Mayor Fenty Nominates Nickles as Attorney General

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today announced his nomination of Peter J. Nickles as Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Nickles has served as Interim Attorney General since January of this year.

“Peter Nickles has done a fantastic job for the residents of the District in his interim capacity,” said Mayor Fenty. “In just a few short months, he and his team have done some great work. We’re privileged to have him continue to serve.”

Highlights of Nickles’ service as Interim Attorney General include leading the legal team that argued District of Columbia v. Heller in the United States Supreme Court; bringing suit against CareFirst to enforce the company’s charitable obligations; and filing a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against multiple landlords who have a history of unabated housing code violations.

“I’m honored that Mayor Fenty has placed his confidence, and the people’s confidence, in me,” Nickles said. “I will continue to do what I’ve done during my entire career: fighting hard for the District in the legal arena.”

Prior to becoming Interim Attorney General, Nickles served as General Counsel to Mayor Fenty. He was a Senior Litigation Partner at the law firm of Covington and Burling, where he worked from 1963 until his retirement in 2006. Washingtonian named him one of the District’s 50 best lawyers, and he received the District of Columbia Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award in 1998.

Mayor Fenty also named Andrew “Chip” Richardson, his Interim General Counsel since January, as General Counsel to the Mayor.