Eric H. Holder Jr.

Born: New York City, Jan. 21, 1951.

Family: Wife, Dr. Sharon Malone, and three children.

Occupation: Partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm Covington & Burling

Education: Doctorate from Columbia Law School in 1976

Early career: Joined Department of Justice and assigned to Public Integrity Section in 1976 to investigate government corruption.

Judicial appointment: President Reagan nominated Holder for associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in 1988; served five years.

Clinton White House: Nominated by President Clinton in 1993 for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a position he held for four years; appointed Clinton's deputy attorney general in 1997.

Marc Rich Pardon: On the last day of Clinton's term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had spent years running from tax charges. Holder said he was "neutral, leaning towards favorable" on the pardon. Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon. Holder has publicly apologized for what he said was a snap decision that he should have paid more attention to. Had he taken more time to review the case, he would have advised against a pardon, he said.

Sources: Covington & Burling and the Associated Press