What Role Should the Department of Justice Play in Our Democracy?

The U.S. Department of Justice has enormous responsibilities, from enforcing federal laws and prosecuting crimes to protecting civil rights and representing the United States in court. Its work can also raise difficult questions about power, independence, accountability, and the rule of law. At this meeting, we’ll explore what role the Department of Justice should play in a healthy democracy.

We’ll ask questions such as:

• What experiences or events have shaped the way you think about the Department of Justice?
• What do you think Americans should be able to expect from the Department of Justice, regardless of who is in power?
• How should the Justice Department balance accountability to an elected president with independence in enforcing the law?
• What would make you more—or less—confident that the Department of Justice is fulfilling its role fairly?

This will be an opportunity to better understand the Justice Department’s place in our system of government and explore different perspectives on independence, accountability, fairness, and the rule of law.