As President-elect Joe Biden is all set to take over the White House, he is moving ahead with his transition team for the future plans, even while Donald Trump is still refusing to concede to President-elect Biden.
In the Biden administration, the Biden Attorney general will be a crucial post, for which he has to appoint an experienced attorney who could assist the new US government in legal matters. A close contest is expected between the top five contestants who are named below to fill the seat of Biden Attorney General.
Merrick Garland:
While everyone thought that Justice Merrick Garland should have been the Justice of the Supreme Court instead of Amy Coney Barrett, no one would have thought that he could later be one of the top contenders for the seat of Biden’s Attorney General.
Serving in the courts since 1997, he has extensive expertise in legal battles, and his experience can be of much use for the United States of America.
He also won the nomination for the Supreme Court justice after the death of Antonin Scalia back in 2016 during the Obama presidency; however, the Republican-led Senate refused to approve the nomination.
He is one of the well-known pro-Democratic individuals who can be the Biden Attorney General. He has served the United States in the following capacities.
- Chief Justice for the District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from February 2013 to February 2020.
- Serving as a judge of the US District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since 1997.
Before his tenure started in the US Court of Appeals, he also assisted Attorney General Ben Civiletti as his special assistant. Not only this, but he has also served numerous private firms, of which Arnold and Porter is a notable one.
His selection as Biden’s Attorney General will undoubtedly be a completion of a long-lasting struggle.
Doug Jones: A Potential Nominee for the Biden Attorney General:
In the 2020 Senate election, Doug Jones lost against Tommy Tuberville by a massive margin of more than 0.4 million votes. With this loss, Doug Jones is now expected to be the Biden Attorney General with his experience in the field. He is mostly known for his prosecution of two of the four men involved in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombings. Doug Jones’ beliefs as a prosecutor and attorney also align with the Democratic values, and this was the reason why The Birmingham News described him as a “moderate Democrat.” In the past, he has served the United States in various capacities including,
- Incumbent US member of the Senate from Alabama from 2018
- Private Practice from 2001-2017
- United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama from September 1997- January 2001
- Private Practice 1984-1997
- Assistant United State Attorney from 1980-1984
Doug Jones is very vocal about the key issues that are the talk of the town in the United States since the arrival of the Donald Trump administration back in 2016. These issues include gun control, abortion rights, and criminal justice. Due to these Pro-Democrats’ thinking, Doug Jones is expected to be the next attorney general. However, the Republican-dominated Senate can deny his nomination, considering his anti-Trump policy approaches.
He is also the favorite for this seat as he is an old friend of President-elect Joe Biden. He was one of the core members of Biden’s team in the 1988 Biden campaign to win the Democratic nomination for the presidency.
Tom Perez:
However, the path of Doug Jones is not as clear as it seems. Tom Perez can prove to be a formidable rival for Mr. Jones, considering his expertise in legal matters and allegiance to the Democrats for a long time. The incumbent chair of the Democratic National Committee has a history of fighting for civil rights. His significant services to the US include the following.
- Currently serving as the chair of the Democratic National Committee from February 2017
- Served as the US Secretary of Labor from July 2013 to January 2017
- The United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division for US Justice Department to prosecute racially driven crimes from October 2009 to July 2013
- Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Secretary from March 2007 to October 2009
- Member of the Montgomery County Council from December 2002 to December 2006
Owing to his multi-dimensional experience, Tom Perez is one of the favorite candidates for the seat of Biden Attorney General. He is such a strong Democrat that he was expected to be the running mate of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential race; however, he did not win the nomination.
Sally Yates: The Only Potential Woman for Biden Attorney General:
Many political pundits predict that Biden will go for a diverse cabinet, and more women and people of color are expected in the Biden administration. This makes the playing field favorable for Sally Yates, as she is probably the only woman who can be the Biden Attorney General. Although a Pro-Democrat by roots, she served a short term in the Trump administration also when Trump fired her just after ten days due to her progressive views. Her contribution to the United States includes:
- US Attorney General from January 20-2017-January 30, 2017 under the Trump administration
- US Deputy Attorney General January 2015-January 2017 under the Obama Administration
- US attorney for Northern Georgia from March 2010- January 10, 2015
Sally Yates has also been honored by various awards. In 2016, she was awarded by EPIC inspiration award by Emory University School of Law. Similarly, she also won the Mary Church Terrell Freedom and Justice Award.
If Biden decides to make a diverse cabinet, she has a good chance to be the United States Attorney General.
Xavier Becerra: A Congressman:
With the experience of the legislative branch of the government, i.e., the House of Representatives, Xavier Becerra is a contender for the seat of the Biden Attorney General who can surprise everyone with his nomination for the position. He is a politician cum lawyer, which will make him a valuable addition to the Biden team. Graduated from Stanford University, he has served the United States in the following capacities.
- Incumbent Attorney General of California since January 2017.
- Member of the House of Representatives from 1993-2017
- Chair of the House Democrat Caucus from January 2013-January 2017 under Obama Administration
- Vice-Chair of the House Democrat Caucus from January 2009-January 2013
- Democratic Assistant to the Leader in the House from January 2007 to January 2009
- Member of the California state assembly from 1990-1992.
The seat of the Biden Attorney General will be an important one amid all the legal battles that the Biden administration can face in the aftermath of Biden’s inauguration in the White House.
While there are many potential nominees for this all-important position, the four mentioned above have a high probability of winning the seat to assist Biden and his administration in all upcoming legal battles.
Explore more about the potential Biden Administrative positions: Who can be the potential Biden Secretary of State?
Eli is a Political Data Scientist with over thirty years of experience in Data Engineering, Analytics, and Digital Marketing. Eli uses his expertise to give the latest information and distinctive analysis on US Political News, US Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, and Racial Justice equipping readers with the inequivalent knowledge.