PD_DOJ_Solicitor-General

Position Description

SOLICITOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Overview

Senate Committee

Judiciary

Agency Mission

To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law, ensure public safety against foreign and domestic threats, provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

Position Overview

The solicitor general supervises and conducts all of the litigation of the federal government before the Supreme Court of the United States. The United States is involved in about two-thirds of all of the cases that the Supreme Court decides on the merits each year.

Compensation

Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)¹ _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

The Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General

Responsibilities

Management Scope

In 2015, DOJ had 112,100 full-time equivalents and an annual budget of $33.136 billion. The solicitor general oversees four deputies, sixteen assistants, four recent law school graduates serving one-year fellowships and a support staff.

Primary Responsibilities

® Represents the interests of the United States before the Supreme Court and is responsible to oversee appellate and certain other litigation on behalf of the United States in the lower federal and state courts.
® Conducting, or assigning and supervising all Supreme Court cases, including appeals, petitions for and in opposition to certiorari, briefs and arguments.
® Determining whether and to what extent, appeals will be taken by the government or whether the government will file a brief amicus curiae in any appellate court.
® Determining when and whether the United States should intervene in any court to defend the constitutionality of an Act of Congress and assist the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and the Associate Attorney General, as requested, in the development of department programs and policy.
® Conducts the oral arguments before the Supreme Court. Those cases not argued by the Solicitor General personally are assigned either to an assistant to the Solicitor General or to another government attorney. The vast majority of government cases are argued by the Solicitor General or one of the office attorneys.

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Legal philosophy consistent the president-elect’s
® Extensive Supreme Court litigation experience
® Significant management experience in a legal setting

Competencies

® Exceptional skill as an oral advocate

Past Appointees

Ian Gershengorn (2016 to 2017) (Acting) – Principal Deputy Solicitor General; Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Division; Partner, Jenner and Block; Special Assistant and Counsel to Deputy Attorney General; Special Assistant to the Attorney General
Donald Verrilli (2011 to 2016) – Deputy Counsel to President Obama; Associate Deputy Attorney General; Partner, Jenner and Block, Co-Chair of the firm’s Supreme Court practice
Neal Katyal (2010 to 2011) (Acting) – Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States; National Security Advisor, Department of Justice; Clerk, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Stephen Breyer
The Partnership’s Center for Presidential Transition helps ensure the efficient transfer of power that our country deserves. The Center’s Ready to Govern· initiative assists candidates with the transition, works with Congress to reform the transition process, develops management recommendations to address our government’s operational challenges, and trains new political appointees.