Edwin Smiley Kneedler (born January 4, 1946) is an American lawyer who has served as Deputy United States Solicitor General since 1993. As of June 2020, he has argued more cases before the Supreme Court of the United States than any other active advocate.

Early life and education

Kneedler attended North Penn High School; he graduated in 1963. Kneedler earned a B.A. degree in economics in 1967 from

Lehigh University Lehigh University (LU) is a private research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The university was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer and was originally affiliated with the Ep ...

. After graduating, he served as a VISTA volunteer in Oregon. He then earned a J.D. degree from the

University of Virginia School of Law The University of Virginia School of Law (Virginia Law or UVA Law) is the law school of the University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as part of his "academical v ...

in 1974. From 1974 until 1975, he clerked for Judge

James R. Browning James Robert Browning (October 1, 1918 – May 6, 2012) was an American attorney and jurist who served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Early life and education Born on October 1, 1918 ...

on the

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (in case citations, 9th Cir.) is the U.S. federal court of appeals that has appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in the following federal judicial districts: * Distri ...

. Kneedler was admitted to the bar of the state of Oregon in 1975.

Professional career

In October 1975, Kneedler joined the

Office of Legal Counsel The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) is an office in the United States Department of Justice that assists the Attorney General's position as legal adviser to the President and all executive branch agencies. It drafts legal opinions of the Attorney ...

in the

United States Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a United States federal executive departments, federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and a ...

. He then joined the office of the Solicitor General in June 1979. He was appointed a Deputy Solicitor General in 1993. On March 17, 2008, he argued his 100th case before the Supreme Court. On April 27, 2022, he argued his 150th case before the Supreme Court. Kneedler became acting solicitor general on January 20, 2009, with the expiration of the presidential term of George W. Bush. Kneedler was appointed by Bush on January 16, 2009, to replace Gregory G. Garre, whose term as Solicitor General concluded on January 16, 2009. Kneedler's tenure as Acting United States Solicitor General ended on March 19, 2009, with the confirmation of

Elena Kagan Elena Kagan ( ; born April 28, 1960) is an American lawyer who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 10, 2010, and has served since August 7, 2010. Kagan ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kneedler, Edwin S. 1946 births Living people Lehigh University alumni University of Virginia School of Law alumni United States Solicitors General Lawyers who have represented the United States government