Sri Srinivasan

Career and judicial service

Before joining the federal appellate bench, Srinivasan was the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States, where he argued a wide array of federal cases on behalf of the government. Over the course of his career he has argued more than two dozen cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, earning notice for legal clarity and oral advocacy. As a judge on the D.C. Circuit he participates in panels that commonly address administrative, regulatory, and constitutional questions—areas in which that court often sets influential precedent.

Notable cases and public profile

Srinivasan's appellate work includes both government representation and private practice. He is known for representing former Enron executive Jeffrey Skilling in the Supreme Court case Skilling v. United States (2010), a high-profile securities and criminal law appeal arising from the Enron scandal; in coverage of that matter he was identified with the broader legal issues attending corporate fraud and prosecutorial standards. The Enron connection is often noted in discussions of his career (Enron, Skilling).

Background, teaching, and legal approach

Srinivasan has combined government service with periods in private practice and academic work. He has served as a lecturer at Harvard Law School and has been described as an appellate specialist with a deliberate and pragmatic approach to legal questions. Observers highlight his facility with statutory interpretation, administrative law, and constitutional claims—subjects that frequently come before the D.C. Circuit (the D.C. Circuit).

Significance and distinctions

• Unanimous Senate confirmation (97–0) reflects broad bipartisan support.
• Argued more than 25 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, marking him as a leading appellate lawyer of his generation.
• Widely discussed as a potential Supreme Court nominee in 2016, enhancing his national profile and underscoring his standing in the legal community.

The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is often viewed as the nation's second most important federal court because of its central role in reviewing federal agency actions and interpreting federal law. Srinivasan's presence on that court places him at the center of many consequential legal debates involving regulation, administrative power, and the separation of powers—areas that continue to shape American law and governance.