Stanford Law School professor Pamela Karlan, a veteran U.S. Supreme Court advocate and leading progressive voice on LGBT matters, voting protections and anti-discrimination efforts, is joining the U.S. Justice Department as a top lawyer in the civil rights division.

Karlan will be principal deputy assistant attorney general, serving under the Senate-confirmed leader. The Biden administration has nominated civil rights leader Kristen Clarke, who leads the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, to be the head of the division. Vanita Gupta, the Obama-era civil rights division head, was picked to serve as associate attorney general, the third in charge at Main Justice.