Federal Government

ABA Legislative Priorities Survey helps members set the agenda

As lawyers and legal professionals, the importance of our collective voice in shaping the future of our profession and society cannot be overstated. The American Bar Association is once again inviting its members to participate in the Legislative Priorities Survey, a critical tool that helps determine the focus of the ABA’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.

Dec 1, 2024 12:20 AM CST

Supporting Survivors: ABA and its members have shaped the Violence Against Women Act for 30 years

The Violence Against Women Act passed in September 1994. VAWA, as it’s commonly known, was the first federal law to focus on preventing and combating sexual assault and domestic violence. Maricarmen Garza credits VAWA for bringing her to the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence.

Nov 26, 2024 2:27 PM CST

With D.C. case dismissed, Trump is no longer under federal indictment

A judge dismissed the federal election-obstruction charges against President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, ending a historic investigation that never went to trial but led to enduring changes in the legal landscape over a president’s immunity from prosecution.

Nov 25, 2024 1:15 PM CST

Trump plans to fire Jack Smith’s team, use DOJ to probe 2020 election

President-elect Donald Trump plans to fire the entire team that worked with special counsel Jack Smith to pursue two federal prosecutions against the former president, including career attorneys typically protected from political retribution, according to two individuals close to Trump’s transition. Trump is also planning to assemble investigative teams within the Justice Department to hunt for evidence in battleground states that fraud tainted the 2020 election, one of the people said.

Nov 25, 2024 12:15 PM CST

Supreme Court will consider reviving another curb on agency power known as nondelegation doctrine

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider whether Congress and the Federal Communications Commission violated the nondelegation doctrine in a challenge to fees imposed on telecommunications carriers to help provide service in underserved areas.

Nov 25, 2024 12:03 PM CST

Senate Democrats drop 4 appeals court picks so they can confirm 12 judges

Senate Democrats have reached a deal with their Republican counterparts to confirm a dozen judges nominated by President Joe Biden while pulling four of his nominees from consideration, the latest step in a battle over who controls the nation’s federal courthouses on the eve of a second Donald Trump presidency.

Nov 22, 2024 8:26 AM CST

Pam Bondi, Trump’s pick for attorney general, is a longtime loyalist

President-elect Donald Trump announced that he plans to nominate former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to become the next U.S. attorney general. Bondi, 59, is a longtime Trump loyalist who served on the defense team during his first impeachment trial.

Nov 22, 2024 8:15 AM CST

DOJ seeks forced sale of Chrome, other big changes at Google in monopoly case

The Justice Department is seeking to force Google to sell off its Chrome browser and make other major changes to remedy its illegal search monopoly, prosecutors told a Washington court Wednesday, setting a marker in the landmark case before the incoming Trump administration makes its own determinations about how to proceed.

Nov 21, 2024 3:48 PM CST

Matt Gaetz attorney general confirmation was in doubt ahead of withdrawal

Former congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) has withdrawn from consideration to become attorney general in a new Trump administration, he announced Thursday, after facing steep opposition from fellow Republicans.

Nov 21, 2024 11:45 AM CST

Federal judiciary releases first-ever report on workplace misconduct

More than 100 allegations of abusive conduct were reported by federal court employees between 2021 and 2023, according to data released Wednesday from the federal judiciary’s first workplace report.

Nov 21, 2024 9:45 AM CST

DOJ will push Google to sell Chrome to break monopoly on search market

Top Justice Department antitrust officials have decided to ask a judge to force Google to sell off its Chrome browser in what would be a historic crackdown on one of the world’s biggest tech companies.

Nov 19, 2024 3:35 PM CST

Georgia appeals court cancels arguments on removal of DA Fani Willis from Trump case

The Georgia Court of Appeals on Monday abruptly canceled oral arguments on Donald Trump’s appeal of a state court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis (D) to continue prosecuting the 2020 election interference case against the president-elect and several of his allies.

Nov 19, 2024 3:25 PM CST

NY prosecutors appear open to yearslong delay in Trump hush money case

Manhattan prosecutors Tuesday said they will oppose a request by Donald Trump’s lawyers to dismiss his 34-count felony conviction but suggested they were open to postponing proceedings in the case until after the president-elect’s second term in the White House.

Nov 19, 2024 3:20 PM CST

Where have all the lawyers gone? 25% are in these 2 states with higher pay than $176K average

Twenty-five percent of all lawyers live in California and New York, states that include five of the top 10 metropolitan areas for attorney pay.

Nov 19, 2024 11:01 AM CST

Can Trump constitutionally install his nominees with recess appointments? Would Scalia be ‘aghast’?

Updated: Can President-elect Donald Trump use recess appointments to install his Cabinet nominees?

Nov 18, 2024 11:58 AM CST