Paul Clement
Paul Drew Clement (born June 24, 1966) is an American lawyer who served as U.S. Solicitor General from 2004 to 2008 and is known for his advocacy before the U.S. Supreme Court. He established his own law firm, Clement & Murphy, in 2022 after leaving Kirkland & Ellis, following that firm’s decision to end its Second Amendment work. He is also a Distinguished Lecturer in Law at Georgetown University and an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law. He was nominated by President George W. Bush on March 14, 2005, for the post of Solicitor General, confirmed by the United States Senate on June 8, 2005, and took the oath of office on June 13.
Paul Clement | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2005 | |
| Acting United States Attorney General | |
| In office September 17, 2007 – September 18, 2007 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Alberto Gonzales |
| Succeeded by | Peter Keisler (Acting) |
| 43rd United States Solicitor General | |
| In office July 11, 2004 – June 19, 2008 Acting: July 11, 2004 – June 13, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Ted Olson |
| Succeeded by | Gregory Garre |
| United States Principal Deputy Solicitor General | |
| In office February 2001 – July 11, 2004 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Barbara Underwood |
| Succeeded by | Daryl Joseffer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Drew Clement June 24, 1966 Cedarburg, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS) Darwin College, Cambridge (MPhil) Harvard University (JD) |
Clement resigned on May 14, 2008, effective June 2, 2008, and joined the Georgetown University Law Center as a visiting professor and senior fellow at the Supreme Court Institute.
During his career, Clement has argued cases on behalf of many conservative causes, such as opposing gun control; defending a ban on federal recognition of same-sex marriage; advocating to overturn the Affordable Care Act; defending Republican gerrymandering in North Carolina (Rucho v. Common Cause); and, as Acting Solicitor General, defending the Bush administration's treatment of terrorism suspects.