David W. Ogden

David Ogden
United States Deputy Attorney General
Incumbent
Assumed office March 12, 2009
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Mark Filip
Personal details
Born	(1953-11-12) November 12, 1953
Profession	Attorney

David William Ogden (born November 12, 1953), known professionally as David W. Ogden, is the Deputy Attorney General of the United States. An American lawyer, Ogden also was a high-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Defense during the administration of President Bill Clinton.

Early life and education

Ogden is the son of Horace G. "Hod" Ogden (1925-1998), who was the first director of the Bureau of Health Education at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (and previously had worked for the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and Elaine Ogden.

Ogden earned a bachelor's degree summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and a law degree magna cum laude in 1981 from Harvard Law School. He also edited the law review while at Harvard.

In 1981-1982, Ogden worked as a law clerk for U.S. district judge Abraham David Sofaer, and in 1982-1983, Ogden clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Harry Blackmun.

Career

Ogden began his career in Washington, D.C. as an associate from 1983 until 1985 at the law firm of Ennis Friedman & Bersoff, and he served as a partner at that firm from 1986 until 1988. From 1988 until 1994, Ogden was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Jenner & Block. From 1994 until 1995, Ogden served as the Deputy General Counsel and the Legal Counsel for the United States Department of Defense. From 1995 until 1997, he was an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice, and from 1997 until 1998, Ogden was Counselor to the United States Attorney General. From 1998 until 1999, Ogden was the chief of staff to the United States Attorney General, and from 1999 until 2000, he was Acting Assistant Attorney General. From 2000 until 2001, he was the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division in the United States Department of Justice.

Since June 2001, Ogden has been a partner at the Washington, D.C. firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, co-running the firm's Government and Regulatory Litigation Practice Group.

On March 12, 2009, Ogden was confirmed by the US Senate in a vote of 65-28 as the Deputy Attorney General in the Obama administration.

Controversy

Ogden has been criticized for arguing against child pornography laws[1] and for being a lawyer for pornographic magazines like Playboy and Penthouse and opposing laws against pornographic material being available on computers used by children in libraries and schools. In a recent congressional hearing Ogden stated he could not remember if his arguments against censorship were made "pro bono publico" (for the public good - without fee) or by paying clients. He has also been critisized for suing the government so that Braille copies of Playboy would be available in the Library of Congress, though he has explained that he did so because not providing the Braille magazines would have been a violation of the constitution. He wrote a brief on behalf of the American Psychological Association that opposed laws requiring minors to inform their parents if they attempt to obtain an abortion.

Personal life

Ogden has three children; two by his first marriage, Jonathan and Elaine Ogden, and a newborn daughter, Natalie Sylvie Ogden. Ogden lives with his wife, Anne Harkavy, and children in Arlington, Virginia. Harkavy is currently a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. Jonathan attends the College of William and Mary, and Elaine is a senior at Georgetown Day School, in Washington DC.