Amicus Committee

The Authority of Law statue in Supreme Court

The DRI Center for Law and Public Policy (the Center), at the recommendation of its Amicus Committee, files amicus curiae briefs in carefully selected cases that present issues of extraordinary importance to civil litigation defense lawyers, their clients, and the civil justice system. The Center may participate as amicus curiae at either the certiorari stage or the merits stage in cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, but only rarely files in federal court of appeals cases. Amicus support in state appellate courts will be considered only after consultation with the relevant state and local defense organization (SLDO).

The Center usually files amicus briefs in its name only. Generally, a case is considered eligible for Center participation if (i) the Center can make a meaningful and original contribution to an appeal by presenting arguments, perspectives, or information that supplements rather than duplicates the supported parties’ briefs, or the briefs of other amici curiae; (ii) the case or issues are of exceptional significance to civil litigation defense lawyers, their clients, and the civil justice system; and (iii) the positions to be advocated by the Center are consistent with DRI’s mission statement and goals.

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Leadership

Name
Lisa M. Baird

Amicus Chair
Lisa M. Baird
Reed Smith LLP
Miami, Florida

Melinda S. Kollross

Amicus Vice Chair
Melinda S. Kollross
Clausen Miller PC
Chicago, Illinois

Members

Name
David M. Axelrad

David M. Axelrad
Horvitz & Levy LLP
Burbank, California

Zach Chaffee-McClure

Zach Chaffee-McClure
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Kansas City, Missouri

Larry Ebner

Larry Ebner
Capital Appellate Advocacy PLLC
Washington, D.C.

William M. Jay

William M. Jay
Goodwin Procter LLP
Washington, D.C.

Mia Lorick

Mia Lorick
Locke Lord LLP
Houston, Texas

Mary Massaron

Mary Massaron
Plunkett Cooney PC
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Matt Nelson

Matt Nelson
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Chad W. Pekron

Chad W. Pekron
Walmart
Bentonville, Arkansas

Scott B. Smith

Scott B. Smith
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Huntsville, Alabama

Sarah E. Spencer

Sarah E. Spencer
Spencer Willson PLLC
Salt Lake City, Utah