Mukasey Sworn In as 81st Attorney General

Michael B. Mukasey of New York has been sworn in as U.S. Attorney General. Mukasey won confirmation by the Senate in a 53-40 vote on November 8.

Mukasey becomes the nation's 81st Attorney General and the third appointed by President Bush. He replaces Alberto R. Gonzales, who replaced John Ashcroft, Bush's first Attorney General.

The Attorney General serves as the head of the Department of Justice, a Cabinet-level agency. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive branch departments. In addition, the Attorney General oversees the work of the U.S. Attorneys based throughout the United States. The Attorney General is fourth in the line of presidential succession behind the secretaries of State, Treasury and Defense.

Also See:
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Resigns
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