Attorney General

Biden’s new picks for solicitor general and Manhattan US attorney once clerked for AG Garland

President Joe Biden’s new nominees for U.S. solicitor general and for U.S. attorney in Manhattan, New York City, both clerked for U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland when he was a federal appeals judge, and both clerked for U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Aug 12, 2021 9:05 AM CDT

Investigators conclude Cuomo sexually harassed women; ‘the typical rules did not apply,’ says one employee

A report by investigators appointed by New York Attorney General Letitia James has found that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including former and current state employees.

Aug 3, 2021 12:06 PM CDT

Hackers accessed at least 80% of email accounts in New York federal prosecutors’ offices, DOJ says

Hackers accessed at least 80% of email accounts used by employees in the four U.S. attorney’s offices in New York over a period of more than seven months last year, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed Friday.

Aug 2, 2021 10:12 AM CDT

Treasury must provide Congress with Trump’s tax returns, Justice Department says in legal opinion

The U.S. Treasury Department must turn over former President Donald Trump’s tax returns to Congress because it has provided facially valid reasons for the request, according to an opinion released Friday by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel. The opinion reverses a previous determination by the office that the…

Jul 30, 2021 3:20 PM CDT

US sells one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album to satisfy forfeiture judgment of ‘Pharma Bro’

Federal prosecutors in New York have sold a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album to help satisfy a forfeiture judgment against “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli, a former drug company CEO convicted of securities fraud.

Jul 28, 2021 10:52 AM CDT

DOJ won’t defend congressman accused of helping incite US Capitol riot

The U.S. Department of Justice is refusing to represent a Republican lawmaker accused in a lawsuit of helping incite the U.S. Capitol riot in a speech that he gave Jan. 6.

Jul 28, 2021 10:13 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 7 federal death penalty requests withdrawn; ex-lawyer sentenced for advice on supplements

DOJ withdraws death penalty requests The U.S. Department of Justice has withdrawn requests for the death penalty in seven cases, reversing the stance taken by the department during the Trump administration. The DOJ is still seeking the death penalty in appeals of two other cases—that of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar…

Jul 23, 2021 2:32 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Husch Blackwell merges with boutique firm; man sentenced for threat to Flynn judge

Husch Blackwell will merge with boutique firm Husch Blackwell has announced a merger with a health law boutique that represents hospitals and health care systems in the Boston area. The merger with Summit Health Law Partners gives Husch Blackwell offices in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island—its first offices in the…

Jul 20, 2021 3:39 PM CDT

Garland restores discretion to immigration judges in ‘administrative closure’ decision

Attorney General Merrick Garland has overturned a Trump administration decision that prohibited immigration courts from using a practice known as “administrative closure” to temporarily pause removal proceedings.

Jul 16, 2021 11:25 AM CDT

Judge mulls possible sanctions for Trump lawyers behind Michigan election lawsuit

During a more than six-hour hearing via videoconference on Monday, a federal judge grilled former campaign lawyers for President Donald Trump over a lawsuit they filed in Michigan alleging voter fraud in last fall’s election.

Jul 13, 2021 4:45 PM CDT

Texas AG agrees to stop blocking Twitter users for ‘First Amendment-protected viewpoints’

The Texas attorney general has agreed to stop blocking critics on social media after a group of them alleged in court he was violating their free-speech rights.

Jul 13, 2021 9:55 AM CDT

AG Garland announces moratorium on federal executions; firing squad rule examined

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday that he is placing or moratorium on federal executions to allow for a review of changes made during the Trump administration.

Jul 2, 2021 9:25 AM CDT

DOJ files suit contending Georgia election law violates Voting Rights Act

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it filed a lawsuit challenging new voting procedures in Georgia as a violation of the Voting Rights Act.

Jun 25, 2021 2:08 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Suit tossed over ‘stateless’ BigLaw partners; Lafayette Square claims dismissed

Perkins Coie wins suit dismissal because of ‘stateless’ partners The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago has ruled that former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page can’t sue Perkins Coie for defamation in federal court. Page had alleged that the law firm and the Democratic National Committee retained Fusion…

Jun 22, 2021 4:53 PM CDT

Garland vacates DOJ opinions restricting asylum in cases of domestic abuse and gang violence

Attorney General Merrick Garland has vacated opinions by his Trump-era predecessors that made it more difficult to obtain asylum as a result of domestic abuse and gang violence.

Jun 21, 2021 10:00 AM CDT