Obama Nominates RIAA Lawyer for Solicitor General

[n2doc]

By David Kravets January 24, 2011 |

President Barack Obama nominated former Recording Industry Association of America lawyer Donald Verrilli Jr. on Monday to serve as the nation’s solicitor general.

If confirmed by the Senate, Verilli, now the White House deputy counsel, would assume the powerful position left vacant by Elena Kagan, who was elevated to the Supreme Court. Obama said he was “confident” Verrilli, one of five former RIAA attorneys appointed to the administration, would “serve ably.”

The solicitor general is charged with defending the government before the Supreme Court, and files friend-of-the court briefs in cases in which the government believes there is a significant legal issue. The office also determines which cases it will bring to the Supreme Court for review.

Verrilli is best known for leading the recording industry’s legal charge against music- and movie-sharing site Grokster. That 2003 case ultimately led to Grokster’s demise, when the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a lower court’s pro-RIAA verdict.

Until recently, Verrilli also was leading Viacom’s ongoing and flailing $1 billion copyright-infringement fight against YouTube.

more
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/01/riaa-lawyer-solicitor-general/

The Obama Administration, brought to you by Comcast/Viacom/Goldman Saks/etc.

[BzaDem]

1. What a ridiculous distortion. Verilli started his legal career by clerking for justice Brennan.

Hint: Justice Brennan tended not to hire conservatives.

He has since argued many cases before the Supreme court, including pro bono criminal cases, where his arguments resulted in advances in defendents rights to counsel. He also worked on a brief in the Jose Padilla enemy combatant case against the Bush administration.

[jaxx]

2. Thanks for that.

It seems anyone the President wants is automatically put down. I wonder why. The success of this administration is success for the country.

[Lance_Boyle]

3. Could be because the RIAA is a viper's nest of rights-abusing scumfucks.

So the new guy should fit right in at the Corporate Persons' white house.

[jaxx]

4. Well, we all get to have an opinion.

[leeroysphitz]

7. So Verilli wasn't an RIAA lawyer?

[SidDithers]

13. Verillii wasn't only an RIAA lawyer...nt

Sid

[Erose999]

5. Goldmann Sachs, the RIAA, Obama can't reach much lower into the barrel for his apointees. I'm

just waiting for the day he appoints Fred Phelps or David Duke to a cabinet post.

[n2doc]

6. That won't happen

They don't have enough money.

[katnapped]

8. Lieberman is getting one

Pretty well count on that

[Erose999]

12. Liebermann will probably get press secretary after the trashing of dems he's been doing lately.

He'd be the perfect replacement for Gibbs.

[Better Believe It]

9. Will this be the new flag flying above the White House?

[Little Star]

11. love the flag!

[Major Hogwash]

10. This is another pointless appointment. The Robert's Supreme Court is not listening.

They are never going to agree with anyone Obama sends up there to argue a case with them.

[Bluebear]

14. What, nobody from BP was available?