PAUL CLEMENT TO SERVE AS ACTING SOLICITOR GENERAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Paul D. Clement will serve as Acting Solicitor General of the United States. Mr. Clement served as Principal Deputy Solicitor General since 2001 under former Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson. Mr. Olson resigned last Friday to return to private practice.

“Paul is a brilliant appellate lawyer, one of the best in his profession, and I have every confidence that he will continue holding himself to the highest standard while serving as the Acting U.S. Solicitor General," said Attorney General John Ashcroft. "Throughout the many years that I have known Paul, his commitment to public service has been exemplary and his work has been outstanding. No matter what the task, Paul has consistently done a remarkable job. I am pleased Paul has agreed to serve in this prestigious and demanding post.”

As Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Mr. Clement represented the United States in 18 arguments before the Supreme Court. He handled cases including the Court's landmark campaign finance decision (McConnell v. FEC), an important decision expanding the rights of individuals with disabilities (Tennessee v. Lane), and the enemy combatant cases (Hamdi v. Rumsfeld and Rumsfeld v. Padilla). Mr. Clement also has represented the United States in important lower court litigation, including cases arising out of the war on terror and the GAO's suit against the Vice President. In addition, as Principal Deputy, Mr. Clement handled a portfolio including issues such as civil rights, religious liberty and government liability.

In addition to serving at the Justice Department, Mr. Clement is also an Adjunct Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches a seminar on the separation of powers.

Prior to his service as Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Mr. Clement was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of King & Spalding, where he headed the firm’s appellate practice. He previously served as Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights, and clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Paul Clement is a native of Cedarburg, Wisconsin. He received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Georgetown University and was graduated magna cum laude from the Harvard Law School, where he served as Supreme Court editor of the Harvard Law Review. Mr. Clement also holds a master’s degree in economics from Cambridge University.

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