Solicitor-General

In English law. A law officer of the crown, appointed by patent during the royal pleasure, and who assists the attorney general in managing the law business of the crown. Selden, 1. 6. 7. He is first in right of preaudience. 3 BL Comm. 28, n. (a), n. 9; Enc. Brit.

The solicitor-general of the United States is appointed by the president to assist the attorney-general in the performance of his duties, and in case of a vacancy in the office of attorney-general, or of his absence or disability, has the power to exercise all the duties of that office. Except when the attorney-general in particular cases otherwise directs, he and the solicitor-general argue cases in the supreme court in which the United States is interested. R. S. §§ 347, 359. Where the solicitor-general signed a commission as Acting Attorney-General and not as Solicitor-General, it was held immaterial; U. S. v. Twining, 132 Fed. 129. In English Law. A law officer of the crown, appointed by patent during the royal pleasure, who assists the attorney-general in managing the law business of the crown. Selden 1. 6. 7. He is first in right of preaudience; 3 Sharsw. Bl. Com. 28, n. (a), n. 9; Encyc. Brit. The first was Sir Francis North, afterwards Lord Keeper under Charles II.

In English law. One of the principal law officers of the crown, associated in his duties with the attorney general, holding office by patent during the pleasure of the sovereign, and having a right of preaudience in the courts. 3 Bl. Comm. 27. In American law, an officer of the department of justice, next in rank and authority to the attorney general, whose principal assistant he is. His chief function is to represent the United States in all cases in the supreme court and the court of claims in which the government is interested or to which it is a party, and to discharge the duties of the attorney general in the absence or disability of that officer or when there is a vacancy in the office. Rev. St. U. S. §§ 347, 359 (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, pp. 202, 207).

Defined under Solicitor in Black's Law Dictionary.