The Justice Department is investigating two former prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's office in Atlanta in connection with allegations of misconduct in a death penalty case.

U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said she reported Todd Alley and Matthew Jackson to the department's Office of Professional Responsibility last month.

The move came after U.S. District Senior Judge Clarence Cooper accused the pair of deceiving him during pretrial litigation in the death penalty case of Brian Richardson, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole. She said it was the second time she has asked the department's disciplinary arm to investigate the two.

Alley, who is now in private practice, declined to comment. Jackson, who is a federal prosecutor in Florida, couldn't be reached for comment.

Tags: U.S. Justice Department, U.S. Department of Justice, federal prosecutors, Sally Quillian Yates