8th Circuit decision is setback for ‘constitutional sheriffs’ movement, says gun-safety group

A federal appeals court has ruled for the U.S. Department of Justice in a challenge to a Missouri law that banned state and local officials from helping enforce some federal gun regulations.

Aug 27, 2024 10:17 AM CDT

Supreme Court says prosecutors improperly charged hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters

Federal prosecutors improperly charged hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants with obstruction, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday, upending many cases against rioters who disrupted the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Jun 28, 2024 10:44 AM CDT

Judge hears challenge to appointment, funding of special counsel in Trump documents case

A federal judge overseeing the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump heard arguments Friday on whether U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had constitutional authority to appoint special counsel Jack Smith.

Jun 24, 2024 3:19 PM CDT

Justice Department rejects contempt case against attorney general

Justice Department officials said Friday that the agency will not pursue contempt of Congress charges against Attorney General Merrick Garland that the Republican-run House had voted for this week.

Jun 14, 2024 3:30 PM CDT

GOP-run House votes to hold AG Merrick Garland in contempt

The Republican-controlled House voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The vote, which passed with an initial tally of 216-207, marks the third time in a dozen years that a sitting attorney general was found in contempt by a majority of House members.

Jun 12, 2024 4:14 PM CDT

Garland hits out against ‘unprecedented’ and ‘unfounded’ attacks on the DOJ

Attorney General Merrick Garland forcefully defended the Justice Department before the House Judiciary Committee against “repeated attacks” from Republican lawmakers.

Jun 5, 2024 4:35 PM CDT

Trump says he ‘would actually’ consider Texas AG Ken Paxton for US attorney general

Former President Donald Trump said this weekend he “would actually” consider Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. attorney general if he returns to the White House.

May 21, 2024 3:44 PM CDT

Former DOJ official who alleged election fraud violated at least one ethics rule, ethics committee says

Former U.S. Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark violated at least one ethics rule in connection with his false claims of election fraud during the 2020 presidential election, according to a preliminary finding announced Thursday by an ethics hearing committee.

Apr 5, 2024 9:14 AM CDT

Is ex-DOJ official facing ethics trial for ‘thought crime’? His election-fraud letter was based on sincerely held belief, lawyer says

A former Department of Justice official accused of drafting a letter with false allegations of election fraud that he hoped to send to Georgia officials did not violate ethics rules, his lawyer said at a disciplinary hearing Tuesday.

Mar 27, 2024 10:01 AM CDT

Biden recalls time he bluffed knowledge of torts case and why he changed his mind about civil-trial work

President Joe Biden digressed when answering questions last fall about documents stored at his vice presidential residence to remember his tough torts class at the Syracuse University College of Law and the first job that he got after graduation.

Mar 14, 2024 2:34 PM CDT

‘Prisons Are Often Horrible Places’: How can Death in Custody Reporting Act be better enforced?

The House of Delegates addressed the national “deaths in custody crisis” during the ABA Midyear Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday.

Feb 5, 2024 5:34 PM CST

Was Jack Smith’s appointment unconstitutional? He has no more authority than Taylor Swift, amicus brief argues

Special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional, leaving him powerless to obtain a quick U.S. Supreme Court decision on immunity claims by former President Donald Trump, according to an amicus brief signed by former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese and two law professors.

Dec 21, 2023 2:21 PM CST

In ‘catastrophic’ ruling for minority voters, 8th Circuit says only US can sue for discriminatory voting practices

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at St. Louis ruled Monday that private plaintiffs cannot sue for alleged violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bans voting practices and procedures that deny or abridge the right to vote on the basis of race or color.

Nov 20, 2023 3:26 PM CST

Federalist Society lawyers deemed too timid for future Trump administration by ex-president’s allies

Former President Donald Trump had relied on the conservative Federalist Society to fill executive branch legal positions and advise on judicial nominees. But some of Trump’s allies view the group’s conservative elite lawyers as too timid to carry out his agenda.

Nov 2, 2023 12:41 PM CDT

Biden’s executive order on AI has ‘extensive to-do list’ for Homeland Security

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on artificial intelligence this week that is intended to reduce security risks, protect privacy and prevent use of the technology to discriminate.

Nov 2, 2023 9:25 AM CDT