Attorney General

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

Afternoon Briefs: 2 BigLaw firms have no Black partners; judge finishes backlog of civil case motions

These BigLaw firms have no Black partners Two of the country’s top law firms stand out for the wrong reason—they have no Black partners. The firms are Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Haynes and Boone. Cravath’s only Black partner left in 2017 to become a judge on New York’s top…

Jul 8, 2020 4:49 PM CDT

Supreme Court will consider disclosure of Mueller grand jury materials to Congress

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to decide whether the House Judiciary Committee may access redacted grand jury materials referenced in the report by former special counsel Robert Mueller.

Jul 2, 2020 11:25 AM CDT

DOJ argues entire health care law must be struck down

The U.S. Department of Justice is arguing that the Affordable Care Act must be struck down in its entirety because of Congress’ decision to lower the tax penalty to zero for failure to carry health insurance.

Jun 29, 2020 4:48 PM CDT

Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to new federal death penalty procedure

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a challenge to the federal government’s new lethal injection procedure.

Jun 29, 2020 11:20 AM CDT

Meet the acting replacement for a US attorney who was unaware he had resigned

The Manhattan U.S. attorney, who says he was surprised by an announcement of his resignation late Friday, has been replaced by his deputy on an acting basis after a tense standoff with U.S. Attorney General William Barr.

Jun 22, 2020 9:40 AM CDT

DOJ suit seeks delay of Bolton book, which alleges ‘obstruction of justice as a way of life’

Updated: The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to delay publication of a tell-all book by former National Security Adviser John Bolton, a day before major newspapers began reporting on its contents.

Jun 17, 2020 3:46 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Trump signs policing order; rogue worker tweets from court’s Twitter account

Trump signs executive order encouraging chokehold limits President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that encourages better policing practices. The order allocates discretionary grants to police departments that seek credentials from organizations certified by the U.S. attorney general. The organizations would review police department practices, confirm that the departments…

Jun 16, 2020 3:33 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge admonishes state AG for ignored voting order; court upholds law school’s $2.6M settlement

Judge admonishes Tennessee attorney general’s office for ignoring absentee voting order Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle chastised attorneys from the Tennessee attorney general’s office Thursday for not following the temporary injunction that she issued last week to allow state voters who were concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic to vote…

Jun 12, 2020 4:14 PM CDT