KIM
Todd

• 1. Career
• 1.1. DC Court of Appeals nomination
• 1.2. Biden administration

Todd Sunhwae Kim is an American attorney serving as the United States Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division. He earlier served as the first solicitor general of the District of Columbia for nearly 12 years. He was twice nominated by President Barack Obama for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, but the Senate held no hearings on his nominations, which expired without action.

Career

Kim served for seven years as an appellate attorney for the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Solicitor general for the District of Columbia

Kim was the first solicitor general of the District of Columbia, serving from 2006 to 2017. He was appointed by Attorney General Robert J. Spagnoletti to be responsible for all of the District's appellate litigation before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2017, his final year as solicitor general, Kim argued on behalf of the District in the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Wesby.

DC Court of Appeals nomination

In February 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Kim to a seat on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, but his nomination was not acted upon. On April 30, 2015, President Obama re-nominated Kim to the position, but the Senate did not take action on that nomination either.

Private practice

In January 2018, he became a partner in Reed Smith's appellate practice. He left the firm in January 2021, joining the Biden administration as a deputy general counsel at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Biden administration

On March 15, 2021, it was announced that President Joe Biden would nominate Kim to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division. On April 14, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On May 13, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 15–7 vote. On July 27, 2021, the Senate confirmed Kim in a 58–41 vote. Kim was sworn in on July 28.