The legal landscape in Missouri is poised for a shake-up as Attorney General Andrew Bailey has announced the impending appointment of Louis J. Capozzi III as the state's next Solicitor General. The transition awaits current Solicitor General Josh Divine's confirmation to the federal bench, a move that will see Capozzi stepping into some prominent legal shoes. "Lou is a brilliant legal mind, a proven defender of constitutional government, and a staunch advocate for the rule of law, making him the right person to carry our mission forward as our next Solicitor General," Bailey said, according to a statement obtained by the Attorney General Office's announcement.
Capozzi's resume reads like a who's who of the legal realm, with an extensive history in courtroom litigation and a pronounced footprint in national legal discourse. Before joining the Missouri AG's office, he honed his legal chops at Jones Day, tackling constitutional and administrative-law disputes. Having served as first chair in a six-week federal bench trial on behalf of the Republican National Committee is among his courtroom highlights. Having shifted from the private sector to a significant public role, his expertise in areas like the First Amendment and the Americans with Disabilities Act is set to influence Missouri's highest courts.
The breadth of Capozzi's scholarly work is not to be overlooked, with publications sprinkled throughout prestigious law journals. An adjunct law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Capozzi has shaped legal minds in the nuanced fields of Advanced Administrative Law and the workings of the Supreme Court. Guest lectures across the American legal education landscape have further extended his influence, with Washington University School of Law being a beneficiary. Beyond academia, Capozzi's wisdom reached the federal policy stage with his appointment as a Public Member of the Administrative Conference of the United States, as indicated by the Missouri AG's Office.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania for both his bachelor's degree in Classics and his Juris Doctorate, where he was valedictorian, Capozzi's educational background forms a bedrock for his legal philosophy. His prior experience includes clerking for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch during the 2021 Term, and stints with Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge Anthony Scirica of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. In Capozzi's own words, the Missouri Solicitor General’s Office has been marked by success: “As Solicitor General, I look forward to continuing their crucial work: bringing and winning lawsuits that protect the rights and liberties of Missourians and all Americans,” he told the Missouri AG's Office.
