Samuel Bagenstos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Samuel R. Bagenstos
General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
In office June 15, 2022 – December 13, 2024
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Robert Charrow
General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget
In office January 20, 2021 – June 10, 2022
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Mark Paoletta
Succeeded by	Daniel Jacobson
Personal details
Born	Samuel Robert Bagenstos 1970 (age 54–55)
Spouse	Margo Schlanger ​ (m. 1998)​
Education	University of North Carolina Harvard Law School
Occupation	Professor, attorney

Samuel Robert Bagenstos (born 1970) is an American lawyer and teacher. He worked as a top lawyer for the U.S. government. From 2022 to 2024, he was the main lawyer for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Before that, from 2021 to 2022, he was the main lawyer for the Office of Management and Budget. He also taught law at the University of Michigan.

Mr. Bagenstos is a long-time civil rights lawyer. He started his career in 1994. His work has focused on important areas. These include voting rights, disability rights, and workers' rights.

His Education Journey

Samuel Bagenstos studied at the University of North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990. He then went to Harvard Law School. He earned his law degree in 1993. He graduated with high honors. He was also a leader for the Harvard Law Review.

Working for Justice

After law school, Mr. Bagenstos worked for a judge. He then joined the Civil Rights Division. This is part of the U.S. Department of Justice. He also worked for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Important Legal Cases

Mr. Bagenstos has argued four cases. These cases were heard at the U.S. Supreme Court. He represented people who were suing.

• In the Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools case, he helped a girl. She had cerebral palsy and wanted her service dog at school. The Court agreed with him.
• In Young v. United Parcel Service, the Court created new rules. These rules protect pregnant workers.
• In United States v. Georgia, he helped a prisoner. This prisoner used a wheelchair. The Court supported the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This law helps people with disabilities.
• In Chevron v. Echazabal, the Court decided against his client. The case was about a worker's health risks.

He also worked on the Mays v. Snyder case. This case helped people in Flint water crisis. They were seeking help for injuries. The court said they could make their case.

In another case, Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, he challenged a voting rule. He argued against a procedure in Ohio. This procedure removed voters from lists.

Protecting Rights

Mr. Bagenstos has supported many anti-discrimination cases. He supported a transgender student's case. He also opposed businesses that wanted to discriminate. These businesses did not want to serve same-sex couples.

He spoke to Congress about a law. This law was the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. It would protect workers. It would stop discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

His Role in Government

As a top leader in the Civil Rights Division, he oversaw important work. This included disability rights enforcement. He focused on a Supreme Court decision. This decision was Olmstead v. L.C.. It says states must provide services. These services should help people with disabilities live in their communities. He also worked to make new technologies available. They needed to be accessible for people with disabilities.

In 2021, he became the general counsel. This was for the Office of Management and Budget. This office helps the President manage the government. Later, he was nominated for another role. He became the general counsel for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The Senate confirmed his nomination in 2022.

Personal Life

Samuel Bagenstos is married to Margo Schlanger. She is also a law professor. They have been married since 1998.