SCOTUSblog on camera: Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. — Part three

The Office of the Solicitor General as a Supreme Court gatekeeper.

In this five-part interview, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., the forty-sixth Solicitor General of the United States, discusses his background, the office and job of Solicitor General, its special relation to the Court, and representing the interests and being part of the history of the United States.

“I happened to be here during a period of real historical importance. And it was my responsibility to lead the representation of the United States in these matters of real historical importance. And, therefore I was able to participate in history, in its making, and have some influence—you know, time will only tell what that was—but have some influence in history going down one path versus another. And . . . that’s an awesome responsibility. And, it’s one that fills me with a sense of very deep gratitude: that I was lucky enough to be here during this time, doing that work[;] . . . that’s really pretty amazing.”

(Fabrizio di Piazza)