Attorney General

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The Manhattan U.S. attorney, who says he was surprised by an announcement of his resignation late Friday, has been replaced by his deputy on an acting basis after a tense standoff with U.S. Attorney General William Barr.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

Bipartisan group of attorneys calls on AG Barr to resign over Lafayette Square actions

More than 100 U.S. Supreme Court practitioners and constitutional lawyers on Thursday called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to be held accountable for the government’s use of force against protesters in Washington, D.C.’s Lafayette Square on June 1.

Jun 12, 2020 11:57 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: ‘Highly irregular conduct’ by DOJ alleged; satanist loses abortion case

DOJ engaged in ‘highly irregular conduct,’ says amicus appointee in Michael Flynn case The U.S. Department of Justice “engaged in highly irregular conduct to benefit a political ally of the president” when it sought to drop the case against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to an amicus lawyer…

Jun 10, 2020 4:01 PM CDT

Amid cries of ‘defund the police,’ Minneapolis city council majority pledges dismantling

As protesters across the nation have chanted “defund the police,” the Minneapolis city council plans to take action. A veto-proof council majority said it would be dismantling the police department and redefine the city’s system of public safety.

Jun 8, 2020 10:01 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: AG Barr sees lack of confidence in justice system; will students reconsider law school?

AG Barr says ‘witches’ brew’ of extremist groups caused violence U.S. Attorney General William Barr said at a press conference Thursday that many African Americans lack confidence in the American criminal justice system, and that needs to change. Barr said most protesters were peaceful, but there is a “witches’ brew”…

Jun 4, 2020 3:38 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Chief justice says pandemic teaches humility; bioweapons charge for alleged spitting

Pandemic teaches humility, chief justice tells grads in video remarks U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told graduates at his son’s high school on Saturday that the COVID-19 pandemic should teach humility, compassion and courage. “I think the pandemic is the world’s way of saying to mankind,…

May 26, 2020 4:57 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Man who recorded Arbery video faces charges; Flynn judge asked for response

Official explains charges against man who recorded Arbery video The charges brought against the man who recorded the fatal shooting of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery represent a significant expansion of criminal liability in Georgia, his lawyer said Friday. William “Roddie” Bryan was charged with felony murder and attempted false imprisonment.…

May 22, 2020 3:01 PM CDT

SCOTUS blocks release of Mueller grand jury materials to House committee

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the House Judiciary Committee from seeing grand jury materials referenced in the report by former special counsel Robert Mueller.

May 20, 2020 4:49 PM CDT