[JURIST] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] announced Thursday that Deputy Attorney General David Ogden [official profile] will resign from his position [press release] to reenter the private sector. Ogden outlined his reasons for leaving, citing his original goal to assist in a smooth transition from the previous administration, and highlighted the changes that have occurred in the DOJ during his eight months as second-in-command. In a statement, Ogden expressed confidence in the DOJ to continue to perform its duties, saying:

we have put in place a terrific senior management team that under the Attorney General's leadership will build on this foundation. Through our work in each of these areas, the goals I hoped to achieve when I accepted this position either have been or soon will be fulfilled. The Department is in good hands, and I feel I can now return to the private practice I have missed these thirteen months.

In order to ensure an efficient transition to the next Deputy Attorney General, Ogden will stay at his position until February 5, 2010.

Ogden had been a key member of the Obama administration transition team at the DOJ prior to his nomination as deputy attorney general [JURIST report]. That nomination was surrounded by some controversy, as conservative groups took issue [JURIST report] with his support for abortion rights, including the amicus brief [text, PDF] he wrote for the American Psychological Association in Planned Parenthood Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey [opinion, PDF].