United States Deputy Attorneys General

United States Deputy Attorneys General
Post	Deputy Attorneys General
Body	United States Department of Justice
Incumbent	Vacant
Department	United States Department of Justice
Style	The Honorable
Reports to	Attorney General of the United States
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Appointer	President of the United States
Formation	1950s

Contents

United States Deputy Attorneys General are the second-highest-ranking officials within the United States Department of Justice who assist the Attorney General of the United States in supervising federal law enforcement, overseeing litigation, and coordinating national legal policy. The office interacts with federal entities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Trade Commission on matters involving criminal prosecutions, civil enforcement, and regulatory litigation. Deputies routinely engage with the United States Congress, the Supreme Court of the United States, and other executive agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State.

Role and Responsibilities

The Deputy Attorneys General manage United States Attorney offices, set prosecutorial priorities alongside the Attorney General of the United States, and supervise components such as the Criminal Division (DOJ), the Civil Division (DOJ), and the Office of Legal Counsel. They coordinate high-profile investigations involving entities like Enron, Bernard Madoff, Volkswagen emissions scandal, and cases referencing statutes such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. Deputies advise on national security litigation tied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, counsel on antitrust actions against corporations like Microsoft Corporation and AT&T Inc., and direct responses to mass torts and class actions, often liaising with the United States Sentencing Commission and the Office of the Inspector General (DOJ).

The deputy role evolved as the Department of Justice expanded during the mid-20th century amid crises such as the McCarthyism era, the Civil Rights Movement, and litigation arising from the Watergate scandal. Early deputies navigated matters involving the New Deal, the National Labor Relations Act, and enforcement against organized crime epitomized by prosecutions of figures tied to the Chicago Outfit and the Genovese crime family. Later deputies confronted challenges during the Iran–Contra affair, the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and controversies linked to surveillance programs like those overseen under the Patriot Act. Institutional reforms followed notable investigations by panels such as the Warren Commission and by Congressional committees including the House Judiciary Committee.

The Deputy Attorneys General are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate under advice and consent procedures established by the United States Constitution. Succession protocols place deputies immediately below the Attorney General of the United States in the department's order of succession, with acting deputies sometimes designated under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. Nominees undergo scrutiny by Senate committees such as the Senate Judiciary Committee and may face confirmation hearings alongside other executive branch nominees like those for the Federal Reserve Board or the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals.

The Deputy Attorneys General oversee major DOJ components including the Antitrust Division (DOJ), the Tax Division (DOJ), and the Civil Rights Division (DOJ), and coordinate with offices such as the United States Marshals Service and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. Officeholders have included career prosecutors from the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, alumni of law firms like Covington & Burling and Sullivan & Cromwell, and former officials from agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Deputies often interact with state counterparts like the New York Attorney General and the California Attorney General on multi-jurisdictional enforcement.

Notable deputies engaged in landmark matters involving the Supreme Court of the United States decisions, high-profile prosecutions, and policy initiatives. Some deputies played roles in prosecutions related to Watergate scandal, the Iran–Contra affair, and corporate cases involving Enron Corporation and Lehman Brothers. Others guided DOJ positions in civil rights litigation tied to the Brown v. Board of Education legacy, antitrust enforcement against AT&T Inc. and Standard Oil, and national security matters invoking the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Officeholders have gone on to serve in roles across the federal judiciary, executive branch posts such as Attorney General of the United States, and elected offices including seats in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Deputies have faced scrutiny during episodes such as the Watergate scandal, debates over the Patriot Act, allegations surrounding the handling of investigations into political figures like those connected to the Whitewater controversy and the Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, and disputes over memos produced by the Office of Legal Counsel. Criticisms have emerged from Congressional investigations by the Senate Judiciary Committee and public debate involving media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fox News. Issues include accusations of politicization, tensions with inspectors general from the Office of the Inspector General (DOJ), and legal challenges adjudicated in federal courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.