Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. yesterday weighed in on the controversy surrounding Paul Clement‘s decision to leave King & Spalding to pursue same-sex marriage litigation, saying Clement does not deserve criticism.
“Paul Clement is a great lawyer,” Holder said today, addressing reporters at the Justice Department. “He has done a lot of really great things for this nation. In taking on representing Congress in connection with [the Defense of Marriage Act], I think he was doing that which lawyers do when we are at our best.”
Holder said he did not know what happened between Clement and King & Spalding, the Atlanta-based firm that yesterday asked to withdraw from lawsuits about the Defense of Marriage Act. “I’m not casting blame,” Holder said. “I think those who were critical of him for taking that representation—that criticism is very misplaced.”
Holder drew a comparison to the criticism, a year ago, that targeted Justice Department lawyers who defended Guantanamo detainees while in private practice. Conservatives then questioned the allegiance of Justice lawyers.
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