Tuesday night, Pam Bondi was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Attorney General of the United States. Bondi previously served as Attorney General of Florida. The Senate voted 54 - 46, with all Republicans plus John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voting in favor of confirmation, and all other Democrats voting against. NPR reports here that Bondi immediately issued 14 memoranda that, among other things, lift the federal moratorium on executions; establish a task force on antisemitism and justice for the victims of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel; and form a working group regarding the weaponization of federal agencies for political ends. Keep reading for more news. NC prisons see a rise in inmate suicides. The Charlotte Observer reports here that three North Carolina prison inmates committed suicide last month, tying a record high for a single month, and that there were 13 inmate suicides last year, tying a record high for a single year. An advocate quoted in the article describes the situation as “a terrible red flag.” The article notes that many causes may contribute to inmate suicides, including the use of solitary confinement: “About 6% of North Carolina’s 31,400 prison inmates are in solitary confinement . . . Yet about half of all suicides take place in those cells.” Another striking statistic in the story was that 37% of correctional officer positions are unfilled. At one of the prisons where a suicide took place last month, the vacancy rate is 61%. Eighth Circuit determines that the [...]
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