Peter Keisler Rejoins Sidley

Former acting U.S. Attorney General Peter Keisler will rejoin Sidley Austin’s Washington office next month as a partner in the firm’s appellate practice. President Bush appointed Keisler as acting AG in September, after Alberto Gonzales resigned.

Keisler left Sidley in 2002 to join the Department of Justice. He spent most of his time there as assistant attorney general for the Civil Division. Keisler has been a controversial figure in the Bush Administration. Keisler was twice-nominated by Bush to fill the seat left vacant on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit when Chief Justice John Roberts left for the Supreme Court. So far, that nomination has been stalled by Senate Democrats.

In a press release, Keisler said it was “a tremendous privilege” to serve at Justice. “I am thrilled to be returning to Sidley to work with colleagues I hold in the highest esteem,” he added.