who are solicitor general and attorney general

by William Wisoky 6 min read

In systems that have an attorney-general (or equivalent position), the solicitor general is often the second-ranked law officer of the state and a deputy of the attorney-general.

Who is the Solicitor General and what does he do?

solicitor general. noun, a law officer who maintains the rights of the state in suits affecting the public interest, next in rank to the attorney general. the chief legal officer in some states. the law officer of the U.S. government next below the Attorney General, having charge of appeals, as to the Supreme Court.

What are the duties of the US Solicitor General?

The Solicitor General is the chief litigation policy advisor to the attorney general, providing comprehensive oversight of state and federal litigation for Indiana. The solicitor general also: Handles specific cases involving constitutional challenges. Pursues cases with issues of vital interest to the state government.

What does the Solicitor General do?

While the Attorney General may choose priorities and advise strategies, it is primarily the Solicitor General who devises tactical approaches and arguments to use. To use business start-up slang, the Solicitor General is the inside man who works with the organization itself, and the Attorney General is the outside man who communicates between the DoJ and other organizations.

What is the function of the US Solicitor General?

The Solicitor-General is the second law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia. The functions of the Solicitor-General under s 12 of the Law Officer's Act 1964 (Cth) are to act as counsel for the Commonwealth and its emanations, to furnish opinions on questions of law referred to him by the Attorney-General and to perform such other functions ordinarily performed by counsel as the …

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Does the solicitor general report to the attorney general?

They are the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law. They can exercise the powers of the Attorney General in the Attorney General's absence.

What is a Solicitor General do?

The task of the Office of the Solicitor General is to supervise and conduct government litigation in the United States Supreme Court. ... The Solicitor General determines the cases in which Supreme Court review will be sought by the government and the positions the government will take before the Court.May 24, 2021

Why is it called Solicitor General?

In simplest terms, the Solicitor General is the federal government's lawyer in the Supreme Court. ... Congress created the Office of the Solicitor General in 1870 to consolidate the handling of government litigation in one office instead of having solicitors spread out among different departments.May 2, 2012

What does Solicitor General Do Philippines?

Functions and Organizations. (1) The Office of the Solicitor General shall represent the Government of the Philippines, its agencies and instrumentalities and its officials and agents in any litigation, proceeding, investigation or matter requiring the services of a lawyer.

Is solicitor a lawyer?

A solicitor is a type of lawyer that provides expert, tailored legal advice for clients, often from the earliest stages of a potential case.Apr 28, 2021

What branch is the solicitor general?

the U.S. Department of JusticeThe office of the United States Solicitor General is an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with litigating the interests of the U.S. government before the Supreme Court of the United States and in all federal appellate courts.

Is Solicitor General a minister?

The Solicitor General will oversee the work of the Law Officers' Departments which include the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office, as well as the Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. ... These functions are carried out independently of his role as a Government minister.Sep 17, 2021

What is public solicitor?

The Public Solicitor manages a large number of criminal and civil cases for and on behalf of people throughout the country.

What is a solicitor vs lawyer?

Lawyer: an individual with a law practise certificate. This involves Solicitors, Barristers, Judges, and Corporate Counsels. Solicitor: a person with a certificate of practise that is not a Barrister or a Judge.Feb 24, 2021

Is Solicitor General a constitutional office?

Solicitor General is the second highest law officer in the country. ... While, Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals' office and duties are governed by Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987 and not by Constitution (thus they are statutory posts and not constitutional).

Why is the solicitor general called the 10th justice?

The solicitor general, who has offices in the Supreme Court Building as well as the Department of Justice Headquarters, has been called the "tenth justice" as a result of the close relationship between the justices and the solicitor general (and their respective staffs of clerks and deputies).

What is the role of the Solicitor General in the Supreme Court?

In the federal courts of appeal, the Office of the Solicitor General reviews cases decided against the United States and determines whether the government will seek review in the Supreme Court. The solicitor general's office also reviews cases decided against the United States in the federal district courts and approves every case in which ...

When was the Office of Solicitor General established?

Several traditions have developed since the Office of Solicitor General was established in 1870. Most obviously to spectators at oral argument before the Court, the solicitor general and his or her deputies traditionally appear in formal morning coats, although Elena Kagan, the only woman to hold the office on other than an acting basis, elected to forgo the practice.

Who is the principal deputy?

The current principal deputy is Elizabeth Prelogar who is also acting Solicitor General.

Is "general" a noun?

Some legal commentators have disagreed with this usage, saying that "general" is a postpositive adjective (which modifies the noun "solicitor"), and is not a title itself.

What is the procedure for granting certiorari?

When determining whether to grant certiorari in a case where the federal government is not a party, the Court will sometimes request that the solicitor general weigh in, a procedure referred to as a "call for the views of the solicitor general " (CVSG). In response to a CVSG, the solicitor general will file a brief opining on whether the petition should be granted and, usually, which party should prevail.

What is the role of the Attorney General of England and Wales?

The Attorney General for England and Wales, a member of the UK Government, is similarly the chief law officer of the Crown in England and Wales and advises and represents the Crown and government departments in court. By convention, and unlike the papers of other ministers, this legal advice is available to subsequent governments. In the second half of the 20th century it became unusual for the Attorney General to be formally a member of the Cabinet. Rather he/she would attend only when the Cabinet required legal advice.

How many law officers are there in the UK?

So there are three UK Government law officers: the Attorney General for England and Wales, the Solicitor General for England and Wales, and the Advocate General for Scotland. All are subordinate to the Secretary of State for Justice. There are also two Scottish Government law officers. In Scotland, the chief law officer to ...

Who is responsible for criminal prosecution?

Criminal prosecutions are the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service, headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Attorney General may appeal cases to the higher courts where, although the particular case is settled, there may be a point of law of public importance at issue.

Who is the Lord Advocate?

Under the recent constitutional reforms, the Lord Advocate has become an officer of the Scottish Government, while the United Kingdom Government is advised on Scots law by the Advocate General for Scotland. The Lord Advocate, currently James Wolffe, heads the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and is the chief public prosecutor in Scotland.

Who has an attorney general?

Some subjects are entitled to have an attorney general: these include a queen consort and the Prince of Wales, who has an Attorney General for the Duchy of Cornwall. There is also an Attorney- General of the Duchy of Lanca ster, which is a mostly landed inheritance that is held by the Crown (in trust for the monarch) and administered independently of the monarch under the supervision of a government minister, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Is the Attorney General a member of the Cabinet?

By convention, and unlike the papers of other ministers, this legal advice is available to subsequent governments. In the second half of the 20th century it became unusual for the Attorney General to be formally a member of the Cabinet. Rather he/she would attend only when the Cabinet required legal advice.

Who were the legal advisers to the Crown in the Courts of Ireland?

Before the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the legal advisers to the Crown in the Courts of Ireland were the Attorney-General for Ireland and the Solicitor-General for Ireland. These offices became redundant in 1921.

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Who Is An Attorney General?

  • Dictionaries define the term Attorney General as the chief law officer of a state or government. In simple terms, the Attorney General is the highest ranking lawyer or attorney in a country; he/she is typically a nation’s foremost legal representative and represents the government in legal actions…
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Who Is Solicitor General?

  • The role of a Solicitor General too differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Once again, in most common law jurisdictions, the Solicitor General is typically considered the deputy of the Attorney General or the Assistant to the Attorney General. Thus, in jurisdictions such as the U.S. and U.K., the Solicitor General is the second high-ranking law officer in the country, or rather, the second-i…
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What Is The Difference Between Attorney General and Solicitor General?

  • Although the Attorney General and the Solicitor General both serve as legal representatives of a state, the distinction lies in the hierarchy or superiority of the two. • The Attorney General is the chief law officer of the state while the Solicitor General is the Deputy Law officer. • While legal actions against the state, particularly federal criminal cases, are brought in the name of the Attor…
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Overview

The solicitor general of the United States is the fourth-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. Elizabeth Prelogar has been serving in the role since October 28, 2021.
The United States solicitor general represents the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The solicitor gene…

Notes

1. ^ Bhatia, Kedar S. (April 17, 2011). "Updated Advocate Scorecard (OT00-10)". Daily Writ.
2. ^ Caplan, Lincoln (1987). The Tenth Justice: The Solicitor General and the Rule of Law. New York: Knopf.
3. ^ Thompson, David C.; Wachtell, Melanie F. (2009). "An Empirical Analysis of Supreme Court Certiorari Petition Procedures". George Mason University Law Review. 16 (2): 237, 275. SSRN 1377522.

Composition of the Office of the Solicitor General

The solicitor general is assisted by four deputy solicitors general and seventeen assistants to the solicitor general. Three of the deputies are career attorneys in the Department of Justice. The remaining deputy is known as the "principal deputy," sometimes called the "political deputy" and, like the Solicitor General, typically leaves at the end of an administration.
The solicitor general or one of the deputies typically argues the most important cases in the Sup…

Significance

The solicitor general, who has offices in the Supreme Court Building as well as the Department of Justice Headquarters, has been called the "tenth justice" as a result of the close relationship between the justices and the solicitor general (and their respective staffs of clerks and deputies). As the most frequent advocate before the Court, the Office of the Solicitor General generally argues dozens of times each term. Furthermore, when the Office of the Solicitor General endors…

Call for the views of the solicitor general

When determining whether to grant certiorari in a case where the federal government is not a party, the Court will sometimes request that the solicitor general weigh in, a procedure referred to as a "call for the views of the solicitor general" (CVSG). In response to a CVSG, the solicitor general will file a brief opining on whether the petition should be granted and, usually, which party should prevail.

Traditions

Several traditions have developed since the Office of Solicitor General was established in 1870. Most obviously to spectators at oral argument before the Court, the solicitor general and his or her deputies traditionally appear in formal morning coats, although Elena Kagan, the first woman to hold the office on other than an acting basis, elected to forgo the practice.
During oral argument, the members of the Court often address the solicitor general as "General." …

List of notable Principal Deputy Solicitors General

• Paul M. Bator – 1982 to 1983
• Donald B. Ayer – June 1986 to December 1988
• John Roberts – October 1989–January 1993 (Became Chief Justice)
• Paul Bender – 1993–1996

External links