Alan Gura
Encyclopedia
Alan Gura is an American
litigator practicing in the areas of civil litigation, intellectual property
, and civil rights
law at Gura & Possessky, P.L.L.C.
On March 18, 2008, he represented Dick Heller in the United States Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller
. Mr. Gura successfully argued that portions of D.C.'s Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975
violate the individual right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment
.
Gura was lead counsel in McDonald v. Chicago
, an United States Supreme Court decision released June 28, 2010 that incorporated the Second Amendment against state and local governments.
On July 13, 2009 Legal Times named Mr. Gura to the list of “40 Under 40” of Washington D.C.’s rising legal stars.
and came to the United States
with his family when he was 7, settling in Los Angeles
.
Gura graduated from Cornell University
and the Georgetown University Law Center
. He was admitted to the State Bar of California
in 1995.
Prior to founding Gura & Possessky, PLLC, Gura began his career by serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina
. Subsequently, as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of California
, Gura defended the State of California and its employees in state and federal courts. Thereafter, Gura entered the private practice of law with the Washington, D.C.
offices of Sidley & Austin. In February 2000, he left the firm to serve for a year as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
, Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight.
Gura is admitted as an active member in good standing in the District of Columbia Bar, the Virginia State Bar
, and the State Bar of California. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court; the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Eleventh, Federal, and District of Columbia Circuits; and the United States District Courts for the District of Columbia, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Central, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of California.
Gura lives in Alexandria, Virginia
with his family. He is a gun owner and considers himself a libertarian
. He argues that self-protection is a fundamental right, because citizens in general cannot always depend on the government to protect them from criminals or tyrannical rulers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
litigator practicing in the areas of civil litigation, intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
, and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
law at Gura & Possessky, P.L.L.C.
On March 18, 2008, he represented Dick Heller in the United States Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller
District of Columbia v. Heller
District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 , was a landmark case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects an individual's right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes in federal enclaves, such as...
. Mr. Gura successfully argued that portions of D.C.'s Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975
Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975
The Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 was passed by the District of Columbia city council on September 24, 1976. On June 26, 2008, in the historic case of District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court of the United States determined that the ban and trigger lock provision violate the...
violate the individual right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
.
Gura was lead counsel in McDonald v. Chicago
McDonald v. Chicago
McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 3025, 130 S.Ct. 3020 , was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States that determined whether the Second Amendment applies to the individual states...
, an United States Supreme Court decision released June 28, 2010 that incorporated the Second Amendment against state and local governments.
On July 13, 2009 Legal Times named Mr. Gura to the list of “40 Under 40” of Washington D.C.’s rising legal stars.
Personal history
Gura was born in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family when he was 7, settling in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Gura graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
. He was admitted to the State Bar of California
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
in 1995.
Prior to founding Gura & Possessky, PLLC, Gura began his career by serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Subsequently, as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Gura defended the State of California and its employees in state and federal courts. Thereafter, Gura entered the private practice of law with the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
offices of Sidley & Austin. In February 2000, he left the firm to serve for a year as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
, Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight.
Gura is admitted as an active member in good standing in the District of Columbia Bar, the Virginia State Bar
Virginia State Bar
Created in 1938, The Virginia State Bar is the administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia whose purpose is to regulate, improve and advance the legal profession in Virginia. The Bar was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly and is delegated the power to issue...
, and the State Bar of California. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court; the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Eleventh, Federal, and District of Columbia Circuits; and the United States District Courts for the District of Columbia, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Central, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of California.
Gura lives in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
with his family. He is a gun owner and considers himself a libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
. He argues that self-protection is a fundamental right, because citizens in general cannot always depend on the government to protect them from criminals or tyrannical rulers.