Clement's appointment stinks... [View All]

[spotbird]

not that laws matter at this point, but if the AG can't serve the Deputy gets the appointment.

The Deputy Attorney General advises and assists the Attorney General in formulating and implementing Departmental policies and programs and in providing overall supervision and direction to all organizational units of the Department. The Deputy Attorney General is authorized to exercise all the power and authority of the Attorney General, except where such power or authority is prohibited by law from delegation or has been delegated to another official. In the absence of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General acts as the Attorney General.

http://www.usdoj.gov/dag/

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Office of the Solicitor General

The original Statutory Authorization Act of June 22, 1870, states, "There shall be in the Department of Justice an officer learned in the law, to assist the Attorney General in the performance of his duties to be called the Solicitor General." The Office of the Solicitor General is tasked to conduct all litigation on behalf of the United States in the Supreme Court, and to supervise the handling of litigation in the federal appellate courts. The general functions of the Office can be found at 28 CFR 0.20.

http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/


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I changed the diary because apparently the President has the authority to appoint anyone as Acting AG if that person has ever been confirmed by the Senate. Clement got the nod because the President wanted him, not because he was next in line for the job.