Edwin "Ed" Meese III (born December 2, 1931) is an American attorney, law professor and author known for his role in the Ronald Reagan administration and for his influence on conservative legal thought. He served in senior White House positions before being appointed U.S. Attorney General, and later chaired a high-profile federal commission on obscenity and pornography. Edwin Meese has continued to write and teach about constitutional and public policy issues.

Career and public service

Meese spent much of his professional life in law, public policy and government. After establishing himself as a lawyer and policy adviser, he took on senior roles in the Reagan White House. In 1985 he became the U.S. Attorney General, a post he held until 1988. His tenure included initiatives on crime, law enforcement priorities and constitutional interpretation.

Meese Commission and notable work

As Attorney General, Meese chaired the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography (commonly called the "Meese Commission") which issued a report assessing the social effects of pornography and recommending law-enforcement and policy responses. The report generated significant public debate and remains one of the better-known actions of his time in office.

Meese is associated with conservative approaches to constitutional law and with advocacy for limited government and traditional legal principles. After leaving government, he returned to scholarship and teaching, producing books and essays on law and public policy and working with academic and policy institutions.

Legacy and assessment

Assessments of Meese's career highlight both his influence on late 20th-century conservative legal thought and the controversies that accompanied public service at high levels of government. He remains a frequent reference point in discussions about the federal government's role in law enforcement, constitutional interpretation and social policy.

  • Born: December 2, 1931
  • Major roles: U.S. Attorney General (1985–1988); senior White House official; commission chair
  • Areas: constitutional law, criminal justice, public policy, writing and teaching