(Justice Dept.) Lawyers' Advice to Witnesses Irks Judge

[Newsjock]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43478-2004Jan23.html

By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 24, 2004; Page A04

A furious federal judge ordered Justice Department lawyers yesterday to explain why they should not be held in contempt of court for telling subpoenaed witnesses not to testify before him in a class-action discrimination lawsuit.

... Justice Department lawyers representing the Agriculture Department acknowledged to U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan that they told employees they did not have to come to court because the they believed such testimony was improper.

... Justice Department lawyer Carol Federighi explained that the subpoenas appeared to be "a misuse of the court process."

... Sullivan told the parties that in his 20 years as a judge he had never heard of government lawyers obstructing the testimony of witnesses, and he gave the department 30 days to defend their actions in writing. Justice Department lawyers declined to comment yesterday.

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[burrowowl]

1. If AssKKKroft and Bu$hie and Company

get subpoenaed they don't even have to take the 5th and then there is Ken Lay and co. as well. Justice Department!?

[Syrinx]

2. these bastards think this is already a dictatorship

But come to think of it, if *they* think it is, in a way, it really is.

[alittlelark]

3. WTF! I was unaware of the issue

but it REEKS!!:evilfrown:

[salin]

5. you called that right.

They do act as if it is - and with control of congress and the admin (and having spent years placing sympathetic judges)... they seem to get away with it enough of the time to stay emboldened enough to keep trying to work - even the justice dept - as if they themselves are above the law.

[aquart]

4. And if he doesn't like their answers, then what?

This man better inform everybody he does not feel suicidal.

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

6. haul Ashcroft into chambers!

This is outrageous. If this kind of tactic is as rare as the judge suggests, then the order to not show up must have come from the highest reaches of DOJ. Judge Sullivan should demand Ashcroft's presence in his courtroom for an explanation.

[Oilwellian]

7. Judge Sullivan is the same judge...

that ordered Cheney to release his energy task force papers. I get the feeling he doesn't like the group of criminals in this administration. :D

[joeunderdog]

8. With 30 days to respond, the DOJ can turn up alot of heat.

Who will get to the judge in the meantime?

Why do they get a month to justify their illegal action? It's blatant. What if it is indefensible? Do they just continue on or is there a penalty? They should be charged. If no penalty, what would stop them from continuing this practice?