As released by the Office of Attorney General

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer today announced that he has appointed two veteran attorneys to positions within the Office of Attorney General's executive office.

Robert A. Mulle has been appointed First Deputy Attorney General. Meanwhile, James A. Donahue III has been appointed Acting Chief of Staff.

"Bob and Jim are both accomplished attorneys who have decades of experience working on behalf of the Commonwealth and its citizens," Attorney General Beemer said. "They have proven themselves as men of exceptional character. I look forward to working alongside them in the coming months."

A York native, Mulle worked as the Chief Counsel for Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education before he joined the OAG in 2003. Most recently, he served as the Executive Deputy Attorney General of the OAG's Civil Law Division.

Mulle previously served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General of the OAG's Legal Review Section and as the OAG's right-to-know officer. In 2006, he was appointed by Attorney General Tom Corbett as chairman of the Lobbying Disclosure Regulations Committee.

The committee, which was comprised of representatives from the state legislative, judicial and executive branches, among others, worked to create regulations and a compliance manual to accompany the state Lobbying Disclosure Act. The legislation was enacted to bring accountability to lobbying practices.

Mulle studied history and English at Shippensburg University, where he earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree. He earned his law degree from Duquesne University.

Donahue joined the Office of Attorney General in 1985. He was promoted in 1997 to Chief Deputy Attorney General of the OAG's Antitrust Section. In 2013, he was appointed Executive Deputy Attorney General of the OAG's Public Protection Division. He will remain in that role as he serves as Acting Chief of Staff.

Donahue previously served as chairman of the National Association of Attorneys General Multistate Antitrust Task Force. The task force coordinates multistate antitrust cases and advocates competition before federal and states courts, as well as administrative agencies.

In recent years, Donahue has led the OAG's efforts to protect the interests of thousands of consumers in western Pennsylvania impacted by a dispute between the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Highmark. The state Supreme Court in November issued a ruling allowing seniors with Highmark Medicare Advantage insurance to access UPMC physicians, hospitals and other services at "in-network" costs through at least June 2019. The ruling was a major victory for the consumers the OAG had long fought for.

A Boston native, Donahue earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and government from Lehigh University. He also earned his law degree from Duquesne University.

Attorney General Beemer today also announced that Bruce L. Castor Jr. will remain as the OAG's Solicitor General through Sept. 9.

photo file 2015 James Donahue Bruce Beemer Robert Mulle