DOJ Proposes Rule Change: Special Review for DOJ Lawyers

0:00It's March 27. Durham News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. The U.S. Department of Justice has proposed a rule change that will let the attorney general review ethics complaints against current or former DOJ. Lawyers before State Bar associations move forward with investigations. The North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers is raising alarms through a letter from their president urging the legal community to speak out. This association traces its roots to a group formed in Durham in 1954 to advance justice for black people. President Kimberly Moore, a former federal prosecutor, argues the proposal threatens the core independence of state bars as watchdogs over attorney. Ethics For decades, state disciplinary systems have held all lawyers accountable to the same standards, regardless of whether they work in private practice or government. Ethics like Moore's safe federal intervention could delay processes and shake public confidence in the legal system's fairness.

1:00The change risks creating a two-tiered system where DOJ attorneys get special review, potentially weakening oversight that applies equally to everyone. In the profession, public comments on the proposal are open until April 6, 2026 via the federal rule-making portal, offering a key chance to safeguard. These long-standing protections.