Morgan Lewis partner is the new US Assistant Attorney General

Morgan Lewis partner is the new US Assistant Attorney General

The US Senate confirms Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. for a key post in the Department of Justice

Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., a Morgan Lewis partner, will be the new US Assistant Attorney General. His appointment was confirmed last week by the US Senate.

Kenneth, a former US Attorney and former chief compliance officer, will be in charge of the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. He has led a variety of complex criminal, civil, and compliance matters at Morgan Lewis.

"It is a tremendous honor for Kenneth to be selected for this leadership position at the Department of Justice. We are very proud and are confident that he will perform his new role with distinction as he continues his long record of government service and dedication to the rule of law," Morgan Lewis Chair Jami McKeon said.

According to details provided by Morgan Lewis, Kenneth will oversee criminal investigations and prosecutions throughout the United States in his new role in the Department of Justice.

Before joining Morgan Lewis, Kenneth served as vice president and chief compliance officer for a Fortune 500 company. Earlier, he served as the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans and as an assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of New York. He also served as a law clerk at the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

At Morgan Lewis, Kenneth is a member of the top-tier white-collar team, which includes many who have served in government. The white-collar team include Matthew Miner, who before rejoining the firm in January 2020 served as the DOJ's Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Sandra Moser who previously served as former chief of the Department of Justice's Fraud Section; Zane Memeger who previously served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

During his stint with Morgan Lewis, Kenneth served on the firm's racial justice task force, Mobilizing for Equality, including as a co-leader of the Conversation on Privilege and Anti-Racism working group.

A frequent speaker on criminal justice reform, Kenneth has received numerous accolades for his practice, civic roles, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, in addition to serving on several nonprofit boards.