HARRISBURG – Following the resignation of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, Bruce Castor filled in while a replacement was confirmed.
Castor was appointed as acting attorney general on Aug. 17, immediately after Kane's resignation was filed. Castor had previously served as solicitor general.
But his reign lasted only until Aug. 30, when Bruce Beemer was confirmed by the state Senate and sworn in.
Kane filed her resignation after being found guilty of perjury for releasing confidential grand jury documents to the media in retaliation against a former state prosecutor. Kane faces potential prison time for perjury and obstruction charges in the case and has plans to appeal the conviction.
Kane resisted resigning from the attorney general’s office, saying it would be an admission of guilt when she has maintained that she is not guilty. In a statement, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asked that Kane step down from the office, which prompted the resignation from Kane.
Castor served in the interim period, during which Wolf nominated Beemer.
Castor was a former prosecutor and was elected as district attorney of Montgomery County from 2000 to 2008. He served as the commissioner of Montgomery County and retired from that office in January. He is a partner at Rogers Castor law firm, focusing on general civil litigation and trial strategy and tactics. His responsibilities at his private practice were limited because of his governmental duties.
Beemer had been first deputy attorney general under Kane before Wolf named him inspector general. He was also a deputy district attorney in Allegheny County.
In private practice, he represented plaintiffs in toxic tort cases and defended those accused in white collar criminal cases.