University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: United States

‘This is about the rule of law’: U.S. attorney fired by Trump sues to overturn dismissal

In a July 22, 2026 PBS NewsHour interview with justice correspondent Ali Rogin, Roger Rogoff — a former Washington state judge and prosecutor — explained why he is suing the federal government after being fired by email within an hour of being sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. A panel …

Trump Administration Subpoenas Law Firms, Escalating Pressure Campaign

The relative calm between the White House and the major law firms that settled with it in 2025 has given way to a behind-the-scenes legal fight, with the Justice Department subpoenaing thirteen firms and seeking depositions from their leaders. The dispute grew out of a June lawsuit by the American Bar Association aimed at halting …

Democrats Demand Information From Law Firm Over Its Deal With Trump

Three senior congressional Democrats — Representative Jamie Raskin, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Senator Adam Schiff — have written to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom seeking documents about the arrangement the firm struck with the White House to avoid an executive order that could have severely damaged its business. Skadden pledged $100 million in free …

U.S. Attorney Chosen by Judges Challenges Trump’s Power to Fire Him

Roger Rogoff, a U.S. attorney in Washington State, has sued the Trump administration over his firing, in what appears to be the first challenge of its kind. Federal law allows district court judges to appoint a U.S. attorney when the post sits vacant without a Senate-confirmed nominee, and judges in Washington did exactly that after …

DOJ Subpoenas 14 Law Firms Over Trump Executive Orders and Deals

Newly filed court documents reveal that the Justice Department’s subpoenas to 14 law firms are far broader than previously reported. Issued July 1, the subpoenas sought sweeping document production — including any communications, since January 20, 2025, involving Trump’s personal senior counsel Boris Epshteyn, along with materials on the negotiation, implementation, and monitoring of the …

“Zero Evidence”: How Judges and Grand Juries Have Rejected the Trump Administration Efforts to Investigate and Prosecute

This article surveys efforts by the administration to use subpoenas, search warrants, criminal investigations, and prosecutions against political opponents, journalists, former officials, and critical institutions. It highlights cases in which judges or grand juries found insufficient evidence or indications of retaliatory, pretextual, or vindictive prosecution. Because it is a legal analysis rather than independent investigative …

At Trump’s Direction, Federal Agencies Are Abandoning Discrimination Cases

Federal agencies have pulled back sharply from civil rights enforcement after a Trump executive order directed them to deprioritize “disparate impact” cases — those targeting policies that appear neutral but disproportionately disadvantage protected groups. The legal standard dates to a 1971 Supreme Court test, was written into law by Congress in 1991, and was upheld …

Failed Immigration Cases Leave Chicago Prosecutor’s Office Reeling

A New York Times investigation by Danny Hakim, published July 19, 2026, reports that the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois has been destabilized by the aftermath of last fall’s federal immigration operation in Chicago, known as Operation Midway Blitz. According to the Times, the office filed assault charges under a rarely …

The Latest: Justices testify about Supreme Court security in rare appearance before Congress

Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan made a rare appearance before Congress on July 14 as the Court requested increased funding to protect justices and their families. Barrett described having to wear a bulletproof vest and explain the precaution to her children, while Kagan said the security environment had changed dramatically since …

Trump Fires Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney Less Than an Hour After His Selection

On July 15, President Trump fired Roger Rogoff, a former judge and veteran prosecutor, less than an hour after all 17 active and senior federal judges in the Western District of Washington unanimously appointed him as the district’s U.S. Attorney. The appointment followed the administration’s use of unusual personnel maneuvers to keep its preferred interim …