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{{short description|American politician}}
[[Image:William W. Mercer.jpg|right|thumb]]
{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
'''William W. Mercer''' is a [[United States Attorney]] for the District of [[Montana]], as well as Principal Associate Deputy [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] for the [[United States Department of Justice]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/May/05_dag_250.htm | title=Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey announces Appointment of Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General | date=2005-05-09 | accessdate=2008-11-16 | publisher=United States Department of Justice}}</ref> In September 2006, Mercer was nominated by [[George W. Bush]] as [[United States Associate Attorney General|Associate Attorney General]], served as Acting Associate Attorney General until June 22, 2007; he resigned from that position days before his confirmation hearing was to take place, and returned to his United States attorney position in Montana.<ref name=WP-20070623>
⚫
|name = Bill Mercer
{{cite news | title=Third-in-Command at Justice Dept. Resigns: Mercer to Leave Washington Job but Keep U.S. Attorney's Position in Montana | author=Dan Eggen | publisher=[[Washington Post]] | date=June 23, 2007 | page=A04 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201291.html}}</ref>
|image = William W. Mercer.jpg
|state_house = Montana
|district = 46th
|term_start = January 7, 2019
|term_end =
|predecessor =
|successor =
⚫
|office1 = [[United States Associate Attorney General]]
|status1 = Acting
|term_start1 = 2006
|term_end1 = 2007
|president1 = [[George W. Bush]]
⚫
|predecessor1 = [[Robert McCallum Jr.]]
|successor1 = [[Gregory G. Katsas]] (acting)
|office2 = [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Montana|District of Montana]]
|president2 = George W. Bush
|term_start2 = 2001
|term_end2 = 2009
|predecessor2 = [[Sherry Scheel Matteucci]]
|successor2 = [[Michael W. Cotter]]
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1964}}
|birth_place = [[Billings, Montana]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|spouse = Marci Mercer
|children = 2
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|education = [[University of Montana]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[George Mason University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])<br />[[Harvard University]] ([[Master of Public Administration|MPA]])
⚫
}}


⚫
'''William Walter "Bill" Mercer''' (born 1964) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the [[Montana House of Representatives]] from the 46th district.<ref name="2021 Lawmakers of Montana Copper Book">{{cite web |title=Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/session/copper-book/ |website=Montana State Legislature |publisher=Montana Legislative Services Division |access-date=19 March 2021 |page=51}}</ref> He previously served as the [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Montana|District of Montana]], as well as [[Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General|principal associate deputy attorney general]] for the [[United States Department of Justice]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/May/05_dag_250.htm | title=Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey announces Appointment of Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General | date=2005-05-09 | accessdate=2008-11-16 | publisher=United States Department of Justice}}</ref> Mercer was nominated by President [[George W. Bush]] as [[United States Associate Attorney General|Associate Attorney General]] and served in the position in an acting capacity, but resigned before his confirmation hearing could take place.<ref name="LA Times art 1" />
Mercer is a graduate of the [[University of Montana]]. Subsequently, he received a [[Master of Public Administration]] from the [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] at [[Harvard University]] in 1988, and a law degree from [[George Mason University School of Law]] in 1993. During his law school years, Mercer was Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General and Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of Policy Development in the U.S. Department of Justice between November 1989 and July 1994.


==Early life and education==
From August 1994 through April 2001 Mercer served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Montana. Nominated by President Bush, Mercer began serving as United States Attorney for the District of Montana on April 20, 2001.
Mercer was born in [[Billings, Montana]]. He received his [[Juris Doctor]] degree from [[George Mason University]], [[Master of Public Administration]] from [[Harvard University]], and a [[Bachelor of Arts]] from the [[University of Montana]].<ref name="2021 Lawmakers of Montana Copper Book" /><ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/180702/bill-mercer justfacts.votesmart.org] Retrieved September 2, 2020</ref>


== Controversies ==
==Career==
From 1994 to April 2001, Mercer served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Montana. On April 20, 2001, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Montana.<ref name="Gazette Profile">{{cite web |title=Bill Mercer HD 46, Republican |url=https://billingsgazette.com/bill-mercer-hd-46-republican/article_71e4e439-940c-5f01-9f93-5842a1315949.html |website=Billings Gazette |date=23 April 2018 |publisher=[[Billings Gazette]] |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="FS Profile">{{cite web |title=William Mercer |url=https://fedsoc.org/contributors/william-mercer-1 |website=The Federalist Society |date=21 December 2007 |publisher=[[The Federalist Society]] |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
After his appointment as Acting Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General, U.S. District Chief Judge Donald W. Molloy of Missoula (on October 20, 2005) wrote to [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Alberto Gonzales]], that "Mercer was violating federal law because he 'no longer resides in Montana' and was living with his family in the Washington area.".<ref name=WP-20070502>{{cite news | title=Residency Clause Adds Fuel To Dispute Over U.S. Attorneys: One Prosecutor Gets an Exemption, Another Gets Fired | author=Dan Eggen | publisher=[[Washington Post]] | date=May 2, 2007 | page=A03 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/01/AR2007050101961.html}}</ref> He also complained that Mercer only spent three days a month in Montana.


While remaining as the U.S. Attorney, Mercer served as principal associate deputy attorney general in the United States Department of Justice from 2005 to 2006.<ref name="2021 Lawmakers of Montana Copper Book" /> He later served as the acting [[United States Associate Attorney General]] starting in 2006, though resigned on June 22, 2007, in light of the [[Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy|dismissal of U.S. attorneys]] by the Bush administration. While some have alleged that Mercer was involved in the dismissal, there is no evidence that he was involved.<ref name="LA Times art 1">{{cite web |last1=Schmitt |first1=Richard |title=One man's charmed life at Justice |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-20-na-mercer20-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=20 July 2008 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
As the Washington Post noted:
<blockquote>
Three weeks later, on Nov. 10, Gonzales responded to Molloy that Mercer "is in compliance with the residency requirement" under federal law because he "is domiciled there, returns there on a regular basis, and will live there full-time as soon as his temporary assignment is completed."


During his tenure as U.S. Attorney, he helped create [[Project Safe Childhood]], a Department of Justice initiative which actively combats technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and child pornography.<ref name="IR Art 1">{{cite web |last1=Bryon |first1=Eve |title=Mercer made big impact as chief US Attorney |url=https://helenair.com/government-and-politics/mercer-made-big-impact-as-chief-us-attorney/article_9860db48-fdb9-11de-9016-001cc4c002e0.html |website=Independent Record |date=10 January 2010 |publisher=[[Independent Record]] |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> The project continues to coordinate with local, state, tribal, and non-governmental agencies and organizations to protect the safety and well-being of American children.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Project Safe Childhood |url=https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood |website=U.S. Department of Justice |date=17 June 2014 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
On the same day back in Washington, the new legislation was added to the Patriot bill at the request of Mercer, who had been assigned the task of shepherding the provision through Congress, according to congressional aides and new statements from one of Mercer's colleagues.<ref name=WP-20070502/>
</blockquote>
{{Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy small}}
Mercer made his request to [[Brett Tolman]], who was counsel to Sen. [[Arlen Specter]] (R-Pa.), then chairman of the [[Senate Judiciary Committee]], and the provision was inserted into the [[Patriot Act]], retroactive to a time that would cover Mercer's term.<ref name=WP-20070503>{{cite news | title=Tester Calls on Montana U.S. Attorney to Resign | author=Paul Kane | publisher=[[Washington Post]] | date=May 3, 2007 | page=A06 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/02/AR2007050202353.html}}</ref> In light of these revelations, Sen. [[Jon Tester]] called on Mercer to resign, while Sen. [[Diane Feinstein]] announced she would introduce legislation to reverse the new provision.


In the [[Montana House of Representatives]], Mercer chairs the House Judicial Committee, Law Enforcement and Justice Committee, and serves as a member on the House Appropriations Committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Representatives Committeess 2021 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/content/Committees/Session/2021-House-Committees.pdf |publisher=[[Montana Legislature]] |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
This was the second provision that received unfavorable notice over a year after the Patriot's Act passage; the other was the provision that allowed the administration to indefinitely appoint interim U.S. attorneys, a key part of the [[Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy]].


==Electoral history==
A March 4, 2008 article in the Washington Post states that Mercer was part of retaliatory steps against a high-level career executive in DOJ who blew the whistle on gross mismanagement. The Post also states Mercer was "a pivotal figure in the controversy over the dismissal of the federal prosecutors". Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/03/AR2008030302684.html?nav=rss_politics
Mercer first announced his candidacy to the Montana House of Representatives in 2018. He won the 2018 General Election with 59.2% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 Legislative General Election Canvass |url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018GeneralReportStateCanvassLegislative.pdf |website=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> In 2020, he successfully won his reelection bid, receiving 67.7% of the vote in the general election.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Legislative General Election Canvass |url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/State_Canvass_Legislative.pdf |website=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> He was elected a third term in 2022.<ref name="leg.mt">{{cite web |title=Legislator Details |url=https://leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/roster/individual/7561 |publisher=Montana State Legislature |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

== External links ==
*{{C-SPAN|1019198}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Montana House of Representatives}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{succession box |
⚫
title = [[United States Associate Attorney General]]<br>(acting) |
⚫
before = [[Robert McCallum, Jr.]] |
after = [[Kevin J. O'Connor (attorney)|Kevin J. O'Connor]] |
years = 2006-2007
⚫
}}
{{s-end}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME = Mercer, William
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercer, William}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercer, William}}
[[Category:American lawyers]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Dismissal of United States Attorneys controversy]]
[[Category:Antonin Scalia Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy]]
[[Category:George Mason University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Associate Attorneys General]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Politicians from Billings, Montana]]
[[Category:United States associate attorneys general]]
[[Category:United States Attorneys for the District of Montana]]
[[Category:United States Attorneys for the District of Montana]]
[[Category:University of Montana alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Montana Legislature]]

Latest revision as of 04:16, 2 December 2024

Bill Mercer
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 46th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
United States Associate Attorney General
Acting
In office
2006–2007
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byRobert McCallum Jr.
Succeeded byGregory G. Katsas (acting)
United States Attorney for the District of Montana
In office
2001–2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded bySherry Scheel Matteucci
Succeeded byMichael W. Cotter
Personal details
Born1964 (age 60–61)
Billings, Montana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMarci Mercer
Children2
EducationUniversity of Montana (BA)
George Mason University (JD)
Harvard University (MPA)

William Walter "Bill" Mercer (born 1964) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 46th district.[1] He previously served as the United States Attorney for the District of Montana, as well as principal associate deputy attorney general for the United States Department of Justice.[2] Mercer was nominated by President George W. Bush as Associate Attorney General and served in the position in an acting capacity, but resigned before his confirmation hearing could take place.[3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Mercer was born in Billings, Montana. He received his Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University, Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Montana.[1][4]

Career

[edit]

From 1994 to April 2001, Mercer served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Montana. On April 20, 2001, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Montana.[5][6]

While remaining as the U.S. Attorney, Mercer served as principal associate deputy attorney general in the United States Department of Justice from 2005 to 2006.[1] He later served as the acting United States Associate Attorney General starting in 2006, though resigned on June 22, 2007, in light of the dismissal of U.S. attorneys by the Bush administration. While some have alleged that Mercer was involved in the dismissal, there is no evidence that he was involved.[3]

During his tenure as U.S. Attorney, he helped create Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative which actively combats technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and child pornography.[7] The project continues to coordinate with local, state, tribal, and non-governmental agencies and organizations to protect the safety and well-being of American children.[8]

In the Montana House of Representatives, Mercer chairs the House Judicial Committee, Law Enforcement and Justice Committee, and serves as a member on the House Appropriations Committee.[9]

Electoral history

[edit]

Mercer first announced his candidacy to the Montana House of Representatives in 2018. He won the 2018 General Election with 59.2% of the vote.[10] In 2020, he successfully won his reelection bid, receiving 67.7% of the vote in the general election.[11] He was elected a third term in 2022.[12]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021". Montana State Legislature. Montana Legislative Services Division. p. 51. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey announces Appointment of Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. 2005-05-09. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  3. ^ a b Schmitt, Richard (20 July 2008). "One man's charmed life at Justice". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  4. ^ justfacts.votesmart.org Retrieved September 2, 2020
  5. ^ "Bill Mercer HD 46, Republican". Billings Gazette. Billings Gazette. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. ^ "William Mercer". The Federalist Society. The Federalist Society. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  7. ^ Bryon, Eve (10 January 2010). "Mercer made big impact as chief US Attorney". Independent Record. Independent Record. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  8. ^ "About Project Safe Childhood". U.S. Department of Justice. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  9. ^ "House of Representatives Committeess 2021" (PDF). Montana Legislature. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. ^ "2018 Legislative General Election Canvass" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  11. ^ "2020 Legislative General Election Canvass" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Legislator Details". Montana State Legislature. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
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