state bar investigations

DOJ Rule Allowing Attorney General to Intervene in State Bar Investigations Sparks Federalism Debate

The Justice Department has proposed a rule allowing the attorney general to review and potentially delay state bar investigations into federal prosecutors, sparking criticism from legal ethics experts, Democratic attorneys general, and the American Bar Association. Critics argue the rule violates the 1998 McDade-Murtha Amendment, which requires federal prosecutors to follow state ethics rules, and weakens one of the last independent checks on government lawyers. The DOJ claims the rule is necessary to address politically motivated bar complaints, pointing to disciplinary proceedings against officials like Pam Bondi and Ed Martin.