DOJ Revs Up Prosecutor Training, Ponders Discovery Policy
Following blistering criticism by a federal judge who last week appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the government’s handling of a high-profile criminal corruption case against former Sen. Ted Stevens, U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder is cleaning house at the Department of Justice.
Holder is setting up a training program for prosecutors about their discovery obligations in criminal cases and has asked department leaders to form a working group to review discovery procedures being followed by the government and determine if more resources are needed, reports the Blog of Legal Times.
The working group will be led by the assistant attorney general of the Criminal Division and the head of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, Holder said in a press release.
“The actions we are taking today are part of an ongoing process to ensure justice is served in every case the department brings,” Holder says in the statement. “We will continue to review how cases are managed before, during and after charges are filed, and where there is room for improvement, we will make additional changes.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Fed’l Judge in Sen. Stevens Case Puts Spotlight on Prosecution”
ABAJournal.com: “Special Prosecutor to Investigate Government Lawyers in Sen. Stevens Case”
ABAJournal.com: “Federal Judge Sanctions US $600K for Secretly Taping Defense Lawyer”
ABAJournal.com: “Holder Names New Leader of DOJ Internal Ethics Unit”
New York Times (opinion): “Mr. Holder and the Ted Stevens Case “
Washington Post: “Stevens Gambled by Rejecting Deal, Pushing Early Trial”