Georgetown #law professor Steve Vladeck, who closely tracks the work of #SCOTUS, said the #SolicitorGeneral’s office has “spent its entire history building a reputation of trust & credibility that the Supreme Court relies upon & takes very seriously.”

“The question is, who is left? Who is going to argue against positions that might be good for team #Trump but are inconsistent w/the standards of the office — & potentially the long-term interests of the government?”

…The #SolicitorGeneral is the #DOJ’s fourth-highest-ranking official, sometimes referred to as the “10th justice” because that person is so often involved in the cases the court accepts.

In addition to presenting the government’s views at the court, the office develops the department’s broader appellate strategy. It has traditionally hired lawyers from politically diverse backgrounds to provide an array of legal perspectives.

The people planning to leave the #SolicitorGeneral’s office have various reasons, according to several people close to the workforce who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss upcoming personnel changes.

Many are uncomfortable or turned off by directives from #DOJ leaders, including AG #PamBondi’s demand for “zealous advocacy” of #Trump’s agenda, these people said.

#Sauer, 50, is a #Harvard Law grad & #RhodesScholar who served as a #law clerk to the late #SupremeCourt Justice Antonin Scalia. Before his began representing #Trump in late 2023, Sauer was the state #SolicitorGeneral of Missouri [so he knows better]. He supported efforts to overturn Trump’s election defeat in 2020 & was at the lead of much of the red-state litigation against the #Biden admin.

His earlier representation of Trump *concerned* some of his Democratic critics.

“'There are some instances in which he or she may lawfully be bound & other instances in which he or she may not lawfully be bound,' Reitz added.

“Reitz appeared alongside D.John #Sauer, #Trump’s fmr personal atty, nominated to be the #SolicitorGeneral, the govt’s top atty before the #SupremeCourt. Some of the tensest exchanges between Sauer & #Judiciary Cmte #Democrats were over Sauer’s defense of Trump’s claim of #immunity that went to the high court last year.”

#law
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/politics/justice-trump-court-orders-sauer-reitz/index.html

#Trump’s nominee for U.S. #SolicitorGeneral, D. John Sauer, is the atty who argued it would be legal for the president to order #SealTeam6 to assassinate a political opponent.

From CNN:

“2 of President Donald Trump’s nominees for snr #Justice Dept positions – including his fmr personal atty [#Sauer] – deflected questions Wed from senators on whether they would adhere to all court orders against the administration.”