Daniel Meltzer
Encyclopedia
Daniel Meltzer is an American lawyer and law professor, and is a presidential lawyer in the Obama Administration through June 1, 2010.
in Economics from Harvard University
in 1972, and a J.D.
from Harvard Law School in 1975 where he was President of the Harvard Law Review
. Upon graduation, he clerked first for Judge Carl E. McGowan
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
, and then for Justice Potter Stewart
of the United States Supreme Court
. From 1977 to 1978, Meltzer was Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph Califano, Jr. Thereafter he worked three years in private practice with the District of Columbia firm of Williams & Connolly
.
Meltzer joined the Law School faculty in 1982 as assistant professor, was promoted to full professor in 1987, served as associate dean 1989-93, was named the Story Professor of Law
in 1998, and the vice dean for physical planning in 2003.
Meltzer co-authored several books on the federal court system, habeas corpus
, and other subjects with Richard Fallon and David L. Shapiro. Criminal procedure
was another of his specializations.
Meltzer was appointed Principal Deputy Counsel to President Barack Obama
in January 2009, deputy to Counsel Greg Craig
. Meltzer had originally agreed to serve in the position for one year but agreed to stay longer to help in the transition from Craig to Robert Bauer
early in 2010. Returning to Harvard in mid-2010 allows Meltzer to resume his faculty position within the preferred two-year leave tenure. At the time of his resignation, his service for the administration was noted on efforts among others to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, related policies affecting terrorism
detainees, anti-abortion issues in the health care reform debate, and preparation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor
in her 2009 confirmation hearings. Also noted was close work during his tenure with the acting leader of the Office of Legal Counsel
, David Barron (also a fellow Harvard law professor), and with United States Associate Attorney General
Thomas J. Perrelli
, both in the Department of Justice
.
Meltzer's father, the late Bernard D. Meltzer, was a member of the United States prosecutorial delegation to the Nuremberg trials
and a professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School
. Meltzer's cousin, David F. Levi
, is the dean of Duke Law School.
Education and career
Meltzer received an A.B.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1972, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School in 1975 where he was President of the Harvard Law Review
Harvard Law Review
The Harvard Law Review is a journal of legal scholarship published by an independent student group at Harvard Law School.-Overview:According to the 2008 Journal Citation Reports, the Review is the most cited law review and has the second-highest impact factor in the category "law" after the...
. Upon graduation, he clerked first for Judge Carl E. McGowan
Carl E. McGowan
Carl E. McGowan was a United States federal judge.Born in Hymera, Indiana, McGowan received an A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1932 and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School in 1936. He was in private practice in New York City from 1936 to 1939. He was a member of the faculty of Northwestern Law School...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
, and then for Justice Potter Stewart
Potter Stewart
Potter Stewart was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. During his tenure, he made, among other areas, major contributions to criminal justice reform, civil rights, access to the courts, and Fourth Amendment jurisprudence.-Education:Stewart was born in Jackson, Michigan,...
of the United States 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...
. From 1977 to 1978, Meltzer was Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph Califano, Jr. Thereafter he worked three years in private practice with the District of Columbia firm of Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
.
Meltzer joined the Law School faculty in 1982 as assistant professor, was promoted to full professor in 1987, served as associate dean 1989-93, was named the Story Professor of Law
Story Professor of Law
The Story Professor of Law is the official title of the Chair at Harvard Law School, and it is named for Joseph Story. The current Story Professor of Law is Daniel Meltzer....
in 1998, and the vice dean for physical planning in 2003.
Meltzer co-authored several books on the federal court system, habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
, and other subjects with Richard Fallon and David L. Shapiro. Criminal procedure
Criminal procedure in the United States
In the United States, there is a distinction between constitutional criminal procedure, which consists of baseline protections that the United States Constitution requires be afforded to those accused of crimes, and statutory criminal procedure, which consists of enacted rules that govern the...
was another of his specializations.
Meltzer was appointed Principal Deputy Counsel to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in January 2009, deputy to Counsel Greg Craig
Greg Craig
Gregory Bestor "Greg" Craig is a Washington-based lawyer and former White House Counsel under President Barack Obama. He has represented numerous high-profile clients, including John W. Hinckley, Jr., who was acquitted of the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan by reason of insanity, and, in...
. Meltzer had originally agreed to serve in the position for one year but agreed to stay longer to help in the transition from Craig to Robert Bauer
Robert Bauer
Robert F. Bauer is an American attorney who previously served as White House Counsel under President of the United States Barack Obama.-Education:...
early in 2010. Returning to Harvard in mid-2010 allows Meltzer to resume his faculty position within the preferred two-year leave tenure. At the time of his resignation, his service for the administration was noted on efforts among others to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, related policies affecting terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
detainees, anti-abortion issues in the health care reform debate, and preparation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 2009. Sotomayor is the Court's 111th justice, its first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice....
in her 2009 confirmation hearings. Also noted was close work during his tenure with the acting leader of the Office of Legal Counsel
Office of Legal Counsel
The Office of Legal Counsel is an office in the United States Department of Justice that assists the Attorney General in his function as legal adviser to the President and all executive branch agencies.-History:...
, David Barron (also a fellow Harvard law professor), and with United States Associate Attorney General
United States Associate Attorney General
The Associate Attorney General is the third-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. The Associate Attorney General advises and assists the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General in policies relating to civil justice, federal and local law enforcement, and public...
Thomas J. Perrelli
Thomas J. Perrelli
Thomas John Perrelli is an American lawyer and the United States Associate Attorney General. Perrelli also served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States in the late 1990s.-Early life:...
, both in the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
.
Personal
Meltzer is married to Ellen Semonoff, the Assistant City Manager of Human Services for the City of Cambridge, MA. His wife did not move to Washington during the 2009-2010 appointment, and Meltzer commuted to Cambridge during the period.Meltzer's father, the late Bernard D. Meltzer, was a member of the United States prosecutorial delegation to the Nuremberg trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
and a professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
. Meltzer's cousin, David F. Levi
David F. Levi
David F. Levi is a U.S. jurist and current Dean of the Duke University School of Law. From 1990–2007, he was a Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, serving as Chief Judge since 2003. At the time Levi left the bench, he was widely considered to be one...
, is the dean of Duke Law School.