Department of Justice

Throughout American history, when presidents have appointed political cronies to be attorney general, they were looking for people only to help them pursue a policy agenda.

• By Austin Sarat

In his last act as attorney general, Jeff Sessions severely limited the Department of Justice's oversight of police departments in places like Elkhart, Indiana.

• By Christian Sheckler & Ken Armstrong

Before leaving office, Sessions signed an order to ensure that the Department of Justice disengaged from its role in investigating and reforming police departments that repeatedly violate citizens' civil rights.

• By Ian MacDougall

Here's how Sessions, who resigned Wednesday at Trump's request, will be remembered.

• By Kate Wheeling

With the mid-term elections looming, some have speculated that Zinke will be among the next spate of cabinet members to leave their posts.

• By Rebecca Worby

The Department of Justice urged a federal appeals court to overturn a judge's order blocking officials from restricting abortion access for minors in immigrant detention.

• By Emily Moon

A group of immigration judges is skeptical about the attorney general's promise to add more to their ranks—part of an apparent attempt to slash a growing backlog of cases.

• By Massoud Hayoun

News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.

• By Francie Diep
• Member Exclusive

In response to a lack of success in the legal sphere, the DOJ has sought out stories of immigrant crime in an attempt to influence sanctuary cities like Philadelphia.

• By Tanvi Misra

Lawsuits agains the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services reveal a pattern of immigrant shelters prescribing powerful psychotropic drugs without receiving informed consent.

• By Caroline Chen & Jess Ramirez

Despite President Vladimir Putin's promises to review the situation, no one expects that Russia will extradite the accused individuals, so why indict them at all?

• By Joel Samuels

Charges have been dropped against the remaining 38 protesters who were arrested during the J20 protests at President Donald Trump's inauguration.

• By Ted Scheinman

It seems the Department of Justice is, once again, setting its sights on free speech on college campuses.

• By Jared Keller

The attorney general's decision to bar domestic abuse survivors from obtaining asylum seems out of step with a country engaged in a burgeoning movement against assault, advocates say.

• By Massoud Hayoun

The Trump administration announced Thursday it would not defend the Affordable Care Act in court against a lawsuit filed last year by 20 states.

• By Dwyer Gunn

The suit's plaintiffs say the question could discourage certain ethnic minorities from completing the census due to fears that their responses could be used against them.

• By Rebecca Worby

As of September of 2018, over 350,000 immigration cases had been closed and never re-opened, saving some immigrants from deportation and allowing judges to move through cases more quickly.

• By Ashley Hackett

Analysts say the decision breaks the Trump administration's promise to cut the immigration court backlog.

• By Massoud Hayoun

The policy excludes EPA grant recipients from serving on external advisory committees, with the aim of limiting conflicts of interests.

• By Candace Butera

According to recently obtained emails, the Census Bureau is hurriedly attempting to add a citizenship status question at the behest of the DOJ.

• By Justin Elliott

The attorney general vowed to use the Department of Justice to confront America's gun problem. Well, sort of.

• By Jared Keller

The idea that sanctuary cities are a danger to residents has largely proven to be a myth.

• By Chinelo Nkechi Ikem

The DOJ is pushing for questions that experts say may depress participation by immigrants and harm the quality of the census.

• By Justin Elliott

Right before Christmas, the Department of Justice rescinded key protections for disabled workers.

• By David M. Perry