Hashim Mooppan, a prominent appellate lawyer from Washington, D.C., has left his position at the law firm Jones Day to take up a role at the U.S. Department of Justice. Mooppan previously served in senior positions during former President Donald Trump’s first term and is returning to a similar role in the department.
Mooppan’s new position follows his tenure as counselor to the U.S. solicitor general during Trump’s first administration. The U.S. solicitor general’s office is responsible for representing the United States before the U.S. Supreme Court and deciding whether to pursue appeals in other federal courts.
Mooppan’s departure from Jones Day, where he worked as an appellate lawyer, marks a significant career move. His previous work in the Trump administration included defending the White House’s controversial travel ban on individuals from seven majority-Muslim countries and opposing the extension of civil rights protections to LGBTQ workers.
The U.S. Senate recently confirmed John Sauer as U.S. solicitor general, a position Mooppan had held in an advisory capacity under Trump. Sauer is known for his efforts in securing broad presidential immunity in cases involving Trump’s actions as president.
Sarah Harris, who served as the acting U.S. solicitor general before Sauer’s confirmation, did not immediately comment on her or Mooppan’s current roles. A spokesperson for the Justice Department also had no immediate response regarding Mooppan’s move.
Jones Day, a major law firm with 2,400 lawyers, is well-known for its corporate defense work. The firm also represented Trump in both his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, with many of its lawyers taking senior roles in his administration, including former solicitor general Noel Francisco.
In a statement, Francisco praised Mooppan’s decision to return to the Justice Department, calling it a fortunate move for the department. Other former Jones Day lawyers, such as Brett Shumate and Yaakov Roth, have also been nominated for prominent positions within the Justice Department, further cementing the firm’s ongoing ties to the Trump administration.
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