Don Verrilli Discusses the Supreme Court, Executive Power and the Rule of Law on Slate’s “Amicus” Podcast 

Munger, Tolles & Olson Partner and former U.S. Solicitor General Don Verrilli recently joined Dahlia Lithwick on Slate’s “Amicus” podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the U.S. Supreme Court, the growing strain on the rule of law and the judiciary’s response to expansive assertions of executive power.  

Don observed that novel claims of presidential authority have required courts to confront arguments once viewed as well beyond constitutional boundaries. The discussion explored public skepticism toward the Court, whether Chief Justice John Roberts is signaling greater concern about chaotic policymaking, the reputational costs to the Department of Justice of shifting factual positions and the institutional challenges posed by delayed or fractured opinions in high-stakes matters such as the recent tariffs dispute. Don also addressed the tension between judicial independence and calls for swift, consequential rulings, emphasizing the importance of continued legal advocacy in moments of constitutional stress. 

Drawing on decades of Supreme Court experience – from clerking for Justice William Brennan to serving as Solicitor General under President Obama and continuing to argue before the Court – Don underscored the need for persistence, professionalism and what he described as “hard-nosed faith” in the legal system to safeguard constitutional principles over the long term. 

Listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts (Subscriptions required). A condensed version of the conversation can be found with Slate.