The US Department of Justice argued in court that federal judges should not question prosecutors’ choices to drop criminal cases, stating that requiring detailed explanations for dismissing charges against billionaire Gautam Adani could violate the US Constitution’s separation of powers.
According to the Department, courts have historically accepted brief motions for dismissing criminal cases to protect internal discussions, prevent prosecutors from pursuing weak cases, and ensure timely justice for defendants, as detailed explanations might expose privileged information.
The Department emphasized that the Constitution grants prosecutorial power to the Executive Branch, not the Judiciary, with courts having a limited role under Rule 48(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to prevent prosecutorial abuse, rather than evaluating the merits of prosecutors’ decisions.
It further argued that compelling prosecutors to disclose internal reasoning could breach executive privilege, revealing confidential discussions, legal analyses, and strategies, which are vital to the Executive Branch’s deliberative process and should remain private except in exceptional circumstances.
The Justice Department cautioned that demanding detailed justifications for dropping charges might deter prosecutors from dismissing weak cases, potentially prolonging legal proceedings and burdening defendants unnecessarily, ultimately harming those involved.
