Final answer:
The solicitor general represents the federal government before the Supreme Court, deciding which cases to appeal and arguing those cases before the Court. Option d is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lawyer who represents the federal government in appeals to the Supreme Court is the solicitor general. The solicitor general decides which cases should be appealed from lower courts and approves each one presented to the Supreme Court.
Most of the cases presented by the solicitor general are placed on the Court's docket. The office of the solicitor general prepares and files the necessary petitions and briefs, while the solicitor general or an assistant presents the oral arguments before the Court.
This holds significant sway as the Court often hears cases in which the solicitor general takes an interest, though the influence of the solicitor general is not absolute.