United States Associate Attorney General Explained

Post:United States Associate Attorney General
Insignia:Seal of the United States Department of Justice.svg
Insigniasize:110
Insigniacaption:Seal of the Department
Flag:Flag of the United States Associate Attorney General.svg
Flagsize:120
Flagcaption:Flag of the Associate Attorney General
Incumbent:Benjamin C. Mizer
Acting:y
Incumbentsince:February 2, 2024
Department:Department of Justice
Reports To:Attorney General
Appointer:The President
Appointer Qualified:with Senate advice and consent
Termlength:No fixed term
Formation:March 10, 1977
First:Michael J. Egan

The United States associate attorney general is the third-highest-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Justice. The associate attorney general advises and assists the attorney general and the deputy attorney general in policies relating to civil justice, federal and local law enforcement, and public safety matters.[1] [2] The associate attorney general is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.[3]

The Office of the Associate Attorney General oversees the Antitrust Division, the Civil Division, the Environment and Natural Resources Division, the Tax Division, the Office of Justice Programs, the Community Oriented Policing Services, the Community Relations Service, the Office of Dispute Resolution, the Office of Violence Against Women, the Office of Information and Privacy, the Executive Office for United States Trustees, and the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission.[2]

The Office of the Associate Attorney General was created on March 10, 1977, by Attorney General Order No. 699-77.[1]

List of United States associate attorneys general

PortraitNameYears in officePresident
1Michael J. Egan1977–1979Jimmy Carter
2John H. Shenefield1979–1981
3Rudolph W. Giuliani1981–1983Ronald Reagan
4D. Lowell Jensen1983–1985
5Arnold I. Burns1985–1986
6Stephen S. Trott1986–1988
7Frank Keating1988–1990George H. W. Bush
Vacant1990–1992
8Wayne Budd1992–1993George H. W. Bush
9Webster Hubbell1993–1994Bill Clinton
10John Schmidt1994–1997
11Raymond C. Fisher1997–1999
12Daniel Marcus1999–2001
13Jay B. Stephens2001–2002George W. Bush
Peter Keisler *2002–2003
14Robert McCallum Jr.2003–2006
William W. Mercer *2006–2007
Gregory G. Katsas *2007–2008
15Kevin J. O'Connor2008–2009
16Thomas J. Perrelli2009–2012Barack Obama
17Tony West2012–2014
Stuart F. Delery *2014–2016
William J. Baer *2016–2017
Jesse Panuccio *2017Donald Trump
18Rachel Brand2017–2018
Jesse Panuccio *2018–2019
Claire McCusker Murray2019–2021
Matthew Colangelo*2021Joe Biden
19Vanita Gupta2021–2024
Benjamin C. Mizer*2024–present
  • Acting Associate Attorney General

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DOJ: JMD: MPS: Functions Manual: Attorney General . September 22, 2007.
  2. Web site: USDOJ: Office of the Associate Attorney General . September 22, 2007.
  3. Web site: US CODE: Title 28,504a. Associate Attorney General . September 22, 2007.