Attorney General

Afternoon Briefs: Top DOJ officials backed family separations; judge forgives gunman who killed her son

Top DOJ officials said to be ‘driving force’ in family separations Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, told federal prosecutors in 2018 that they had to prosecute immigrants who were in the country illegally, even if it meant separating families, according to a…

Oct 7, 2020 4:24 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: These BigLaw firms get ‘A’ ratings on climate change; lawyer settles athlete fraud claims

Only 4 BigLaw firms get ‘A’ ratings in climate change fight A group called Law Students for Climate Accountability is giving an ‘A’ grade to only four large law firms for work on behalf of clients mitigating climate change. A-rated firms are Cozen O’Connor; Schulte Roth & Zabel; Sheppard, Mullin,…

Oct 2, 2020 4:25 PM CDT

Would Barrett ax the Affordable Care Act? She has expressed some views; severability is a question mark

Liberal groups are running ads warning that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett will vote to overturn the Affordable Care Act if she is confirmed to the Supreme Court. What are her views on the subject?

Sep 29, 2020 11:26 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Ginsburg stayed busy before her death; report recommends end to routine traffic stops

Ginsburg participated in SCOTUS cases through at least Sept. 11 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg remained busy in the weeks before her death Sept. 18. She reportedly spent a few days in the hospital the previous week and returned home Sept. 11—the same day that the Supreme Court…

Sep 28, 2020 4:28 PM CDT

Political appointee intervened in review of Bolton book with apparent aim to block publication, official says

A political appointee with little or no training in reviewing manuscripts for classified material was assigned to review former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s book even though a career official deemed the book ready for publication, according to a court filing. The career official, Ellen Knight, said the secondary review…

Sep 23, 2020 10:40 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Mueller prosecutor has regrets in tell-all book; federal courthouse is a hurricane casualty

Book by Mueller prosecutor says more could have been done A book by Andrew Weissmann, a former prosecutor for special counsel Robert Mueller said the office failed to fully investigate President Donald Trump’s financial ties amid fears that Trump would shut down the investigation. “We could have done more,” Weissmann…

Sep 22, 2020 4:45 PM CDT

AG Barr defends authority to overrule career prosecutors, says BLM uses deaths as ‘props’

U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in a speech Wednesday he has the responsibility to overrule career prosecutors, part of the “permanent bureaucracy,” when they lose perspective.

Sep 17, 2020 9:52 AM CDT

Prosecutor working on probe of Russia inquiry resigns; will findings be released before election?

A federal prosecutor working on an inquiry into the origins of the government’s probe of Russian election influence has resigned from her position without explanation.

Sep 14, 2020 12:26 PM CDT

Bid to dismiss Flynn charges appears to be a ‘corrupt and politically motivated favor,’ report says

The U.S. Department of Justice’s bid to dismiss charges against President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser appears to be a “corrupt and politically motivated favor,” according to a report by a former judge tasked with opposing the government request.

Sep 14, 2020 9:27 AM CDT

DOJ files rare request to represent Trump in columnist’s defamation lawsuit

In an unusual move Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice moved to intervene in a defamation lawsuit brought against President Donald Trump by E. Jean Carroll, an author and advice columnist who has accused him of sexual assault.

Sep 9, 2020 12:35 PM CDT

Full DC Circuit refuses to order immediate dismissal of Michael Flynn prosecution

An en banc federal appeals court is refusing to interfere with a federal judge’s plan to review the U.S. Department of Justice’s bid to drop the prosecution of Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser.

Aug 31, 2020 2:04 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: AG Barr defends Portland response; protesters call Black district attorney a racist

Attorney General Barr defends sending federal agents to Portland Testifying before Congress on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr denied that he was giving special breaks to President Donald Trump’s associates and defended the deployment of federal agents to Portland, Oregon. Barr said “violent rioters” in Portland were trying to…

Jul 28, 2020 4:44 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Deloitte unveils legal services unit; forensic botanist as crime solver

Deloitte launches legal business services in US Deloitte announced Monday it is launching its Legal Business Services unit in the United States to help corporate legal departments streamline and automate functions such as contract management. Bloomberg Law says the launch “represents perhaps the most direct effort yet by a Big…

Jul 13, 2020 4:15 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Cohen sent back to jail; former state chief justice’s suit against actor can proceed

Trump’s former personal lawyer returns to jail after refusing home confinement terms Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, was returned to jail Thursday after refusing to sign a document that would have prevented him from speaking to the media or publishing a book during his home confinement. Cohen,…

Jul 10, 2020 4:56 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Flynn judge seeks rehearing; Florida judge’s nude photos at issue

Judge asks full DC Circuit to reconsider Flynn order U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan wants another chance to persuade a federal appeals court to allow him to scrutinize a prosecution decision to drop the case against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Lawyers for Sullivan have asked the full U.S.…

Jul 9, 2020 4:56 PM CDT