The Justice Department's plan to create a mortgage-crime unit with state authorities is likely to face the same difficulties that earlier task forces hit in bringing charges against bank executives.
A settlement that is in the works between states and several banks could get a push from the unit's formation. However, as President Obama has noted, bad behavior by banks might have been reckless, but it's not clear that it was criminal.
The settlement on which the parties are working covers robo-signing and other activities.
