Representing Amici Curiae In High-Profile Appeals
Larry Ebner, executive vice president and general counsel of the Atlantic Legal Foundation, discusses the organization and the important role that it plays by filing amicus curiae, “friend of the court,” briefs in key Supreme Court, federal court of appeals, and state appellate court cases that implicate the foundation’s mission areas.
CCBJ: Tell us a little bit about Atlantic Legal Foundation and its mission. Larry Ebner: The Atlantic Legal Foundation (ALF), which was established in 1977, is a national, nonprofit, public interest law firm. We advocate for the rule of law through strict adherence to the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, the separation of powers, and principles of limited government and federalism. We also advocate for judicial conservativism, neutrality, and civil justice. Under these broad headings, we have six specific mission areas: individual liberty, free enterprise, protection of property rights, limited and efficient government, sound science in judicial and regulatory proceedings, and school choice. Our nationally renowned amicus curiae program is the centerpiece of the foundation’s advocacy activities. We file amicus curiae briefs – in other words, friend of the court briefs – in the Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, and state appellate courts in cases that implicate one or more of our mission areas. Our amicus program is particularly well recognized as the nation’s leading advocate for fostering use of sound science in the courtroom and in regulatory proceedings. In addition to the amicus program, we publish materials such as our Leveling the Playing Field series, which promotes school choice by providing state-specific
information about charter schools. We’ve published three editions of Leveling the Playing Field for California, we’re currently updating the New York edition, and also have published editions for several other states. Who are some of the key supporters of ALF, past and present? Our broad base of supporters encompasses several categories, including foundations, major corporations, nationally and internationally respected law firms, the members of our distinguished Board of Directors and Advisory Council, and other individuals. Our supporters are listed by name in our Annual Reports. Their support is primarily financial, but because our Board of Directors and Advisory Council includes so many prominent law firm and in-house attorneys, business executives, legal scholars, and scientists, we call upon their expertise to assist us with amicus curiae projects, with our school choice charter school program, and other projects. Please describe your role as executive vice president and general counsel. As general background, I’ve been an attorney for almost 50 years. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1969, I received my law degree from Harvard Law School in 1972. My first legal position was as an Honors Program attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1974, I joined a relatively small law firm in Washington, D.C., which over the years, through mergers and acquisitions, evolved into what is now the world’s largest law firm. I stayed with that firm for 42 years, and headed its appellate litigation practice. In 2016, I decided to depart “Big Law” and launch my own appellate litigation boutique, Capital Appellate Advocacy PLLC. Last summer, the summer of 2020, I was selected by the Atlantic Legal CORPORATE COUNSEL BUSINESS JOURNAL
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