The Trump administration has achieved remarkable success in confirming federal judges, while left-leaning groups are sounding alarms about diversity and other concerns.
A number of unfinished criminal cases could be resolved. Democrats will take the majority in the House of Representatives. But many big questions still remain unanswered.
A federal database of shell casings was expanded to over 200 local law enforcement agencies this year to let police use it in investigations that match casings with guns.
The partial government shutdown, in part prompted by disagreement over federal immigration policy, means most of the country's immigration courts are not hearing cases.
In 12 states and Washington, D.C., people in the country illegally can still get a driver's license. The process is meant to keep roads safe, but may put undocumented people at risk of deportation.
Letitia James says "it is the highest honor" to begin her time as the state's top legal officer. She is the state's first black attorney general and the first woman to be elected to that post.
Criminal justice advocates in New Jersey want the governor to sign a bill that requires the state attorney general's office to investigate police killings. But the attorney general opposes the bill.