Justice Dept. names lawyer to No. 3 position

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division has been promoted to the department’s No. 3 job.

Stuart Delery, who defended same-sex marriage in arguments before a federal appeals court in 2012, will now serve as acting associate attorney general.

He has been involved in the implementation of a Supreme Court decision that struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act, enabling the federal government to start granting benefits to married same-sex couples.

He replaces Tony West, who is leaving the department later this month.

In a statement, Attorney General Eric Holder called Delery an “exceptional public servant, a dedicated colleague, and a superb lawyer.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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