Edward Lazarus
Encyclopedia
Edward Lazarus is a lawyer and writer who was named Chief of Staff of the Federal Communications Commission
on June 29, 2009. He went to the FCC from the Los Angeles
office of the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
.
He is best known as the author of Closed Chambers
, a controversial look at the inner workings of the Supreme Court
. His first book, Black Hills, White Justice, was about the legal history of the Sioux Nation's
land claims against the United States for compensation for the Black Hills
— for which his father, Arthur Lazarus, Jr.
was a principal attorney — culminating in the United States Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians
.
Lazarus was a law clerk
for Justice Harry Blackmun
from 1988 to 1989. Lazarus graduated from Yale University
in 1981 and Yale Law School
in 1987. From 2004 to April 2009, he wrote a regular column for FindLaw
, and he appeared as a guest expert on legal affairs for several television and radio stations.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on June 29, 2009. He went to the FCC from the 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...
office of the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a law firm founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1945 by Robert Strauss and Richard Gump. The firm now numbers more than 800 attorneys and advisers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia...
.
He is best known as the author of Closed Chambers
Closed Chambers
Closed Chambers: The Rise, Fall, and Future of the Modern Supreme Court is a 1998 book by Edward Lazarus, who served as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun during the October Term 1988...
, a controversial look at the inner workings of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. His first book, Black Hills, White Justice, was about the legal history of the Sioux Nation's
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
land claims against the United States for compensation for the Black Hills
Black Hills
The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...
— for which his father, Arthur Lazarus, Jr.
Arthur Lazarus, Jr.
Arthur Lazarus, Jr. is a retired attorney primarily known for his work with American Indian tribes and Alaska Native corporations. His clients included the Blackfeet, Tuscarora, Seneca, and Navajo. His best-known case was the Black Hills Land Claim on behalf of the Sioux. He was the final attorney...
was a principal attorney — culminating in the United States Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians
United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians
In United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians, 448 U.S. 371 the Supreme Court of the United States held that: 1) The enactment by Congress of a law allowing the Sioux Nation to pursue a claim against the United States that had been previously adjudicated did not violate the doctrine of separation...
.
Lazarus was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Justice Harry Blackmun
Harry Blackmun
Harold Andrew Blackmun was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1970 until 1994. He is best known as the author of Roe v. Wade.- Early years and professional career :...
from 1988 to 1989. Lazarus graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1981 and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1987. From 2004 to April 2009, he wrote a regular column for FindLaw
FindLaw
FindLaw is a business of Thomson Reuters that provides online legal information and online marketing services for law firms. FindLaw was created by Stacy Stern, Martin Roscheisen and Tim Stanley in 1995, and was acquired by Thomson West in 2001....
, and he appeared as a guest expert on legal affairs for several television and radio stations.
External links
- Writ.news.findlax.com, Lazarus' columns at FindLaw