Attorney General

States can’t restrict abortions outside their borders, ban abortion pills based on FDA disagreement, AG Garland says

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized options that are still available to women seeking abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday.

Jun 24, 2022 2:00 PM CDT

Feds search home of former DOJ lawyer who tried to help Trump overturn election

Federal agents on Wednesday searched the suburban Virginia home of former U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Jeffrey Clark, who was involved in efforts to help then-President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Jun 24, 2022 9:23 AM CDT

If DOJ prosecutes Trump, what charges could it bring? Experts consider possibilities

Updated: Information revealed in the congressional hearing into the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot could serve as the basis for a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice of former President Donald Trump, some experts say.

Jun 16, 2022 10:50 AM CDT

Lawyers surrounding Trump rejected stolen election claims; Barr calls claims ‘idiotic’ and ‘disturbing’

Lawyers surrounding former President Donald Trump, including former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, rejected his claims of a stolen election and told him so, according to witnesses testifying before the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.

Jun 14, 2022 10:35 AM CDT

Supreme Court justices get around-the-clock security after leak of draft abortion opinion; 25 state AGs call for action

U.S. Supreme Court justices began getting around-the-clock security last week, as protesters who fear an end to abortion rights gathered outside the homes of conservative justices.

May 20, 2022 10:17 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: ABA will ‘work expeditiously’ to rate SCOTUS nominee; parents of accused school shooter will stand trial

ABA president vows expeditious but through evaluation of SCOTUS nominee The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary will “work expeditiously” to evaluate U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson “in a thorough and fair manner,” said ABA President Reginald Turner in a statement issued Friday afternoon. Turner said…

Feb 25, 2022 3:47 PM CST

Judge on SCOTUS short list faces scrutiny for her stance for US in religious rights case

California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, a possible nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, is facing scrutiny for the position that she took on behalf of the United States in a religious rights case involving a narcoleptic teacher before the Supreme Court.

Feb 10, 2022 10:55 AM CST

Arizona attorney general reaches ethics deal involving clashes with secretary of state in election suits

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has reached a diversion agreement with the State Bar of Arizona to resolve ethics allegations that he took actions contrary to the interests of state agencies represented by his office.

Feb 8, 2022 11:08 AM CST

DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel says its prior opinion on ERA doesn’t bar Congress from acting

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel says its prior opinion on the Equal Rights Amendment doesn’t bar Congress from taking further action on ratification because the issue would ultimately be decided by the courts.

Jan 27, 2022 9:18 AM CST

Inmates confined at home because of COVID-19 emergency need not return to prison when it ends, DOJ says

Federal prisoners who were placed on home confinement because of the coronavirus emergency don’t necessarily have to return to prison when it ends, according to an opinion by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel.

Dec 22, 2021 9:37 AM CST

3 states accounted for most of this year’s low number of executions and death sentences, new report says

Death sentences and executions remain low and geographically isolated, according to a year-end report released Thursday by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Dec 16, 2021 9:21 AM CST

Weekly Briefs: Emmett Till probe closed; Black couple’s suit says appraisal changed with pretend white homeowner

DOJ closes Emmett Till investigation The U.S. Department of Justice has closed its reopened investigation into the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black youth tortured and shot in Mississippi after he was accused of making sexual advances toward a white woman in her store. The woman had testified…

Dec 10, 2021 3:17 PM CST

DOJ suit over redrawn voting districts in Texas ‘puts other states on notice’

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Texas on Monday to block redrawn voting districts for congressional and statehouse elections.

Dec 7, 2021 9:49 AM CST

Ban on bump stocks prevails when 6th Circuit splits on government interpretation

A federal government regulation that bans bump stocks—which are used to accelerate gunfire on semi-automatic weapons—is back in force as a result of a split decision Friday by an en banc federal appeals court.

Dec 6, 2021 12:45 PM CST

Weekly Briefs: Steven Bannon indicted for contempt of Congress; DC Circuit gives Trump initial records victory

Steve Bannon is indicted for contempt of Congress Steve Bannon, a former adviser to former President Donald Trump, was indicted Friday for contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena issued by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Bannon is charged with…

Nov 12, 2021 3:43 PM CST