Jeffrey Bleich, U.S. ambassador to Australia
Image: Jason Doiy/The Recorder
Jeffrey Bleich, a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson, has been asked to become special counsel to President Obama.
In that role, Bleich, former California co-chairman of the Obama for America campaign, will be tasked with providing legal advice and counsel to the Office of the President. Beginning on March 23, Bleich will join the Obama administration on an interim basis for three or four months.
Bleich, a partner in the San Francisco office of Los Angeles-based Munger Tolles, did not return a call for comment. But in a prepared statement issued through his firm, he said: "I'm deeply grateful to be given the chance to serve our country again in this way. Our nation faces some unprecedented challenges and I'm glad to have a chance to help out during this crucial time."
In 1999, Bleich was appointed to serve as director of the White House Commission on Youth Violence under President Clinton following the school shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado.
Bleich joined Munger Tolles in 1992. He currently is the chairman of the California State University Board of Trustees. Last year, he was president of the State Bar of California.
