Lawrence J. Block
Encyclopedia
Lawrence J. Block is an American
federal judge
on the United States Court of Federal Claims
who was confirmed on October 2, 2002.
in 1982, and after law school he clerked for the Honorable Roger J. Miner, United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of New York. Mr. Block served as an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason University School of Law
from 1990-91.
From 1983-1986, Block was an associate with the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
, where his substantive areas of practice included constitutional claims involving Commerce Clause
and Commercial Speech issues, financial services litigation, as well as merger and acquisition, securities, labor and administrative law litigation.
From 1986 to 1990, Block was an attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice. Block started out as a litigation attorney in the Department’s Commercial Litigation Branch, and then from 1987–1990, Judge Block served as Senior Attorney-Advisor in the Office of Legal Policy and Policy Development, where he specialized in constitutional law, particularly in the areas of federalism, takings law, separation of powers, presidential power and foreign affairs issues. He also worked extensively on regulatory and environmental issues, particularly with the White House on the Bush Administration's Clean Air Act proposal.
From 1994-2002, Judge Block served as Senior Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he worked on a number of significant issues including property rights legislation, punitive damages and class action court reform bills, the cost-benefit analysis regulatory reform act, tobacco policy, litigation and arbitration policy, and First Amendment, privacy and attendant constitutional issues arising out of high technology legislation and governmental programs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
federal judge
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
on the United States Court of Federal Claims
United States Court of Federal Claims
The United States Court of Federal Claims is a United States federal court that hears monetary claims against the U.S. government. The court is established pursuant to Congress's authority under Article One of the United States Constitution...
who was confirmed on October 2, 2002.
Education and Experience
Judge Block received a B.S. degree from New York University in 1973, graduating magna cum laude. He received his law degree from The John Marshall Law SchoolJohn Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School may refer to:*John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois*John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia*Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio...
in 1982, and after law school he clerked for the Honorable Roger J. Miner, United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of New York. Mr. Block served as an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason University School of Law
George Mason University School of Law
George Mason University School of Law is the law school of George Mason University, a state university in Virginia, United States...
from 1990-91.
From 1983-1986, Block was an associate with the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates , founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine calls Skadden "Wall Street's most powerful law firm"...
, where his substantive areas of practice included constitutional claims involving Commerce Clause
Commerce Clause
The Commerce Clause is an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution . The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes." Courts and commentators have tended to...
and Commercial Speech issues, financial services litigation, as well as merger and acquisition, securities, labor and administrative law litigation.
From 1986 to 1990, Block was an attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice. Block started out as a litigation attorney in the Department’s Commercial Litigation Branch, and then from 1987–1990, Judge Block served as Senior Attorney-Advisor in the Office of Legal Policy and Policy Development, where he specialized in constitutional law, particularly in the areas of federalism, takings law, separation of powers, presidential power and foreign affairs issues. He also worked extensively on regulatory and environmental issues, particularly with the White House on the Bush Administration's Clean Air Act proposal.
From 1994-2002, Judge Block served as Senior Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he worked on a number of significant issues including property rights legislation, punitive damages and class action court reform bills, the cost-benefit analysis regulatory reform act, tobacco policy, litigation and arbitration policy, and First Amendment, privacy and attendant constitutional issues arising out of high technology legislation and governmental programs.