Discussing the roles of the Solicitor General and honoring the memory of Rex E. Lee were the main focuses of the first conference ever convened on the Office of the Solicitor General held Sept. 12 - 13 in the Lee Library Auditorium.

The Rex E. Lee Conference on the Office of the Solicitor General consisted of panels of previous United States solicitors that served during the presidential terms of Clinton, Bush, Reagan, and some pre-Reagan presidents.

Among these Solicitors were Theodore B. Olson, the current U.S. Solicitor General, and Kenneth Starr.

"The Solicitor General is considered by many to be the most prestigious lawyer in the country who is involved in the most prestigious cases," said Thomas Griffith, BYU Assistant to the President.

The Solicitor General is the lawyer that represents the United States in the Supreme Court.

When asked during the conference who is the client of the Solicitor General, Judge Frank Easterbrook, former Deputy Solicitor General, answer, Executive Branch.

"This is an importance conference for two reasons," said Griffith. "First, it is an historic event. Second, It is named after Rex E. Lee."

Lisa Cope, secretary to Dean Hansen of the J. Reuben Clark Law School, said that this conference is important because no similar conference has been held before.

"This is the first time the Solicitors General have come together to discuss what they do," said Cope.

Not only have the Solicitors General gathered to discuss the role of the Office of the Solicitor General, they have also gathered to give reverence to Rex E. Lee.

Rex E. Lee was the founding Dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School, former President of BYU, and the 37th Solicitor General. Rex E. Lee served as the Solicitor General during the Reagan Presidency.

During the conference, the members of each panel discussed prominent cases that took place during their time in the Office of the Solicitor General and how those cases defined the role of the Solicitor General.

President Merrill J. Bateman began the conference by welcoming all former U.S. Solicitors General to the BYU campus.

"We are honored by your presence here," said President Bateman to the Solicitors.

President Bateman welcomed the former Solicitors General to the conference by telling them about the BYU campus, the students, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.



Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Sep 2002