Friday, November 22, 2019

David L. Shapiro RIP

Statement from Solicitor General Noel Francisco on the Passing of Former Deputy Solicitor General David Shapiro

Professor Emeritus David Shapiro ’57“We are saddened to learn of the passing earlier this week of Professor David Shapiro. In addition to his tenure at Harvard Law School, David Shapiro was a Deputy Solicitor General in the Department of Justice from 1988 to 1991. He was a highly respected member of the legal profession and gifted appellate advocate on behalf of the United States, arguing ten cases before the Supreme Court. As a scholar, he was a preeminent expert in the field of federal courts and federal jurisdiction. As a colleague, he is remembered by those here at the Department as a rigorous thinker, elegant writer, and warm mentor -- open, straightforward, intellectually engaging, and all with good humor. We are honored to count David Shapiro as an alumnus of the Office of the Solicitor General, we are grateful for his service, and we join others who knew him in mourning his loss.”

[As an 'of counsel' and 'consulting professor' with Manatt, David had a key role in many state and federal appellate matters in California.]

See here for a retrospective by Professor Michael Dorf.
[11/26/19 update from Harvard: David L. Shapiro 1932–2019: The ‘heart and soul’ of federal courts and the federal system]