President Donald J. Trump is once again shaking up the Department of Justice with his intent to nominate two key individuals to senior posts. Announced by the Department of Justice, the picks include Stanley Woodward for Associate Attorney General and Elliot Gaiser for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel.
Woodward is setting to bring a wealth of litigation experience to the table, having co-founded Brand Woodward Law, LP. His noteworthy brief as a private litigator, defending international corporations against U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act allegations, could signal a tough-on-crime stance from DOJ's third-highest ranking official. He's got a pedigree that spans teaching at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law and earning kudos for his pro bono work, which landed him the D.C. Bar’s Laura N. Rinaldi Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year award back in 2018.
In a similar vein, Gaiser plans to transition from his current role as the Solicitor General of Ohio to the federal stage. His résumé points to a solid conservative legal background, having clerked for Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. of the Supreme Court of the United States and for two circuit judges. Coupled with stints at law firms in Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., Gaiser's legal acumen is not up for debate.
The nominations are clearly set to reinforce a conservative legal philosophy within the Department of Justice, as both candidates have clerked for prominent conservative judges and been integrally associated with right-leaning legal practices. However, Trump's choice of Woodward has also shown an interesting diversification, with his background in pro bono services and advocacy for tenants facing eviction — work for which he received notable recognition. This blend of high-stakes legal defense and community-oriented service could very well create unique dynamics as Woodward and Gaiser look to possibly influence a wide range of justice system issues.
