Solicitor General of the United States

The **United States solicitor general** (**USSG**) is the fourth-highest ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. The solicitor general is the person appointed to represent the U.S. federal government before the Supreme Court of the United States.

The solicitor general determines the legal position that the United States will take in the Supreme Court. In addition to supervising and conducting cases in which the government is a party, the office of the solicitor general also files _amicus curiae_ briefs in cases in which the federal government has a significant interest in the legal issue.

The office of the solicitor general argues on behalf of the government in virtually every case in which the United States is a party, and also argues in most of the cases in which the government has filed an _amicus_ brief.

## List of solicitors general

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- **Note**: Some terms overlap because the incumbent remained in office after a successor was named. The office has been vacant at times while awaiting the nomination or confirmation of a successor.

## Infobox (official post)

- **post**: Solicitor General of the United States
- **insignia**: Flag of the United States Solicitor General.svg
- **insigniasize**: 140
- **insigniacaption**: Flag of the United States solicitor general
- **image**: Dean_John_Sauer_Official_Portrait_2025.jpg
- **incumbent**: D. John Sauer
- **acting**: no
- **incumbentsince**: April 4, 2025
- **department**: United States Department of Justice
- **style**: Mr. Solicitor General
General (in the Supreme Court)
- **reports to**: United States Attorney General, Attorney General
- **seat**: United States Supreme Court Building, Supreme Court Building and Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, Department of Justice Headquarters
- **appointer**: The President of the United States, president
- **appointer qualified**: with United States Senate, Senate advice and consent
- **first**: Benjamin Bristow
- **formation**: October 1870
- **deputy**: #List of notable Principal Deputy Solicitors General, Principal Deputy Solicitor General