Obama Nominates RIAA Lawyer for Solicitor General

[SecularMotion]

Source: Wired

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.

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

[Occulus]

1. Why does Obama keep nominating motherfuckers? n/t

[TBF]

3. That's a very good question. RIAA was very tight with Bill Clinton -

so I'm not surprised to see this.

[Godhumor]

5. Verilli has been a consistent left-side advocate for the majority of his career

Do not let the RIAA stint convince you otherwise.

[Roland99]

6. Because he sold his soul to the Republicans right after taking the oath of office.

[pnorman]

10. I've been waiting for two whole days to hear another: "He's Just Obeying His Corporate Overlords!".

No luck yet, but that's close enough! :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Roland99]

13. Truth hurts.

[nyy1998]

16. Lol, it would make a great drinking game for this board.

Everytime somone says "corporate overlords", take a shot, even if it's at 7 in the morning:beer:

[pnorman]

19. I'm afraid that phrase may no longer be heard here on DU!

It highlights the essential vapidness of many of the knee-jerk Obama-bashes, and they're getting kinda "touchy" lately!

But: "The Truth Hurts!". Now THAT should make a great drinking game!

[pnorman]

20. Im afraid that phrase may be avoided from here o

It highlights the essential vapidness of many of the knee-jerk Obama-bashes, and they're getting kinda "touchy" lately!

But: "The Truth Hurts!". Now THAT should make a great drinking game!

[ProudDad]

22. I would NEVER say that

He just has a world view that's congruent with the corporate overlords...

That's why they picked him for their spokesmodel... :shrug:

[onenote]

17. so a lawyer who argues for defendants rights on a pro bono basis is a motherfucker?

Wow.

[QC]

2. Hopetastic! n/t

[Robb]

4. The article fails to note

Verilli's http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/07/AR2008010700618.html?hpid=sec-nation">work against lethal injection in Kentucky, pro bono. Also that he's been at DOJ since February of last year. :shrug:

[reclinerhead]

7. It also fails to note

Something else the article failed to mention: "In addition to coordinating the Viacom case, Verrilli worked as the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) lawyer on Capitol v. Thomas. In that case, he won a $220,000 verdict against Jammie Thomas, a Minnesota woman who made 24 songs available over the Kazaa file-sharing network."

http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/05/kagan-replacement-don-verrilli-copyright

Great pick, score one for the working folks! (sarcasm x 1000)

[somone]

9. Precisely

That's a must-read article on Verrilli

[somone]

8. Figures

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Sound like he is just what is needed. An effective lawyer

[JJW]

12. Corporate Tool

O hires another corporate tool.

[Politicub]

14. Sounds like he's a smart lawyer

And, he's an attorney, not the RIAA itself as some posters seem to think.

[ixion]

15. Obama once again serving his true masters

what fun! :sarcasm:

[BlueIris]

18. Shocking.

Oh, except totally not.

[ProudDad]

21. Aw, Fuck, can you get more obtuse?

:eyes:

[ProudDad]

23. A real "liberal"...

"In early 2009 he was appointed by Barack Obama to the position of Associate United States Deputy Attorney General within the U.S. Department of Justice. In that capacity, he helped to formulate rules for Justice department review of claims that lawsuits should be dismissed because they might expose state secrets."