Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group
Encyclopedia
The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) is a standing body of the U.S. House of Representatives. Comprising 5 members of the House leadership (the Speaker, the majority and minority leaders, the majority and minority whips), it directs the activities of the House Office of General Counsel. The BLAG can direct the General Counsel to file a friend of the court brief in cases involving the interests of the House, or can call for legislation or a House resolution authorizing the General Counsel to represent the House itself.
During the criminal proceedings against Congressman William Jefferson
of Louisiana, the BLAG filed a brief calling for the return of the Congressman's papers seized from his offices by the FBI.
In 2011, when President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. Department of Justice would no longer defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act
, House Speaker John Boehner
said that he would convene the BLAG, as a first step to having the House Office of General Counsel or other outside attorneys take the place of DOJ in defending the law. On October 15, 2011, attorneys representing the BLAG filed a brief in San Francisco's U.S. District Court opposing an action brought by a federal employee that seeks to invalidate the Defense of Marriage Act under which health insurance coverage to her same-sex spouse was denied.
During the criminal proceedings against Congressman William Jefferson
William J. Jefferson
William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson is a former American politician, and a published author from the U.S. state of Louisiana. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented , which includes much of the...
of Louisiana, the BLAG filed a brief calling for the return of the Congressman's papers seized from his offices by the FBI.
In 2011, when President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. Department of Justice would no longer defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act
Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act is a United States federal law whereby the federal government defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Under the law, no U.S. state may be required to recognize as a marriage a same-sex relationship considered a marriage in another state...
, House Speaker John Boehner
John Boehner
John Andrew Boehner is the 61st and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative from , serving since 1991...
said that he would convene the BLAG, as a first step to having the House Office of General Counsel or other outside attorneys take the place of DOJ in defending the law. On October 15, 2011, attorneys representing the BLAG filed a brief in San Francisco's U.S. District Court opposing an action brought by a federal employee that seeks to invalidate the Defense of Marriage Act under which health insurance coverage to her same-sex spouse was denied.