Justice Department Rescinds Trump-Era Memo Ordering Prosecutors To Seek Harshest Sentences
The memo reverses a directive from former Attorney General Jeff Sessions that ordered federal prosecutors to throw the book at low-level drug offenders.
Department of Justice
Sedition Cases Against Capitol Rioters 'Will Bear Fruit Very Soon,' Says FBI
Plus: Senators call impeachment trial unconstitutional, Biden cancels private prison contracts, Apple sued over Telegram, and more...
More than 100 Civil Rights Groups Agree: We Don't Need New Domestic Terrorism Laws
Their letter to Congress warns about inevitable abuses against religious and racial minorities.
Trump Administration Puts 13th Prisoner to Death as Justice Sotomayor Blasts 'Breakneck Timetable of Executions'
The Department of Justice rushes to prevent mercy before a new administration can take over.
42 People Now Face Federal Charges for the Capitol Riot
Plus: Happy birthday to Wikipedia, Airbnb's pandemic rebound, and more...
Joe Biden Picks Merrick Garland for Attorney General
The Biden administration has just delivered its first disappointment to criminal justice reform advocates.
The Case Against Julian Assange Is Also a Case Against a Free Press
Contrary to what the judge who blocked his extradition implied, the Espionage Act does not include an exception for "responsible" journalism.
No Federal Charges for Police Officer Who Killed 12-Year-Old Tamir Rice
Justice Department: “It is not enough to show that the officer made a mistake, acted negligently, acted by accident or mistake, or even exercised bad judgment.”
Justice Department Finds Rampant Sexual Assaults and Constitutional Violations in Country's Largest Women's Prison
The report confirms what news investigations and advocates have said for years: Lowell prison lets guards abuse women without consequence.
AG Barr Sees No Reason to Appoint Special Counsel for Hunter Biden or Election Investigations
The Attorney General says "No" to the President on his way out the door, leaving Jeff Rosen in charge of DOJ.
Dozens of States Just Sued To Break Up Google. The Biggest Losers Would Be Consumers.
If the lawsuit were to succeed, it would hurt the people it seeks to help.
In 2020, the Feds Have Executed More Inmates Than All States Combined
An annual report on the death penalty shows its use declining everywhere except in the federal government.
SCOTUS Rules That Federal Agents Can Be Sued When They Violate Your Rights
Now do qualified immunity.
Wish a Not-So-Fond Farewell to Outgoing Attorney General William Barr
His Trump toadying was absolutely awful, but still not nearly as bad as his unremittingly harsh approach to justice and policing.
Justice Department Sues Alabama Over Its Violent Prison System
The suit follows a scathing 2019 report detailing unchecked violence and sexual assault against incarcerated people.
No Mercy Came for Brandon Bernard and None Will Come Today for Alfred Bourgeois
Bill Barr and Donald Trump spend the end of their terms executing prisoners.
Not Even COVID-19 Infections Among Prison Staff Can Convince the Feds To Halt Executions
Five who tested positive recently will participate in this week’s planned executions of Brandon Bernard and Alfred Bourgeois.
Proposed Banking Rule Change Would Upend Oppressive 'Operation Chokepoint' Tactics
Protected financial access for politically targeted industries
Barr's Justice Department Prepares To End Trump's Term With an Execution Spree
Three more death row inmates have been scheduled to die.
Merrick Garland for Attorney General?
The well-respected appellate judge might be just the sort of Attorney General the nation needs.
Dems Ask Trump Administration to Stop Executing Inmates Ahead of Biden Transition
The incoming administration opposes the death penalty, but the Justice Department has three more executions planned this year.
Barr Authorizes Election Fraud Investigations. Why Not?
Plus: Obamacare and qualified immunity before SCOTUS, Uber can acquire Postmates, and more...
Justice Department Will Let Local Cops Wear Body Cameras in Task Force Raids
It's an improvement over the status quo. But time will tell how frequently the feds try to suppress important footage.
Need Proof That Encryption Backdoors Lead to Hacking? It Happened to Our Own Government.
The National Security Agency arranged for security systems to be secretly compromised. Then the Chinese government allegedly found its way in.
Surprise: DOJ Is Not a Big Fan of Privacy-Preserving Cryptocurrencies
Privacy is a right, not a “high risk” and “possibly criminal” activity
FBI Not Playing Along as Trump Tries To Implicate Joe Biden in Crimes
Plus: White House responds about missing migrant parents, Florida's failing foster care system, and more...
Clobbering Purdue Pharma Makes Drug Warriors Feel Good, but It Won't Reduce Opioid-Related Deaths
The $8.3 billion DOJ settlement is part of a crackdown that has perversely pushed drug users toward more dangerous substitutes.
Justice Department Files Federal Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google
Government claims Google uses its power to force users and advertisers on board. Google says that its popularity is not anticompetitive.
Justice Department Prepares for First Federal Execution of a Woman Since 1953
Lisa Montgomery killed a pregnant woman and took her baby in 2004. She is clearly mentally unwell. What does killing her accomplish?
The Federal Death Penalty Returns
State-level executions have been on the decline since 2000, but the federal government recently got back in the business of executing prisoners.
Bad News, Criminal Justice Reformers: Biden Probably Wants Sally Yates for Attorney General
Granting clemency to nonviolent offenders like Alice Marie Johnson would be low on the list of priorities for Yates and Biden.
Section 230's Latest Attacker: The Justice Department
A new DOJ proposal aims to bring the internet communications law in line with Trump's personal interpretation of it.
The Justice Department Sees 'Anarchy' Overtaking New York City. If Only That Were Remotely True.
The Big Apple is practically a black hole of overpolicing and regulation.
Trump May Tank TikTok Deal With Oracle Because Government Doesn't Get a Cut
Plus: Bill Barr has lost his mind, Salt Lake City officer who ordered dog to bite black man charged, and more...
The Julian Assange Case Threatens All Journalists Who Scrutinize Government Conduct
U.S. officials claim their espionage laws apply to the world, but constitutional protections do not.
The Trump Administration Executes Its Fourth Federal Prisoner in Two Months
A new modern record for putting inmates to death
The Trump Administration Prepares to Set a Modern Record for Federal Executions
Lezmond Mitchell is scheduled to die Wednesday, over the objections of the Navajo Nation to which he belongs and on whose land the murder took place.
Trump Administration Justifies Federal Police Surge With Fake News
Plus: "learning pods" are an unfair target, COVID-19 reinfections are unlikely, and more...
Justice Department Executes First Federal Prisoner in Nearly 2 Decades
A quick scramble to end a man’s life, despite objections by attorneys and even the relatives of his victims
Justice Department Tangles with Judges Over First Federal Execution in 17 Years
A court delay on Friday was lifted over the weekend, only to be reinstated Monday for different reasons.
Judge Delays First Federal Execution in 17 Years Due to Coronavirus Fears
Relatives of the victims say they shouldn’t have to risk infection to attend. A federal judge agreed.
Supreme Court Won't Stop Pending Federal Executions
The federal government hasn’t executed a prisoner since 2003. We may see three killed in July.
Appeals Court Panel Rules in Favor of Michael Flynn's Release
Majority 2–1 opinion says prosecutors, not judges, have the discretion to drop the case against the former Trump aide.
Senators Propose a Cool New Contest To Destroy Your Online Privacy
A new, terrible anti-encryption bill with a twist
The Justice Department Is Trying To Stop the Publication of John Bolton's White House Tell-All
They’re not likely to succeed, but the real goal is to seize any money he makes.
As COVID-19 Spread, the Department of Justice Cracked Down on Immigration and Drugs
It was business as usual for federal prosecutors.
A Defense of Judge Emmet Sullivan
A former Bush Administration Justice Department official responds to Judge Michael Luttig's critique of Judge Sullivan.
House May Blow Its Chance To Protect Americans' Browser History From Federal Snooping
Sen. Wyden withdraws support for amendment due to fears it has been weakened too much.
