Office Of Public Affairs United States Department Of Justice

The Office of Public Affairs is the principal point of contact for the Department of Justice with the news media. The Office is responsible for ensuring that the public is informed about the Department's activities and about the priorities and policies of the Attorney General and the President with regard to law enforcement and... Office of Public Affairs Direct Line(202) 514-2007 Department of Justice Main Switchboard(202) 514-2000 Media inquiries to the Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, may be sent using this form: www.justice.gov/media Correspondence to the Office of Public Affairs may be sent to:

Office of Public AffairsU.S. Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20530 Our office may also be contacted by phone at: 202-514-2007 Pedro Vasquez Perdomo, et al., v. Kristi Noem, et al., Emergency Motion, July 14, 2025 United States v.

State of California, et al., July 9, 2025 Amicus Curiae Brief in Caleb Barnett, et al., v Kwame Raol, Attorney General of the State of Illinois, et al., June 13, 2025 D.V.D., et al, v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al, 1:25-cv-10676-BEM, Defendants' Motion for Reconsideration or, in the Alternative, Stay Pending Appeal of ECF Nos. 116, 118, 119, May 23, 2025

Complaint, U.S. v. State of New York, et al, 1:25-CV-0205, February 12, 2025 The mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. The Department of Justice consists of multiple components and agencies dedicated to upholding our mission. Learn more about the work we do on a variety of focused topics.

Approved by: Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General Date: May 16, 2013 The Office of Public Affairs, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, serves as the main communication link between the department and the media. Its primary role is to keep the public informed about the department's activities, priorities, and policies, particularly those related to law enforcement and legal matters. This office provides guidance on media relations, coordinates communications across various department agencies, and ensures that information shared with the public is accurate and compliant with relevant laws.

The Office of Public Affairs is essential in various legal contexts, especially in criminal law and civil rights cases. It plays a crucial role in disseminating information during high-profile investigations or legal proceedings. Users may encounter forms related to public records requests or press releases that can be managed using legal templates from US Legal Forms, which are drafted by experienced attorneys. Here are a couple of examples of abatement: For instance, if a significant legal case arises, the Office of Public Affairs will prepare and distribute press releases to inform the public about the case's developments. (hypothetical example)

If you need information from the Department of Justice or have media inquiries, consider reaching out to the Office of Public Affairs directly. For legal matters that require documentation or forms, you can explore US Legal Forms for templates that may assist you. If your situation is complex, consulting a legal professional is advisable. The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice. The Office of Communications (OCOM) handles all Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) congressional, legislative, and media-related activities to ensure effective communications with Congress, the news media, and the public. OCOM works with members of Congress, congressional committees, and congressional staff on legislation, policies, and issues that affect OJP, its program offices, and the criminal justice community.

This includes tracking legislation, responding to congressional requests, and providing guidance to the Department of Justice and OJP regarding pending legislation. OCOM publishes news releases and other information and also works with the news media to keep them informed about OJP programs and activities. The staff also responds to media requests, arranges interviews with OJP officials, and news conferences to announce important programs or research findings. Mr. Merkle is the Acting Director of the Office of Communications. He has worked at OJP for over 15 years in various capacities, including Program Manager, Attorney Advisor, Senior Policy Advisor and Grant Manager.

During his tenure, he has had the opportunity to contribute to several OJP components including the Corrections Program Office; Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Community Capacity Development Office; and the Office of the General... Over the years, he has provided leadership and guidance in such areas as prisoner reentry, sex offender management, crime prevention initiatives such as Neighborhood Watch and Volunteers in Police Service, and nationwide service initiatives... Prior to joining the Department of Justice in 1996, he was a practicing attorney in the State of Maryland specializing in criminal defense and family law. He was also a judicial clerk in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Prince George's County for 18 months. Mr. Merkle graduated from the University of Richmond with a double major in political science and criminal justice and the Catholic University School of Law in Washington, D.C., where he received his Juris Doctorate.

For media inquiries and interview requests, please visit the Media Inquiries webpage. Approved by: Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General Date: May 16, 2013 The Office of Public Affairs (PAO) was established in 1979 under Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti. AG Order 866-79 redesignated the Office of Public Affairs (formerly known as the Office of Public Information) to more accurately reflect the duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Office and to clarify the relationship... The mission of the Office of Public Affairs (PAO) is coordinate the relations of the Department of Justice with the news media and to serve as the center for information about all organizational units...

Note: A similar version of this article was also published in Law360. When the Department of Justice indicts a defendant or prevails at trial, the Office of Public Affairs issues a press release. Those press releases tout the seriousness of the charged conduct and often describes it in considerable detail. Some U.S. Attorneys would hold high-profile press conferences to dramatically announce updates in particularly high-profile cases, generating considerable media interest and public accolades. On the DOJ website, OPA describes its role as “ensuring that the public is informed about the Department’s activities” and that “information provided to the news media by the Department is current, complete and...

OPA, however, only takes this role seriously when it comes to describing the Department’s wins. When it comes to DOJ losses, OPA is nowhere to be seen. It does not issue press releases when a defendant is acquitted at trial, when a verdict is reversed on appeal, or when the court finds prosecutorial misconduct requiring dismissal of the charges. It also does not update existing press releases about indictments to include that information. This should change. Department of Justice lawyers spend considerable effort drafting press releases about their cases.

The statement is written and edited by the prosecutors substantively involved in the case. Either OPA or the individual U.S. Attorney’s Office press office will vet and issue the statement.

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