Senate confirms top civil rights official at Justice Department

September 11th, 2009 No charges against ex-Justice officialWASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder has decided not to bring any criminal charges against a former Bush administration official who lawmakers said lied to them in sworn testimony. An inspector general's report found that Bradley Schlozman, the former head of the civil rights division, misled lawmakers in sworn testimony about whether he politicized hiring decisions.

September 1st, 2009 Justice Dept. seeks stronger civil rights divisionWASHINGTON — The Justice Department is moving forward with plans to expand its civil rights division, pursuing cases of discrimination in the workplace, housing and voting rights.

August 26th, 2009 Dodd says Kennedy among most respected senatorsWASHINGTON — Sen. Christopher Dodd, perhaps Edward Kennedy's closest friend in the Senate, says Kennedy was a hero to the downtrodden.

August 15th, 2009 Suspect in 1964 civil rights worker killings diesJACKSON, Miss. — Federal authorities will continue to investigate the 1964 Mississippi killings of three civil rights workers — a case that helped pass landmark legislation — despite the death of a key suspect, the Justice Department says.

August 14th, 2009 4 Puerto Rico police officers convicted in beatingSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A jury in U.S. federal court has convicted four Puerto Rican police officers in the beating death of a man in their custody.

August 12th, 2009 US ambassador cites Mexico's progress on rightsMEXICO CITY — The new U.S. ambassador to Mexico said Tuesday that a report to be finished next week and submitted to the Senate will stress that Mexico is making progress on respecting human rights in its fight against drug cartels.

August 7th, 2009 Senate confirms Abbey to head BLMCARSON CITY, Nev. — The U.S.

August 6th, 2009 Senate confirms Sotomayor for Supreme CourtWASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor Thursday as the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court. The vote was 68-31 for Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's first high court nominee.

July 22nd, 2009 US attorney general asserts civil rights renewalMEMPHIS, Tenn. — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder used a Southern civil rights landmark as a backdrop Wednesday as he told hundreds of black prosecutors that the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is "back and open for business." Speaking at a National Black Prosecutors Association conference in Memphis, not far from where the Rev.

July 18th, 2009 Feds probe alleged discrimination at Pa. swim clubPHILADELPHIA — The U.S.

June 26th, 2009 Calif. Rep. Tauscher gets State Department postWASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday approved the nomination of Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

June 26th, 2009 Senate confirms 2 for FCCWASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday confirmed Julius Genachowski as head of the Federal Communications Commission and Robert McDowell for a second FCC term. McDowell is currently the only Republican on the five-seat commission, which has been operating with three commissioners.

June 19th, 2009 Feds: Unclear policies on force in NY police dept.YONKERS, N.Y. — The Justice Department says a New York police department has a skittish relationship with residents and confusing policies on the use of force.

June 18th, 2009 Miss. civil rights slayings to get historic markerPHILADELPHIA, Miss. — Mississippi officials say a historical marker can be placed on a state highway near where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964.

April 29th, 2009 Transsexual wins $500,000 lawsuitWASHINGTON — A federal judge has awarded a former Army Special Forces commander nearly $500,000 because she was rejected from a job at the Library of Congress while undergoing a gender change from man to woman. Diane Schroer of Alexandria, Va., applied for the terrorism analyst job while still a man named David Schroer.