Kathryn Ruemmler plans to leave her post as White House counsel and return to private practice by the end of the year, the White House announced. Ruemmler has served as one of President Barack Obama's closest advisers during the past two years on legal issues that have grabbed widespread press coverage — including judicial nominations, recess appointments and government surveillance.
The former Latham & Watkins partner had agreed to stay on as the White House's top lawyer through the November presidential election, but Obama asked her to stay and she agreed, an administration official said. Ruemmler was among the youngest ever to take the job.
