Mark Filip, the Justice Department’s No. 2, will take over as acting attorney general at 12:01 p.m. today, relieving Michael Mukasey, the former federal judge who arrived in Washington 14 months ago and was handed the task of restoring public confidence in an agency tainted by the influence of politics.
The Justice Department will continue the brisk business of enforcing the nation’s laws, with or without a Senate-confirmed attorney general. Last week, the department issued this document, identifying the officials who will plug the gaps as the new administration finds its footing.
Filip's reign should be short-lived. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Eric Holder Jr.’s nomination (to be attorney general) on Wednesday. Legislative aides and lawyers working on his the nomination expect him to win confirmation easily.
The BLT has been taking stock of other nominees and appointees to top DOJ positions. Below is our running list, gleaned from sources involved in the transition and tidbits from around Web. (Feel free to add to it, tipsters.) The * denote nominees whose names have been publicly announced by the Obama camp.
• Attorney General: Eric Holder Jr.*
• Deputy Attorney General: David Ogden*
• Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General: Kathryn Ruemmler (Hat Tip: ATL)
• Associate Attorney General: Thomas Perrelli*
• Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division: David Kris
• Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division: Lanny Breuer
• Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division: D. Anthony West
• Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division: Thomas Saenz
• Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel: Dawn Johnsen*
• Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy: Mark Gitenstein
• Solicitor General: Elena Kagan*
• Principal Deputy Solicitor General: Neal Katyal
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