A federal judge in Texas has issued a stay on the FDA's approval of mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortions, which has been met with criticism from abortion rights advocates. The U.S. Department of Justice and President Joe Biden have both released statements in response to the ruling, and the DOJ has filed an appeal and is seeking an immediate stay of the decision. The outcome of the DOJ's appeal could set a precedent for future cases and have a significant impact on access to abortion services in the United States.
Posts tagged as “Merrick Garland”
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid Corp, accusing the pharmacy chain of illegally filling hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, without recognizing "red flags". Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General, said that Rite Aid's pharmacists filled prescriptions with obvious red flags and intentionally deleted notes about suspicious prescribers. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department is using every tool to confront the opioid epidemic. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and other relief to ensure Rite Aid complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the future.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday to increase background checks and promote better firearms storage. The order will direct Attorney General Merrick Garland to clarify the statutory definition of who is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms. The order is part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to reduce gun violence in the United States, including a ban on so-called “ghost guns” and a requirement for buyers to undergo background checks for all firearms purchases.
Louisville, Kentucky and the Louisville Metro Police Department have agreed to a settlement with the Department of Justice following a two-year investigation into the department's practices. The investigation was launched after the killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020 and found that the LMPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people, uses excessive force, and violates the rights of people engaged in protected free speech. The settlement agreement commits the city and LMPD to work with the DOJ, the community, police officers and other stakeholders to implement a series of reforms.
The U.S. Department of Justice has released a report finding that the Louisville Metro Police Department and the city of Louisville have violated citizens' constitutional and civil rights through the use of unreasonable tactics such as unjustified neck restraints, police dogs, and tasers. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the findings and said the LMPD has made strides to improve its practices since the investigation began. The Justice Department, the city of Louisville, and the LMPD have agreed in principle to a consent degree.
The US Justice Department has announced it will be filing a lawsuit to block JetBlue Airways' proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines, citing concerns that it would reduce competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. The Biden administration has been vocal in its stance that there needs to be greater competition between businesses, especially in the airline industry, to lower costs for consumers. The lawsuit is the first time in more than 20 years that the government has sought to block a US airline merger.
United States Attorney General Merrick Garland made an unannounced trip to Ukraine on Friday to reaffirm the US's commitment to justice and security in the country. He joined President Volodymyr Zelensky at the “United for Justice Conference” to discuss the importance of international justice and the need for accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine. The trip is part of the US's ongoing commitment to support Ukraine and its people and to hold Russia accountable for its actions.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has criticized the Department of Justice for not charging any protesters outside Supreme Court justices' homes in the wake of the Dobbs decision. In response, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that white supremacists are the most dangerous domestic terror group in the US, and that the DOJ is committed to protecting the rights of all Americans. The DOJ has yet to comment on Cruz's criticism.