President Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate Ohio Solicitor General T. Elliot Gaiser to head the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. Gaiser, who has been Ohio’s top appellate lawyer since 2023, will lead an influential division within the DOJ that offers legal advice to the President and drafts opinions for the Attorney General. This development was initially reported by The New York Times. The Office of Legal Counsel has historically played a significant role in shaping policies through its review of executive orders and regulations requiring the Attorney General’s approval.
T. Elliot Gaiser brings a wealth of legal experience to this role. An alumnus of the University of Chicago Law School, Gaiser clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito during the 2021-2022 term. His professional background also includes a tenure at the prominent law firm Jones Day before assuming his current position as Ohio’s solicitor general in November 2023. In this role, he has represented the state in a variety of significant cases concerning gun restrictions, employment bias, and transgender care for minors. Notably, he recently argued against a school district policy at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, along with 22 other state attorneys general.
Throughout his career, Gaiser has shown a commitment to constitutional law, earning the trust of notable figures such as former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who spoke highly of him during a congressional subcommittee investigation into the events of January 6, 2021. His confirmation to lead the Office of Legal Counsel will require Senate approval, during which he is expected to continue serving as Ohio’s solicitor general, according to a spokeswoman for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. For further reading on this nomination, please refer to the original report.