Asa Hutchinson, the former congressman and federal Homeland Security undersecretary, said Friday he has returned to his old Washington law firm in a new position following his defeat in the 2006 Arkansas governor's race.

Hutchinson, a Republican who lost to Democrat Mike Beebe in the Nov. 7 general election, said he rejoined the Venable law firm as a partner, but as a litigator rather than in the lobbying role he served after leaving the Bush administration in early 2005.

He said he would split his time between Washington and Little Rock, where he formed the Hutchinson Group, a homeland security consulting firm.

"I've got a great team built up here for consulting and business development," Hutchinson said. "But in my heart I'm a litigator and I want to return to the courtroom."

Hutchinson was a federal prosecutor in Arkansas and later litigated more than 200 cases in private practice before being elected to Congress in 1996.

He was a House manager during the impeachment of President Clinton.

He was appointed by President Bush to head the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in 2001 and later headed border and transportation security in the Homeland Security Department.

He joined the Venable firm after leaving the department and before entering the governor's race.

During the race, his job at the firm came under criticism from Democrats who accused him of violating ethics laws by lining up the job before leaving government. He denied wrongdoing.

Hutchinson said Friday he returned to the firm as a senior litigant, to oversee complex litigation as well as handle complex investigations, corporate and congressional.

He said he would maintain his home and residency in Arkansas.

The "American Lawyer" list of rising litigators in the US contains a concentration of appellate, intellectual property, public interest, and products liability lawyers.

Others have made a mark as criminal defenders or labor lawyers or securities specialists. All of them have worked relentlessly to get where they are. The list carries the biographies of 50 litigators the magazine expect to see leading the field for years to come.

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Attorney General Bill McCollum was sworn into office today as Florida's 36th Attorney General. McCollum, a native Floridian, joined Governor Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson at today's inaugural ceremony in Tallahassee, where the members of the new state Cabinet assumed the responsibilities of their offices.

"I am humbled to serve the people of Florida as their Attorney General and will make the safety and security of our state and its citizens my top priority," said McCollum. "I look forward to the days and tasks ahead as we work together for the good of this state."

McCollum, of Orlando, served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1972, retiring as a Commander after 23 years of service in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He later represented the people of Central Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives for 20 years, retiring in 2001. Today, as he begins his term as the state's newest Attorney General, McCollum pledged to continue to protect Florida's communities, families and children. One of his priorities will be the Attorney General's Child Predator CyberCrime Unit, which protects children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The unit has made 33 arrests since its inception in October 2005.

Graul said an announcement is expected to be made later this afternoon that Green, a Republican from Green Bay who lost his bid for governor in November against Democratic incumbent Jim Doyle, will return to Godfrey & Kahn, a Milwaukee-based law firm with offices in Green Bay, Appleton, Madison, Waukesha, Washington and China. Green worked for the firm for 11 years, beginning in 1989.

The firm specializes in business law and corporate transactions, according to its Web site, but also serves individual clients in matters such as estate planning.

Green will work with clients on administrative and regulatory legal matters and assist businesses in their needs in international markets, according to a news release.