Christopher H. Schroeder
Encyclopedia
Christopher Henry Schroeder (born 1948) is the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy
for the United States Department of Justice
. He also is the Charles S. Murphy Professor of Law at the Duke University School of Law
.
, Schroeder earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University
in June 1968, a master of divinity degree from Yale Divinity School
in 1971 and a law degree from University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1974.
LLP). In June 1976, Schroeder left McCutchen to take a job for one year as a research associate at the Earl Warren Legal Institute (now the Institute for Legal Research) at the University of California Berkeley.
From July 1977 until March 1979, Schroeder worked as a partner at the law firm of Armour, Schroeder, St. John Wilcox and Goodlin, which was a small firm that he had started with four colleagues.
In July 1979, Schroeder became an associate professor of law at Duke University School of Law
. He became a full professor of law in 1985, and later added the additional title of Professor of Public Policy Studies. In addition, Schroeder added the responsibilities of Director of the Program in Public Law at Duke's law school in 2000.
Schroeder also served as a consultant for the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers from 2002 until 2005, and he was of counsel for the firm from 2005 until 2009.
. He served as Chief Counsel to the committee from July 1992 until February 1993.
From April 1993 until January 1994, Schroeder took a leave of absence from Duke Law to serve as Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General, in the Office of Legal Counsel
. From April 1995 until January 1997, Schroeder again took a leave of absence from Duke to serve as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice
.
From December 1998 until March 1999, Schroeder served as Impeachment Trial Counsel for then-Sen. Joe Biden
.
In May 2009, President Barack Obama
selected Schroeder, who had served on Obama's transition team, to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy
in the Department of Justice. The White House originally had planned to tap Mark Gitenstein
for the post but reportedly reconsidered after opposition to his potential nomination because of his lobbying background.
On July 28, 2009, Schroeder was reported out of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
in a voice vote.
Despite some false reports that he was confirmed by the United States Senate
on August 7, 2009, Schroeder was not confirmed with a large number of nominees who were confirmed that day.
In his new post, Schroeder will serve as chief policy adviser to Attorney General Eric Holder
and Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden
.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
filed for cloture
on Schroeder's nomination on April 15, 2010. The Senate confirmed Schroeder on April 21, 2010 in a 72-24 vote.
and Goodwin Liu
. He also has authored a leading environmental law casebook, Environmental Regulation: Law, Science and Policy.
Office of Legal Policy
The Office of Legal Policy is a division within the United States Department of Justice which describes itself as the "focal point for the development and coordination of Departmental policy." In addition to rendering legal advice to the United States Attorney General and subordinate offices within...
for the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. He also is the Charles S. Murphy Professor of Law at the Duke University School of Law
Duke University School of Law
The Duke University School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States. One of Duke's 10 schools and colleges, the School of Law began as the Trinity College School of Law in 1868. In 1924, following the renaming of Trinity...
.
Early life and education
Born in Springfield, OhioSpringfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
, Schroeder earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in June 1968, a master of divinity degree from Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
in 1971 and a law degree from University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1974.
Professional career
Schroeder began his legal career in 1974 as an associate in the San Francisco office of the law firm McCutchen, Doyle, Brown and Enersen (now Bingham McCutchenBingham McCutchen
Bingham McCutchen LLP is a global law firm with approximately 1,100 attorneys in nine US offices and four international offices. It represents clients in corporate litigation, cross-border restructurings and insolvencies, financing and securities, structured finance and capital markets, government...
LLP). In June 1976, Schroeder left McCutchen to take a job for one year as a research associate at the Earl Warren Legal Institute (now the Institute for Legal Research) at the University of California Berkeley.
From July 1977 until March 1979, Schroeder worked as a partner at the law firm of Armour, Schroeder, St. John Wilcox and Goodlin, which was a small firm that he had started with four colleagues.
In July 1979, Schroeder became an associate professor of law at Duke University School of Law
Duke University School of Law
The Duke University School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States. One of Duke's 10 schools and colleges, the School of Law began as the Trinity College School of Law in 1868. In 1924, following the renaming of Trinity...
. He became a full professor of law in 1985, and later added the additional title of Professor of Public Policy Studies. In addition, Schroeder added the responsibilities of Director of the Program in Public Law at Duke's law school in 2000.
Schroeder also served as a consultant for the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers from 2002 until 2005, and he was of counsel for the firm from 2005 until 2009.
Government service
From July 1987 until January 1988, from February 1988 until June 1990, and from July 1991 until October 1991, Schroeder worked as a Special Nominations Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on the JudiciaryUnited States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
. He served as Chief Counsel to the committee from July 1992 until February 1993.
From April 1993 until January 1994, Schroeder took a leave of absence from Duke Law to serve as Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General, in the Office of Legal Counsel
Office of Legal Counsel
The Office of Legal Counsel is an office in the United States Department of Justice that assists the Attorney General in his function as legal adviser to the President and all executive branch agencies.-History:...
. From April 1995 until January 1997, Schroeder again took a leave of absence from Duke to serve as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
.
From December 1998 until March 1999, Schroeder served as Impeachment Trial Counsel for then-Sen. Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
.
In May 2009, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
selected Schroeder, who had served on Obama's transition team, to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy
Office of Legal Policy
The Office of Legal Policy is a division within the United States Department of Justice which describes itself as the "focal point for the development and coordination of Departmental policy." In addition to rendering legal advice to the United States Attorney General and subordinate offices within...
in the Department of Justice. The White House originally had planned to tap Mark Gitenstein
Mark Gitenstein
Mark Henry Gitenstein is the United States Ambassador to Romania. He was nominated by President Barack Obama on June 11, 2009 and confirmed by the United States Senate on July 8, 2009....
for the post but reportedly reconsidered after opposition to his potential nomination because of his lobbying background.
On July 28, 2009, Schroeder was reported out of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
in a voice vote.
Despite some false reports that he was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on August 7, 2009, Schroeder was not confirmed with a large number of nominees who were confirmed that day.
In his new post, Schroeder will serve as chief policy adviser to Attorney General Eric Holder
Eric Holder
Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. is the 82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first African American to hold the position, serving under President Barack Obama....
and Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden
David W. Ogden
David William Ogden , known professionally as David W. Ogden, is the former Deputy Attorney General of the United States...
.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
filed for cloture
Cloture
In parliamentary procedure, cloture is a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end. It is also called closure or, informally, a guillotine. The cloture procedure originated in the French National Assembly, from which the name is taken. Clôture is French for "ending" or "conclusion"...
on Schroeder's nomination on April 15, 2010. The Senate confirmed Schroeder on April 21, 2010 in a 72-24 vote.
Writings
In 2009, Schroeder co-authored the book Keeping Faith with the Constitution, along with Pamela S. KarlanPamela S. Karlan
Pamela Susan Karlan is a professor of law at Stanford Law School and a leading liberal legal scholar on voting rights and the political process.- Early life and education :...
and Goodwin Liu
Goodwin Liu
Goodwin Hon Liu is an American lawyer and educator who currently serves as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California. Before his appointment by California Governor Jerry Brown, Liu was Associate Dean and Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law...
. He also has authored a leading environmental law casebook, Environmental Regulation: Law, Science and Policy.