Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, NLRB NEWS—Board now has a quorum with two new members sworn in, (Jan 7, 2026)

By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.

Crystal Carey was also sworn in today as General Counsel for the agency.

On January 7, 2026, James Murphy and Scott Mayer were sworn in as new Board members. As a result, the Board now has a quorum, for the first time in a year, and will be able fully to conduct agency business. Also today, the Deputy Secretary of Labor swore in Crystal S. Carey as General Counsel for the NLRB.

James Murphy, who had been in retirement, was nominated by President Trump to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for a term of five years expiring December 16, 2027. Mr. Murphy returns to the Board after a 47-year career with it, which he began as a student law clerk in 1974. Murphy also served as counsel to numerous Board members over the decades—most recently, he served as Chief Counsel to former Chairman Marvin Kaplan.

Boeing labor counsel. Scott Mayer, whose nomination by the President had been hotly contested, was sworn in to be a Member of the NLRB for a term of five years expiring December 16, 2029. Before joining the Board, Mayer served as Chief Labor Counsel at The Boeing Company. Previously, he held senior legal positions with other private employers and practiced law at two firms.

Agency counsel. General Counsel Carey, also sworn in today, began her labor law career as an intern at the Agency’s Baltimore Regional office (Region 5) while attending Penn State Dickinson School of Law. After graduation, she served as a Field Attorney in Region 5 for three years and she later spent six years working at the NLRB’s Headquarters both in the Division of Enforcement Litigation in the Office of Appeals and as senior staff counsel to Chairman Philip A. Miscimarra. In 2018, Ms. Carey transitioned to private practice at Morgan Lewis, where she became a partner.

Acting General Counsel William B. Cowen, who is now being replaced by Carey, stated: “It has been a privilege to serve as Acting General Counsel of the NLRB. I wish to express my gratitude to President Trump for giving me this opportunity and to our dedicated staff of professionals who have worked tirelessly to protect the rights of working people. The NLRB is fortunate to have a seasoned professional like Crystal Carey serve as General Counsel. As a proud of alum of the NLRB who also has years of experience in private practice, she brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and perspective that will enable her to be a strong and effective leader of this Agency.”

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