Andrew N. Ferguson Explained

Andrew N. Ferguson
Office:Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission
Term Start:April 2, 2024
President:Joe Biden
Predecessor:Noah J. Phillips
Office1:Solicitor General of Virginia
1Blankname1:Attorney General
1Namedata1:Jason Miyares
Termstart1:February 2022
Termend1:April 2024
Predecessor1:Michelle Kallen
Alma Mater:University of Virginia (BA, JD)
Party:Republican

Andrew N. Ferguson is an American lawyer who is serving as a member of the Federal Trade Commission. He previously served as solicitor general of Virginia.

Legal Career

Ferguson was born and grew up in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia.[1] He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, where he graduated with highest distinction. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2012, where he was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

After law school, Ferguson was a law clerk to judge Karen L. Henderson on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He practiced antitrust law at the law firms Covington & Burling and Bancroft PLLC, where he represented clients in private antitrust litigation and before the Federal Trade Commission and United States Department of Justice. From 2016 to 2017, he clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Ferguson then served as chief counsel for nominations and the constitution to then chairman of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Lindsey Graham, and as senior special counsel to then-judiciary committee chairman Chuck Grassley. He served as chief counsel to Mitch McConnell from 2019 until 2021. In that role, he was leader McConnell's chief legal advisor and judicial confirmation strategist.

In January 2022, Ferguson was selected by then attorney general of Virginia-elect Jason Miyares as the solicitor general.[2] He succeeded Michelle Kallen the following month.[3] He oversees the appellate litigation of Virginia and its agencies; represents Virginia before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Virginia and the federal courts of appeals; and defends Virginia's statutes and regulations from constitutional challenge.

Appointment to the Federal Trade Commission

A Republican, Ferguson was nominated by U.S. president Joe Biden in July 2023 to serve as a member of the Federal Trade Commission.[4] Ferguson's nomination was reported favorably by the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on October 18, 2023, by voice vote.[5] His nomination was confirmed by the full U.S. Senate by voice vote on March 7, 2024.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-07-03 . President Biden Announces Nominees to Bipartisan Boards and Commissions . 2023-07-04 . The White House . en-US.
  2. Web site: 2021-12-08 . Miyares picks ex-McConnell counsel as solicitor general . 2023-07-04 . Associated Press . en.
  3. Web site: Steger . Preston . January 14, 2022 . Jason Miyares shakes up staff before becoming Virginia's attorney general . 2023-07-04 . 13newsnow.com . en-US.
  4. News: 2023-07-03 . Biden names two Republican nominees for FTC commissioner, White House says . en . Reuters . 2023-07-04.
  5. https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2023/10/cantwell-committee-sends-faa-administrator-to-full-senate-with-unanimous-approval "Commerce Committee Advances FAA Administrator, FTC Commissioners, CPSC Commissioner and Amtrak Board of Directors" United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, October 18, 2023
  6. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/799 "PN799 — Andrew N. Ferguson — Federal Trade Commission" United States Senate, March 7, 2024