The DoJ said last year in a memo filed to the court in New Orleans hearing the civil case over the spill that it planned to prove BP had acted with "gross negligence or wilful misconduct" that had caused the accident.

CNN: BP claims it now leads the way on safety

Before becoming attorney general, Six served as a state district court judge from 2005 to 2008, hearing both civil and criminal cases.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House