Latest News About Solicitor General’s Supreme Court function

Updated 2026-06-18 01:09

represents the federal government in Supreme Court cases, including deciding which matters the government will ask the Court to review and which positions it will argue. Conducts oral arguments before the Court, and decides whether intervention by the government in other cases.

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Office of the Solicitor General | About the Office

The Solicitor General determines the cases in which Supreme Court review will be sought by the government and the positions the government will take before the Court. The Office's staff attorneys, Deputy Solicitors General and Assistants to the Solicitor General, participate in preparing the petitions, briefs, and other papers filed by the government in the Supreme Court. The Solicitor General conducts the oral arguments before the Supreme Court. Those cases not argued by the Solicitor General...

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The Solicitor General in Historical Context - Department of Justice

In the nearly thirteen decades since the Office of the Solicitor General was created, its core litigation functions have largely remained the same. During the past Term, for example, our office handled approximately 2800 cases before the Supreme Court. We filed 30 petitions for a writ of certiorari and participated in oral argument in 75% of the cases the Court heard on the merits. During that same one-year period, the Solicitor General decided whether to authorize appeal or to appear as an...

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Office of the Solicitor General | United States Department of Justice

The major functions of the OSG are to: Conduct, or assign and supervise all Supreme Court cases, including appeals, petitions for and in opposition to certiorari, briefs, and arguments. Determine whether, and to what extent, appeals will be taken by the government or whether the government will file a brief amicus curiae in any appellate court. Determine when and whether the United States should intervene in any court to defend the constitutionality of an Act of Congress. Assist the Attorney...

www.justice.gov