Page "Rex E. Lee" Paragraph 5

Lee entered public service, first on the invitation of Attorney General Edward H. Levi to be an Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division in the United States Department of Justice from 1975 to 1976, and then as Solicitor General of the United States from 1981 to 1985.

As Solicitor General, Lee had the opportunity to focus on the legal effort he enjoyed most: briefing and arguing cases in the United States Supreme Court -- and he found great success in doing it.

During his time as Solicitor General, Rex Lee won 23 of the 30 cases he argued during President Ronald Reagan's first term.

At the time of his death, in a hospital bed, he was preparing to argue his 60th case before the Court.