Ian Heath Gershengorn
Encyclopedia
Ian Heath Gershengorn is an American lawyer who currently is a deputy assistant attorney general in the United States Department of Justice
's Civil Division
.
, Gershengorn earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Harvard University
in 1988 and a law degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School
in 1993.
From 1993 until 1994, Gershengorn clerked for United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Judge Amalya Kearse
. From 1994 until 1995, Gershengorn worked as a law clerk for United States Supreme Court
Associate Justice John Paul Stevens
.
as a special assistant and counsel to then-United States Deputy Attorney General
Jamie Gorelick
.
In 1997, Gershengorn joined the law firm of Jenner & Block
, rising to the level of Partner in the firm's litigation department, working in the firm's Appellate and Supreme Court Practice and in its Communications Practice. While at the firm, Gershengorn was very active in representing Indian tribe
s in Supreme Court and appellate litigation.
On April 13, 2009, it was announced that Gershengorn would be rejoining the United States Department of Justice
as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Division
with oversight of the Federal Programs Branch. The Federal Programs Branch is handling Guantánamo Bay detainee cases and state secret
matters.
In his current position, Gershengorn is known for his work in defending legal challenges to President Obama's signature legislative achievement, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
.
, as have two of his sisters. His father is a cardiologist and his mother, Wendie Gershengorn, is a state court judge in Massachusetts.
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...
's Civil Division
United States Department of Justice Civil Division
The United States Department of Justice Civil Division represents the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet officers and other Federal employees...
.
Early life and education
Born in New York, New York and raised outside BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Gershengorn earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude 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 1988 and a law degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1993.
From 1993 until 1994, Gershengorn clerked for United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
Judge Amalya Kearse
Amalya Lyle Kearse
Amalya Lyle Kearse is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and a world-class bridge player.-Legal career:...
. From 1994 until 1995, Gershengorn worked as a law clerk for 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...
Associate Justice John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from December 19, 1975 until his retirement on June 29, 2010. At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest member of the Court and the third-longest serving justice in the Court's history...
.
Professional career
From 1995 until 1997, Gershengorn worked for the United States Department of JusticeUnited 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...
as a special assistant and counsel to then-United States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. In the United States federal government, the Deputy Attorney General oversees the day-to-day operation of the Department of Justice, and may act as Attorney General during the...
Jamie Gorelick
Jamie Gorelick
Jamie S. Gorelick is an American attorney, presently representing BP. She was Deputy Attorney General of the United States during the Clinton administration...
.
In 1997, Gershengorn joined the law firm of Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block is a U.S. law firm with offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Approximately 450 attorneys serve a wide range of clients in corporate litigation, business transactions, and in the public sector. Jerold S. Solovy was the longtime Chair of the firm, but on Sept...
, rising to the level of Partner in the firm's litigation department, working in the firm's Appellate and Supreme Court Practice and in its Communications Practice. While at the firm, Gershengorn was very active in representing Indian tribe
Indian tribe
In the United States, a Native American tribe is any extant or historical tribe, band, nation, or other group or community of Indigenous peoples in the United States...
s in Supreme Court and appellate litigation.
On April 13, 2009, it was announced that Gershengorn would be rejoining the United States 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...
as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Division
United States Department of Justice Civil Division
The United States Department of Justice Civil Division represents the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet officers and other Federal employees...
with oversight of the Federal Programs Branch. The Federal Programs Branch is handling Guantánamo Bay detainee cases and state secret
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
matters.
In his current position, Gershengorn is known for his work in defending legal challenges to President Obama's signature legislative achievement, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
.
Personal
Gershengorn's wife has worked as a lawyer for the United States Department of JusticeUnited 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...
, as have two of his sisters. His father is a cardiologist and his mother, Wendie Gershengorn, is a state court judge in Massachusetts.