Clinton Picks Trade Official for Post at Justice Department
John R. Schmidt, a Chicago lawyer who specializes in corporate mergers and who served as chief U.S. negotiator in world trade talks, will be nominated for the No. 3 post at the Justice Department.
Atty. Gen. Janet Reno announced Thursday that President Clinton had picked Schmidt, an early fund-raiser for his presidential campaign, as associate attorney general.
Schmidt, 50, would succeed Webster Hubbell, who resigned March 14 to resolve a dispute with his former partners at the Rose Law Firm over his billing practices and personal expenses. The Little Rock, Ark., firm has filed a complaint against him with the state Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct.
If confirmed by the Senate, Schmidt would supervise the department’s antitrust, civil rights, environment and tax divisions and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
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