JURIST - Paper Chase: Ashcroft hospitalization leads to change at Justice

Deputy Attorney General James Comey has taken charge of US Justice Department operations following Friday's announcement that Attorney General John Ashcroft had been admitted to hospital, and was in intensive care for the treatment of severe gallstone pancreatitis. The Department's DAG website explains:

The Deputy Attorney General is authorized to exercise all the power and authority of the Attorney General, except where such power or authority is prohibited by law from delegation or has been delegated to another official. In the absence of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General acts as the Attorney General.

Depending on the progress of his treatment, which could include surgery, Ashcroft could stay in hospital anywhere from a few more days to a month or more. FOXNews has more.