U.S Solicitor General Donald Verrilli is stepping down after representing United States Government for 5 years at Supreme Court, the White House announced on Thursday, June 2. Solicitor General is person who represents the government at the Supreme Court and Donald Verrilli is one the longest serving solicitor general in the American History.
U.S president Obama in his statement said," Donald Verrilli has fought in our nation's highest court for a better future, winning landmark cases that moved America forward. Don has been a dedicated public servant who has helped our nation live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all. I am grateful for his trusted counsel and friendship. And I wish Don and his family all the best in what comes next, including, hopefully, a well-deserved vacation."
White House. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
He added "Thanks to his efforts, 20 million more Americans now know the security of quality, affordable health care; we're combatting discrimination so that more women and minorities can own their piece of the American Dream; we've reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that immigrants are treated fairly; and our children will now grow up in a country where everyone has the freedom to marry the person they love."
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Verrilli has been part of many landmark cases before the Supreme Court including successful defence of the Affordable Care Act, immigration and striking down state's prohibition of same-sex marriage.
Loretta Lynch in a statement said that Verrilli will leave on June 24 and his principal deputy Ian Gershengorn will assume his role as an acting capacity on June 25, until the next president is elected.
Ian Gershengorn is a graduate from Harvard Law School, and has clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens in private practice. He has also served in the Clinton administration.
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Lynch praised Gershengorn by saying that she has "no doubt that Ian is well-equipped to build on departing Solicitor General Don Verrilli's extraordinary record.
"I am confident that he will advance a trailblazing legacy of excellence and accomplishment. And I am certain that as Acting Solicitor General, he will expand and extend the vital work of the Obama Administration and the American people," she added.
-prepared by Bhaskar Raghavendran, a reporter at NewsGram. Twitter: bhaskar_ragha
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