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Supporters of the Voting Rights Act listen to speakers discussing the Supreme Court's rulings outside the court building in June 2013. The court ruled that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, aimed at protecting minority voters, is unconstitutional.

In the aftermath of a Supreme Court ruling last year, advocates worry that jurisdictions are quietly making changes to disenfranchise minorities. A training program is designed to counter that.

Sen. Patrick Leahy is calling on the Justice Department to state its position on marijuana's legal status. Here, a man inspects a shirt depicting the U.S. flag made of marijuana symbols, at a medical marijuana show in Los Angeles earlier this year.

U.S. 'Ought To Respect' State Marijuana Laws, Sen. Leahy Says

Sen. Patrick Leahy is asking the Justice Department to clarify its policy on state marijuana laws that clash with stricter federal rules. Leahy's been seeking answers ever since Washington and Colorado voters approved marijuana for recreational use last year.

U.S. Judge 'Troubled' By Government Drone-Strike Policy

The case challenges the constitutionality of drone strikes that killed three U.S. citizens in Yemen in 2011. Government lawyers seeking to dismiss the case said the courts essentially have no role in drone-strike decisions.

People wait in line outside the Supreme Court in February. In a landmark decision half a century ago, the justices guaranteed a lawyer for criminal defendants who are too poor to afford one.

Justice Department Tackles Quality Of Defense For The Poor

An unprecedented recent court filing from the Justice Department could have dramatic implications for the representation of indigent defendants. The department argues that the fix for broken public defender systems could include a court-appointed monitor.

After Discrimination Finding, Jury's Out On Memphis Juvenile Courts

The U.S. Justice Department bashed the juvenile justice system in Shelby County, Tenn., in 2012. Now, Memphis courts are trying to find a way forward.

New DOJ Policy Urges Agents To Videotape Interrogations

The policy shift, set to take effect July 11, is designed to align practices across the federal government, where some law enforcement agencies employ recordings and others don't.

Diego Sanchez, the first openly transgender person to work as a legislative staffer on Capitol Hill, helped to develop a new Justice Department program that trains law enforcement to be more sensitive to the needs of transgender people.

Justice's 'Peacemaker' Unit Focuses On Transgender Rights

A unit originally created to keep the peace during the civil rights movement is training law enforcement on how to be more sensitive to transgender witnesses and crime victims.

Karl R. Thompson Tapped To Lead Key Justice Department Unit

Thompson has been named acting head of the Office of Legal Counsel, which approves executive branch legal arguments on armed drones, surveillance and other national security issues.

Already one of the longest-serving attorneys general in history, Eric Holder says he has no immediate plans or timetable to leave. Here, he speaks at the annual Attorneys General Winter Meeting in Washington on Feb. 25.

Holder Speaks Out On Snowden, Drone Policy, Softening Sentences

In an interview, Eric Holder says he's open to talking with Edward Snowden about terms of surrender. The attorney general is unhappy with the vote to block a nominee to a top Justice Department post.

Debo Adegbile, special counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, speaks with the media outside the Supreme Court in Feb. 2013 after presenting arguments in the Shelby County, Ala., v. Holder voting rights case.

Senate Democrats Defect On Obama Civil Rights Nominee

The clash over attorney Debo Adegbile's Justice Dept. nomination pitted powerful law enforcement interests against the civil rights community.

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