William Barr

The central genius of the American Constitution lies in its use of structure to protect individual liberty. It does not rely solely, or even primarily, on grants of substantive rights.

Law enforcement officers do heroic work every day in this country. And at the Department of Justice, we honor every single officer who wears the badge.

The responsibility of the Department of Justice, when it comes to law enforcement, is to determine whether crimes have been committed and to prosecute those crimes under the principles of federal prosecution.

In the Justice Department, responsibility for overseeing and directing investigations is lodged in the department's prosecutors.

While the FBI carries out investigative work, the responsibility for supervising, directing and ultimately determining the resolution of investigations is solely the province of the Justice Department's prosecutors.

When a nationwide injunction constrains a significant executive policy, the Justice Department has little choice but to seek emergency relief.

The core civil liberty that underpins our American criminal justice system is the presumption of innocence. Every person enjoys this presumption long before the commencement of any investigation or official proceeding.

There is no more important institution in our country than the Department of Justice.

I have long believed that there is no finer group than those who serve in the Department of Justice.

To all my colleagues at the Department of Justice, let me say that it is a privilege to serve with you. I will do all I can to support your work in advancing the cause of justice.

A Supreme Court justice must convince at least four colleagues to bind the federal government nationwide, whereas a district court judge issuing a nationwide injunction needn't convince anyone.

When I first served as Attorney General back in the early 90s, crime was at its highest in American history, with its peak in 1992.