Independent and Impartiality
司法獨立與公正

Prompt: Elaborate “Independent and Impartiality”, “to uphold the rule of law”, posted on US Justice Department’ Our Mission. Give some practical examples and stories.
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獨立與公正

美國司法部（DOJ）致力於確保法律決策不受政治影響或個人偏見的影響。這一原則確保司法公平適用，無論涉及的個人或實體是誰。

實際案例：

  1. 特別檢察官調查：

    • 當涉及高層政治人物或政府官員的案件時，司法部可能會任命特別檢察官，以確保調查的獨立性。
    • 案例： 羅伯特·穆勒（Robert Mueller）對2016年美國大選俄羅斯干預的調查。此調查旨在不受政治干預，公正執法。

  2. 起訴貪腐官員：

    • 司法部會對政府官員進行反貪腐調查和起訴，無論其政治立場如何。
    • 案例： 「灰主教行動」（Operation Greylord，1980年代）——該調查揭露芝加哥司法系統的腐敗，導致多名法官、律師及警察被定罪。

  3. 執行民權法案：

    • 司法部負責執行法律，以保護個人免受歧視。
    • 案例： 美國訴佛格森市（United States v. Ferguson，2016）——司法部調查並起訴密蘇里州佛格森市的違憲警務行為，此案源於警察槍擊非裔青年麥可·布朗（Michael Brown）事件。

維護法治

這意味著確保法律公平、一致地適用，而不受特權或非法裁量的影響。同時，它強調「法律面前，人人平等」。

實際案例：

  1. 執行聯邦法律：

    • 司法部確保聯邦法律對所有公民公平適用，即使各州法律有所不同。
    • 案例： 聯邦對大麻法規的執行 vs. 州級合法化——雖然某些州已合法化大麻，但司法部仍有權依據聯邦法律執行禁令。

  2. 起訴企業犯罪：

    • 司法部起訴涉及欺詐或非法活動的公司及高管，以維護市場秩序和法律公正。
    • 案例： 安然醜聞（Enron Scandal，2001）——司法部起訴安然公司高層，因其財務欺詐行為導致公司破產。

  3. 捍衛憲法權利：

    • 案例： 布朗訴教育委員會案（Brown v. Board of Education，1954）——美國最高法院裁定學校種族隔離違憲，司法部隨後協助執行學校種族融合政策。

這些原則確保司法部公平運作、一致執行法律，並對所有人一視同仁，無論其權力或地位如何。

Independent and Impartiality

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is committed to making legal decisions free from political influence or personal bias. This principle ensures that justice is applied fairly, regardless of the individuals or entities involved.

Practical Examples:

  1. Special Counsel Investigations:

    • When high-profile political figures or government officials are under investigation, the DOJ may appoint a Special Counsel to ensure independence.
    • Example: Robert Mueller’s Investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. This was meant to be conducted without political interference to uphold the law impartially.

  2. Prosecution of Corrupt Officials:

    • DOJ prosecutes government officials for corruption, regardless of their political party.
    • Example: Operation Greylord (1980s)—an investigation into judicial corruption in Chicago led to the conviction of judges, lawyers, and police officers.

  3. Civil Rights Cases:

    • DOJ enforces laws protecting individuals from discrimination.
    • Example: United States v. Ferguson (2016)—the DOJ investigated and sued the city of Ferguson, Missouri, for unconstitutional policing practices after the shooting of Michael Brown.

To Uphold the Rule of Law

This means ensuring that laws are applied equally and consistently, without favoritism or unlawful discretion. It reinforces that no one is above the law.

Practical Examples:

  1. Enforcing Federal Laws Across States:

    • The DOJ ensures that federal laws apply to all citizens equally, even when state laws differ.
    • Example: Federal Marijuana Enforcement vs. State Legalization—while some states have legalized marijuana, the DOJ still has the authority to enforce federal drug laws.

  2. Prosecuting Corporate Crimes:

    • The DOJ prosecutes companies and executives involved in fraud or illegal activities.
    • Example: Enron Scandal (2001)—the DOJ prosecuted Enron executives for fraudulent accounting practices that led to the company’s collapse.

  3. Defending Constitutional Rights:

    • Example: Brown v. Board of Education (1954)—the DOJ played a role in enforcing school desegregation after the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional.

These principles ensure that the Justice Department operates fairly, enforces laws consistently, and holds everyone accountable, regardless of power or position.