Here Is a Viral News Snippet on the Solicitor General, Designed for Maximum Shareability.
Here is a viral news snippet on the Solicitor General, designed for maximum shareability.
Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Solicitor General (The U.S.’s “10th Justice”)
They Are the Government’s Ultimate Gatekeeper to the Supreme Court: Think of the Solicitor General as the “Supreme Court decider.” Before any federal agency (the EPA, the DOJ, the IRS) can appeal a case to the Supreme Court, the Solicitor General must personally sign off. If they say no, the government’s case dies right there. They have near-total control over which laws the highest court even gets to see.
They Have a Special “Throne” at Oral Arguments: This is one of the wildest traditions in law. Inside the Supreme Court chamber, there is a special, separate lectern at the center of the room—only for the Solicitor General. When they stand up to argue, they get the most prominent seat in the house. No other lawyer gets this treatment. It’s a physical symbol of their immense prestige.
They Can Wear the “Hat of the Court” (and Overrule their Own Boss): This is the definition of power. While the Solicitor General is a political appointee of the President, their actual job is to defend the law and the Constitution, not just the President. They have a famous duty called “calling balls and strikes.” If the President wants to defend an unconstitutional law, the Solicitor General can (and sometimes does) refuse to defend it in court, effectively telling the President “no.”
Roughly 70% of Their Cases Win: That’s an insane winning percentage. The U.S. government wins about 7 out of every 10 cases the Solicitor General argues before the Supreme Court. This isn’t just because they’re the government; it’s