Senate Confirms Filip as No. 2 Justice Official

The Senate has confirmed Mark Filip, a federal judge in Chicago, to become the Justice Department’s second in command.

The confirmation was part of a broader agreement by Democrats to confirm more White House appointments, report the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.). In exchange, the administration agreed to make more progress on a list of 16 Democratic recommendations for positions.

Filip replaces Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, who left seven months ago as the controversy into the firing of nine U.S. attorneys was unfolding. In the interim, career prosecutor Craig Morford handled the job.

Filip previously worked as a lecturer at the University of Chicago law school; a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; as a federal prosecutor in Chicago; and as a clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia.