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With the IRS Scandal Ablaze, How Does that Special-Prosecutor Thing Work?

Matt Vasilogambros | May 15, 2013

While the Justice Department has started an investigation into whether the IRS broke any laws by signaling out conservative groups, administration critics will likely continue their call for a special prosecution to further investigate any criminal wrongdoing from top officials.

How the Ongoing Scandals Might Actually Aid Bipartisanship on Immigration Reform

Rebecca Kaplan | May 15, 2013

If Republicans assume a hyper-partisan stance on IRS, DOJ, and Benghazi, they may have room to act in a bipartisan manner when it comes to immigration.

Immigration-Reform Advocates Sell Legislation in Judiciary Committee

Fawn Johnson | May 9, 2013

Their biggest challenge is to win over rule-of-law conservatives on border enforcement.

Agricultural Workers and Farmers Unite to Push Congress on Immigration Reform

Jerry Hagstrom | April 24, 2013

The sight of the head of the United Farm Workers and farmer representatives testifying side by side before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday to promote the farmworker section of the immigration-reform bill was an extraordinary moment in American agriculture.

Immigration-Reform Opponents Lack Strategy

Rebecca Kaplan | April 24, 2013

In the week since the “Gang of Eight” released its 844-page immigration bill, there have been three days of hearings featuring 26 witnesses. The compressed time frame has left opponents of the bill little time to read it, let alone formulate a strategy to alter the measure to their liking or kill it entirely.

The White House Is Right: Tsarnaev Should Be Tried As a Civilian

James Oliphant | April 23, 2013

The only surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bomb case will be represented by counsel and arraigned, just like any other criminal defendant.

Divide Emerges Among Immigration-Reform Opponents

Rebecca Kaplan | April 16, 2013

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who have protested the speed and secrecy of the work of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” are far from united in a strategy to slow or kill the immigration-reform bill—or even on whether that’s the plan at all.

Mary Schapiro and Lanny Breuer Give Us the Ultimate Dog-Bites-Man Story

Michael Hirsh | April 3, 2013

They failed to prosecute a single Wall Streeter over the 2008 disaster. Now it's home to mama.

Your Guide to Today's Supreme Court Prop 8 Hearing

Alexander Abad-Santos - The Atlantic Wire | March 26, 2013

No more politicians switching sides. No more talk of what the polls mean. The long-awaited gay-marriage arguments at the Supreme Court have arrived, and the stakes are high for the most important civil-rights cases before the nation's highest court in years.

Halligan's Withdrawal Is a Victory for GOP and Gridlock

James Oliphant | March 22, 2013

Obama loses the battle to get his pick onto a court considered an on-ramp to the Supreme Court.

Gay Marriage Is A 2016 Litmus Test for Democrats

Elahe Izadi | March 18, 2013

Any Democratic presidential candidate opposing gay marriage will have trouble winning the nomination.

The Rightward March of the Republicans

Ronald Brownstein | March 14, 2013

Republicans in Congress were supposed to moderate their message. It's not happening.

Lieberman and Kyl to Lead Project on America’s Global Role

Mike Magner | March 11, 2013

Juliane Sullivan, a onetime policy director for ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, will become the new director of the Republican staff for the House Education and the Workforce Committee on Monday.

Lower Your Expectations or Raise Your Budget: 1 Professor's Take on the Slow Pace of Hiring

Sophie Quinton | March 8, 2013

February's robust employment report might come as a surprise to Americans who, after searching for months, can't seem to find work. Although hiring is picking up, more than 40 percent of unemployed Americans have been out of work for 27 weeks or more.

The Supreme Court Seems Ready to Send Voting Rights Issue to Congress

Matthew Cooper | February 27, 2013

The justices seem certain to strike down or change the Voting Rights Act. What Congress and President Obama might do.

Grassley: Assume Conspiracy Theory Dead

Alex Brown | February 22, 2013

Sen. Chuck Grassley's Twitter feed has been known to document many things, among them the concerns of the constituents who show up to his frequent townhall meetings. So what's weighing on the minds of Iowa voters? Well, among other things, UFOs. "33ppl at Chariton town hall," Grassley tweeted earli...

Who's In and Who's Out in Obama's Cabinet

Catherine Hollander | February 15, 2013

President Obama has chosen many of the candidates for his second-term Cabinet, but he still has eight positions left to fill. Here's a look at which positions are open, the leading contenders to fill them, and the Cabinet choices he has already made.

Bipartisan Senate Gun Deal Possible by Week's End

Chris Frates | February 13, 2013

Republican and Democratic senators working to strengthen gun background checks are closing in on a deal and hope to have an agreement by week’s end, aides on both sides tell National Journal.

Scenes From John Brennan's Confirmation Hearing

Chet Susslin | February 7, 2013

Giffords Lends Soft and Powerful Voice to Gun-Control Debate

Ron Fournier | January 30, 2013

Reading from a sheet of paper, the former lawmaker punctuated every word with a poignant pause. "I need to say something important."

Your Guide to the Ruling on Obama's Recess Appointments

Catherine Hollander | January 25, 2013

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled on Friday that President Obama’s use of recess appointments to install three appointees to the National Labor Relations Board last January was unconstitutional. What’s the fuss all about?

Leahy to Boehner: Get Your Own House in Order

Rebecca Kaplan | January 18, 2013

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy had some choice words in response to an announcement by House Speaker John Boehner that the House of Representatives would predicate a long-term debt-limit increase on the Senate passing a budget that cuts spending. Another incentive from the Republican leader: No budget from the Senate, no paychecks for the senators.

Will Obama Really Fight for Judicial Nominees?

James Oliphant | January 17, 2013

So far, he hasn’t. If he wants them to win confirmation, he’ll have to spend some capital.

Meet Todd Jones, Obama's Nominee for A.T.F. Director

J.K. Trotter and Atlantic Wire | January 16, 2013

President Obama announced Wednesday that he will nominate B. Todd Jones as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No nominee for the position has been confirmed in almost seven years. So who is Todd Jones?

Americans Against Context Attack Obama on Gun Control

Cory Bennett | January 16, 2013

Jimmy Kimmel ran a fake ad by political lobbying group "Americans Against Context," which answered the important questions about gun control using President Obama's own words. "Whose guns? How many guns?" Watch to see Obama give his "answers." On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart chided Supreme Co...

NJ Topics Judges And Nominees