Carter administration. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Joseph A. Califano, Jr. and Secretary of the Treasury W. Michael Blumenthal also resigned on the same day. Transportation Secretary Brock Adams resigned soon afterwards. As the US Attorney General, Civiletti argued several important cases on behalf of the U.S. government. Notably he argued before the International Court of Justice on behalf of Americans being held captive in Iran during the Iran hostage crisis, in the Case Concerning United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran. He also argued before the Supreme Court in support of the government's right to denaturalize Nazi war criminals in Fedorenko v. United States. Opinions which were written by Civiletti while he was attorney general, interpreted the United States Constitution and U.S. federal law to say that government cannot operate until Congress agrees on a spending bill. They set the stage for partial government shutdowns in later years. While serving as Attorney General, Civiletti recommended, and President Carter agreed to a commutation of sentences to time served for four unrepentant Puerto Rican nationalists convicted of shooting five U.S. Congressmen at the U.S. Capitol. The commutations happened in spite of public opposition from Puerto Rico's governor who believed it would encourage more terrorism. On July 10, 2008, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced that Civiletti would serve as the chairman of the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment which was set up to study the application of capital punishment in Maryland and make a recommendation on the abolition of the death penalty in Maryland. On November 12, 2008, the commission voted 13–7 with Civiletti voting with the majority, to recommend that the Maryland General Assembly abolish capital punishment in the state. Personal life Civiletti married Gaile L. Lundgren in 1958. They had three children: Benjamin H., Andrew S., and Lynne T. Civiletti. Civiletti died on October 16, 2022, at home in Lutherville, Maryland. He was 87 and suffered from Parkinson's disease prior to his death. Recognition 1980, Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement 2009, American Lawyer's Lifetime Achievement Award 2012, Lifetime Achievement Award by the Equal Justice Council References External links 1935 births 2022 deaths 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American lawyers American people of Italian descent Carter administration cabinet members Deaths from Parkinson's disease Johns Hopkins University alumni Maryland Democrats Maryland lawyers Neurological disease deaths in Maryland New York (state) lawyers People from Lutherville,