50 Years Later, Harper Lee’s ‘Mockingbird’ Still a Cautionary Tale for Our Times, AG Holder Says

It’s been 50 years since Harper Lee published her now-famous book To Kill a Mockingbird. But her fictional tale of racial injustice, focused on a Southern lawyer’s efforts to defend an unpopular client at trial in a rape case, is still a cautionary story for our times, said U.S. Attorney…

Sep 21, 2010 11:44 PM CDT

Wash. AG’s Settlement with LegalZoom Bars Fee Comparisons Absent Disclosure

The attorney general’s office in Washington state is requiring the do-it-yourself document service LegalZoom to be a little more cautious when making cost comparisons. A settlement bars the company from comparing its document costs to attorney fees unless it discloses that its service isn’t a substitute for a law firm,…

Sep 21, 2010 1:06 PM CDT

Calif. AG Sues Officials of Small City Over Their Six-Figure Salaries

The California Attorney General’s Office is suing eight current and former officials of a small working-class city in Los Angeles County, alleging that they paid themselves huge salaries. The suit, filed Wednesday, accuses the eight Bell, Calif., city officials, including the former city manager, the former police chief and three…

Sep 16, 2010 8:17 PM CDT

Publishers Clearing House Will Contact Big Purchasers Under New Settlement

Publishers Clearing House has settled a probe into its mailings for $3.5 million and an agreement to hire an ombudsman to review its solicitations. The company, which did not acknowledge wrongdoing, will boost efforts to make sure consumers are informed that a purchase does not increase their chances of winning,…

Sep 10, 2010 12:51 PM CDT

Columnist Says Shutdown of Craigslist Sex Ads Won’t Have Intended Effect

Maybe the attorneys general of 17 states were a bit too hasty when they campaigned to shut down sex ads on Craigslist. Last week, Craigslist posted a “censored” box over its adult services ads, an apparent response to 17 attorneys general who called for the company to close down the…

Sep 9, 2010 11:00 AM CDT

AG Holder Reportedly Calls Plan to Burn Korans ‘Idiotic and Dangerous’

Attorney General Eric Holder reportedly called a pastor’s plan to burn Korans “idiotic and dangerous” in a private meeting Tuesday with religious leaders. Reporters were barred from the meeting, but one of the leaders there relayed Holder’s thoughts to ABC News. Muslim Advocates executive director Farhana Khera said Holder disapproved…

Sep 8, 2010 2:33 PM CDT

SEC Plummets in Best Federal Workplace Rankings; DOJ Gets Ninth Place

The lawyers and other employees who work at the Securities and Exchange Commission are more dissatisfied with their jobs this year, according to new “Best Places to Work” rankings of federal workplaces. The SEC was in 11th place last year, but this year it plummeted to the 24th spot on…

Sep 1, 2010 2:53 PM CDT

Business vs. Obama? Maybe Not

Sep 1, 2010 5:30 AM CDT

Judge Refuses Va. AG’s Request for Records of Global Warming Scientist

A Virginia judge has blocked an attempt by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to obtain records of a global warming scientist. Cuccinelli is a global warming skeptic, and he wanted the records as part of a probe into possible fraud in taxpayer-funded research on the issue by former professor Michael…

Aug 31, 2010 12:50 PM CDT

Civil Rights Groups Sue Over Claimed US Kill List

Civil liberties groups filed a federal lawsuit today against the United States government on behalf of a U.S.-born cleric who is in hiding in Yemen. Anwar al-Aulaqi has been unconstitutionally placed on a U.S. kill list because of his suspected involvement in terrorist activities, contend the American Civil Liberties Union…

Aug 30, 2010 11:52 PM CDT

Hard-Fought Depo Didn’t Cross Ethical Line, Grievance Panel Finds

After many years in practice, Andrew O’Keefe had a clean disciplinary record. But a hard-fought deposition put the Hartford, Conn., defense attorney in the hot seat after a Manchester woman contended that he tried to “harass, intimidate and embarrass” her with questions at the session. A local grievance panel determined…

Aug 30, 2010 9:10 PM CDT

Attorney General Holder Featured in Vogue Magazine

The September issue of Vogue magazine has details on what to wear now, fall fashion at every price and the pressures of Eric Holder’s job as attorney general. Holder tells the magazine about his job worries and woes, but there are “sadly no details on who he’s wearing,” Main Justice…

Aug 23, 2010 4:25 PM CDT

Ex-AG Gonzales: Constitutional Amendment Won’t Solve Immigration Crisis

Some Republicans are supporting a constitutional amendment to combat “birth tourism,” but former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales isn’t one of them. The proposal is to amend the 14th Amendment that gives automatic citizenship to babies born here, even if the parents are illegal immigrants. Supporters argue the amendment will discourage…

Aug 20, 2010 12:28 PM CDT

Despite ‘Sweetheart Deal’ Complaint, Judge Approves Barclays Settlement

A federal judge who criticized a $298 million U.S. settlement with the British bank Barclays as a “sweetheart deal” on Tuesday approved the pact on Wednesday after a hearing where he pressed for more details. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan wanted to know why no individual was charged in the…

Aug 19, 2010 2:32 PM CDT

DOJ to Sue Joe Arpaio if Ariz. Sheriff Doesn’t Cooperate with Immigration Probe

In an unusual threat against a law enforcement leader, the U.S. Department of Justice has threatened to sue a controversial Arizona sheriff if he doesn’t cooperate with an ongoing civil rights investigation. Although Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County is a folk hero to some, others contend that the 78-year-old…

Aug 17, 2010 8:41 PM CDT