Afternoon Briefs: Judiciary committee will get new top Dem; top Pennsylvania court rejects 5 election suits

Feinstein steps down as top Democrat on Senate Judiciary Committee U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is stepping down as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee after criticism from progressives who said she is too gentle with Republicans. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is seeking the lead Democratic…

Nov 24, 2020 4:34 PM CST

How can courts counter disinformation? Arizona task force releases recommendations

An Arizona panel has called for court officials in the state and throughout the country to do more to address the threat of disinformation targeting the justice system.

Oct 5, 2020 3:04 PM CDT

National security lawyers say Russia is ramping up attacks on the American judiciary—and meeting resistance

“I think their clearest objective is to convince people that our institutions, including our justice system, are irrevocably broken,” says Suzanne Spaulding, senior adviser for homeland security and director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Oct 1, 2020 1:50 AM CDT

Political appointee intervened in review of Bolton book with apparent aim to block publication, official says

A political appointee with little or no training in reviewing manuscripts for classified material was assigned to review former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s book even though a career official deemed the book ready for publication, according to a court filing. The career official, Ellen Knight, said the secondary review…

Sep 23, 2020 10:40 AM CDT

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

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

Law prof talks quarantine, war powers and second grade constitutional law

Teach what you know. That piece of wisdom came to mind when schools closed due to the coronavirus global pandemic in mid-March, and I suddenly had a new job: second grade home-schooler.

Aug 20, 2020 10:54 AM CDT

Would a government-backed social credit scoring system like China’s ever fly in the US?

Aug 1, 2020 12:45 AM CDT

Federal judge demands US identify inaccurate and misleading statements made in filings

A federal judge in New York has ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to disclose all the inaccurate or misleading statements made to the court in defense of a decision to oust New York from expedited border crossing programs.

Jul 31, 2020 12:43 PM CDT

Judge refuses to stop publication of Bolton book but warns of consequences

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., refused Saturday to block the publication of a tell-all book by former National Security Adviser John Bolton while warning of possible consequences.

Jun 22, 2020 11:02 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: ‘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

Can Trump send military to states to stop violent protests? This law likely allows it

President Donald Trump said Monday he would use the military to stop violent protests in states where governors refuse to take actions needed to protect lives and property.

Jun 2, 2020 9:35 AM CDT

Between Hacks and Hostilities: Are the US government and private sector ready for persistent engagement?

Cybersecurity is necessarily an issue that crosses international boundaries, raising complex questions of sovereignty, jurisdiction, law and policy. In response, lawyers have struggled to find the right legal metaphor or framework to apply to cyberspace. Each of these issues concerns the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative because the way we as a society choose to address these challenges implicates what it means to live and operate under the rule of law.

May 9, 2019 12:15 PM CDT

16% of Americans think Clarence Thomas is chief justice, ABA civics survey finds

In a new survey, the ABA highlighted gaps in Americans’ knowledge of history and government as part of the ABA Survey of Civic Literacy 2019, the first comprehensive survey of its kind by the association. The results of the nationwide poll of 1,000 people were released Wednesday to mark Law Day, a national event established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958 to recognize the country’s commitment to the rule of law.

May 1, 2019 6:00 AM CDT