**Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Solicitor General**

Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Solicitor General

• The Government’s Top Lawyer: The Solicitor General is the lawyer who represents the United States government before the Supreme Court. Think of them as the “10th Justice”—they have huge influence over which cases the Court decides to hear.
• The “Gatekeeper” of Appeals: The Solicitor General alone decides which cases the federal government will appeal to the Supreme Court. They don’t have to take every case the government loses—they choose only the most important ones.
• The Power of the “S.G.” Brief: Even when the U.S. isn’t a party to a case, the Solicitor General often files a brief offering the government’s view. These briefs are unusually persuasive and can sway the Court’s final decision.
• Rarely Loses, Almost Never Reversed: The Solicitor General’s office wins about 70% of the cases it argues before the Supreme Court. When the Court takes a case the S.G. recommends, they win over 85% of the time.
• Political, But Non-Partisan in Practice: While appointed by the President, the Solicitor General is expected to be the “Government’s lawyer,” not the President’s personal attorney. They will sometimes tell the Court that a law the President signed is unconstitutional.