News and reports from the Department of Justice.

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor today about our broken immigration system and what Congress must do to fix it after more than 30 years of inaction.

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new guidance to Assistant U.S. Attorneys on the handling of undue hardship claims by student borrowers in bankruptcy proceedings:

The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Peter D. Leary, to be United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia; McLain J. Schneider, to be United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota; and Leigha Simonton, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, by voice vote.

In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today told the story of Amanda, an Illinois social worker who will soon be celebrating her fifth anniversary as a married couple with her wife, Cally.

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Deborah Enix-Ross, the President of the American Bar Association (ABA).

During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Colleen R. Lawless, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois. During the hearing, Durbin questioned Judge Lawless about her approach to maintaining an evenhanded and impartial courtroom if confirmed to the Central District of Illinois. Durbin previously worked as an attorney in the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Illinois, and during his questioning, he highlighted a story about his first solo jury trial.

Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and committee member Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) introduced the Justice for Murder Victims Act.

The Senate passed by voice vote the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, a bill introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to expand research into medications derived from the marijuana plant.

Jason L. Cates, 38, was sentenced in federal court on Monday to five years in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves for conspiring to transport stolen sports cards and other sports merchandise across state lines.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Waschko’s Pharmacy, located in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay the United States $210,000 in civil penalties for allegedly failing to comply with recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.

Band Of Cybercriminals Responsible For Computer Intrusions Nationwide Indicted For RICO Conspiracy That Netted Millions

U.S. Attorney Shier Announces Environmental Justice Coordinators, Welcomes Reporting from Concerned Citizens

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kimyada Latoya Knight (41, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to credit card fraud. Knight faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to Home Depot.

A Burlington County, New Jersey, man today admitted his role in a conspiracy to steal bank customer identities and then use that information to steal more than $520,000, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Eugenia M. Carris will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election