Legal Advisers
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Notice posted on January 12, 2024.
Last
updated March 14, 2024.
An Act of Congress of Feb 23, 1931 (P.L. 71-715; 46 Stat. 1214), created the position of Legal Adviser of the Department of State, with rank equivalent to an Assistant Secretary. The Legal Adviser replaced the Solicitor, a Department of Justice employee who had functioned as the Department of State’s chief legal officer since 1891. Between 1870 and 1891, the Examiner of Claims had been the chief legal officer of the Department. The Legal Adviser provides legal advice on all problems (domestic and international) arising in the course of the Department’s activities. Solicitors and Examiners of Claims were by statute officials of the Department of Justice and as such are outside the scope of this publication.
- Green Haywood Hackworth (1931–1946)
- Charles Fahy (1946–1947)
- Ernest Arnold Gross (1947–1949)
- Adrian Sanford Fisher (1949–1953)
- Herman Phleger (1953–1957)
- Loftus Eugene Becker (1957–1959)
- Eric Hill Hager (1959–1961)
- Abram Joseph Chayes (1961–1964)
- Leonard Carpenter Meeker (1965–1969)
- John Reese Stevenson (1969–1973)
- Carlyle Edward Maw (1973–1974)
- Monroe Leigh (1975–1977)
- Herbert J. Hansell (1977–1979)
- Roberts Bishop Owen (1979–1981)
- Davis Rowland Robinson (1981–1985)
- Abraham D. Sofaer (1985–1990)
- Edwin D. Williamson (1990–1993)
- Conrad K. Harper (1993–1996)
- David Andrews (1997–2000)
- William Howard Taft IV (2001–2005)
- John B. Bellinger 3rd (2005–2009)
- Harold Hongju Koh (2009–2013)
- Brian James Egan (2016–2017)
- Jennifer G. Newstead (2018–2019)
- Avril D. Haines (Nomination of April 18, 2013 withdrawn on June 13, 2013. Mary McLeod has served as Acting Legal Adviser (September 1, 2013-).)