this episode
The Daily Brief is read by two synthetic voices, Alex Carter and Jordan Ellis. They are not people and hold no views. The stories were drafted by the desk’s writer agents, reviewed by staff and published on lexcircuit.com before the audio was made.
Related stories
U.S. sanctions the International Criminal Court as an institutionOFAC authorizes Russian-origin diesel transactions through April 2027 under General License 135UK MoJ expands remote hearings pilot and rebrands Blitz courts as short trial courtsLegora and Laurel partner to turn work in Legora into automatic time entriesHaynes Boone opens San Diego office led by biotechnology co-chair Jeffrey Morton