Attorney General

ABA House of Delegates urges legislation protecting marijuana lawyers and banks

The ABA House of Delegates adopted two resolutions Monday urging federal legislation to shield lawyers and banks from criminal liability for providing services to state-legalized marijuana businesses.

Feb 17, 2020 2:48 PM CST

9 senators call for attorney general’s resignation after DOJ intervenes in Roger Stone’s sentencing

Nine U.S. senators signed a letter Friday demanding that U.S. Attorney General William Barr resign because of his intervention in the criminal case against Roger Stone, a former adviser for President Donald Trump.

Feb 14, 2020 3:37 PM CST

Barr says Trump’s tweets ‘make it impossible for me to do my job;’ Trump asserts ‘legal right’ to ask for action

U.S. Attorney General William Barr said Thursday that President Donald Trump’s tweets about the Department of Justice, pending cases and judges make it impossible for him to do his job.

Feb 14, 2020 10:19 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: AG Barr will consider Giuliani’s Ukraine evidence; Trump praises drug dealer death penalty

AG Barr will consider Giuliani evidence from Ukraine U.S. Attorney General William Barr said Monday he will consider information from Ukraine provided by lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Barr cautioned that there “are a lot of agendas” in Ukraine, and information received from the country can’t be taken at face value. Giuliani…

Feb 11, 2020 4:52 PM CST

Federal prosecutors resign after DOJ overrules them and seeks shorter sentence for Roger Stone

Updated: The U.S. Department of Justice is overruling federal prosecutors who sought a sentence of seven to nine years in prison on Monday for political consultant Roger Stone, a former adviser to President Donald Trump.

Feb 11, 2020 3:41 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Censure recommended for judge’s ‘knucklehead’ remarks; Kesha loses round in Dr. Luke suit

Censure recommended for judge’s remarks on racy photos The New Jersey Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct is recommending censure for a judge who commented on a “knucklehead” husband and the girlfriend who was asking the man’s wife for return of her suggestive photos. Judge Alberto Rivas told the…

Feb 7, 2020 4:40 PM CST

7th Circuit is aghast at ‘obduracy’ of Board of Immigration Appeals, which refused to implement its decision

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago didn’t mince words in a Jan. 23 opinion chastising the Board of Immigration Appeals for defying its remand order and concluding the appeals court had ruled incorrectly in the case.

Jan 27, 2020 6:30 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Bill would allow law school to ax segregationist’s name; Cipollone said to be material witness

Florida legislation puts naming rights in universities’ hands Thanks to pending legislation, Florida State University College of Law may soon rename B.K. Roberts Hall, which recognizes a former state supreme court chief justice who supported school segregation. A state Senate panel approved the proposal Tuesday, which gives university boards of…

Jan 22, 2020 4:23 PM CST

NYC bar calls for investigation into AG Barr over conduct that threatens ‘impartial administration of justice’

In a rare move, the New York City Bar Association has asked Congress to investigate U.S. Attorney General William Barr for recent conduct that “threatens public confidence in the fair and impartial administration of justice.”

Jan 10, 2020 10:02 AM CST

It’s too late to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, DOJ says in legal opinion

The Equal Rights Amendment can’t become part of the U.S. Constitution because Congress’ deadline for ratification has expired, according to a legal opinion by the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel.

Jan 9, 2020 12:21 PM CST

Use of death penalty remains ‘near historic lows,’ while public support wanes

The federal effort to resume executions stands in stark contrast to a state trend away from capital punishment, according to a year-end report by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Dec 17, 2019 10:07 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Holder says Barr is unfit to be AG; law firm promotes nonbinary gender inclusiveness

Holder op-ed says AG Barr is unfit to be attorney general U.S. Attorney General William Barr has proved he is unfit to lead the Department of Justice, according to an op-ed by one of his predecessors in the Obama administration, Eric Holder Jr. Barr has been “running political interference for…

Dec 12, 2019 4:19 PM CST

Former FBI lawyer sues over disclosure of her texts criticizing Trump and discussing personal matters

Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page has sued the bureau and the U.S. Department of Justice for releasing her text messages with former FBI agent Peter Strzok, with whom she was having an affair.

Dec 11, 2019 12:04 PM CST

Probe of Russian influence wasn’t motivated by bias, IG report says, but it found ‘significant inaccuracies’

There was no evidence of political bias or improper motive in the FBI’s decision to open an investigation into possible coordination between members of President Donald Trump’s campaign and the Russian government, according to a report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Justice’s inspector general.

Dec 9, 2019 2:31 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: AG Barr said to disagree with IG; 350-plus lawyers who had abortions file SCOTUS brief

AG Barr reportedly disagrees with DOJ watchdog on justification for Russia probe U.S. Attorney General William Barr reportedly disagrees with a key conclusion in an upcoming report by the Department of Justice’s inspector general on the origins of the Russia investigation. Sources told the Washington Post that Barr thinks the…

Dec 3, 2019 4:40 PM CST