The Volume XXV
John
Green
Bag
November, 1913
William
Davis, UnitedSolicitor-General States
Number 11
of
the
By Edward Grandison Smith of the west virginia bar ON THE 30th day of August, 1913, While the Attorney-General is a mem Congressman John William Davis ber of the Cabinet, and as the head of became Solicitor-General of the United the Department of Justice is the chief law officer of the Government, his duties States. The Solicitor-General assists the Attor as an executive outnumber those as an ney-General in the performance of his attorney. Indeed, he need not be a law general duties, and by special provision yer at all. The Solicitor-General is "an of law, in case of a vacancy in the office officer learned in the law" and his duties of the Attorney-General, or of his ab are chiefly those of a practitioner. sence or disability, exercises all those At the time of his appointment as duties. Under the direction of the Solicitor-General, Mr. Davis was serv Attorney-General, he has general charge ing his second term in Congress from of the business of the Government in the First District of West Virginia. In the Supreme Court of the United States, the House he had distinguished himself and is assisted in the conduct and argu as a member of the judiciary committee ment of cases therein by the Assistant and as one of the authors and chief Attorneys-General. He also, with the advocates of the injunction bill, and as approval of the Attorney-General, pre one of the House managers of the success pares opinions rendered to the Presi ful impeachment of Judge Archbald. Upon the retirement of Nathan Goff dent and the heads of the executive departments, and confers with and from the United States Circuit Court of directs the law officers of the Govern Appeals, Fourth Circuit, to become United States Senator, to which he had ment throughout the country in the per formance of their duties. When the been elected without being a candidate, Attorney-General so directs, any cause the bench and bar of West Virginia was in which the United States is interested, so unanimous for Mr. Davis to succeed in any court of the United States, may Judge Goff that the commendation of him be conducted and argued by the Solicitor- to Attorney General McReynolds and General; and he may be sent by the President Wilson greatly impressed them, Attorney-General to attend to the inter and while he was not appointed to that ests of the United States in any state office, but a few months elapsed until he was made first trial lawyer to the court, or elsewhere.
