Jeffrey L. Fisher
Special Counsel
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Jeffrey Fisher, one of the nation’s leading Supreme Court practitioners and scholars, represents clients in high-stakes litigation involving a wide range of civil and criminal issues. He has argued nearly four dozen cases in the Court—including many landmark and otherwise groundbreaking cases. Jeff was also found in a recent study to have the highest rate of obtaining grants of certiorari of any member of the private bar.
His successes include:
- Ramos v. Louisiana, holding that the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments require a jury verdict to be unanimous to convict someone of a crime;
- Jam v. Int’l Fin. Corp., in which the Court addressed the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA) for the first time;
- Riley v. California, in which the Court for the first time applied the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches to digital information on smart phones;
- Crawford v. Washington and Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, in which he persuaded the Court to adopt a new approach to the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause;
- Endrew F. v. Douglas County Sch. Dist., in which the Court established the substantive standard for enforcing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and
- Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado, in which the Court held that that the Constitution requires courts to consider juror testimony regarding deliberations when racial bias may have been a significant motivating factor in the decision to convict.
In addition, Jeff was co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the historic marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees same-sex couples a right to marry.
A Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and Co-Director of the Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Jeff has also published numerous articles on various constitutional and criminal law issues. He clerked for US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Jeff has received numerous accolades over the course of his career, including being named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by The National Law Journal and receiving the Heeney Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (the organization's highest honor).
Honors & Awards
- Best Lawyers® Appellate Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in San Jose, California (2022-2023); Jeffrey has been listed in Best Lawyers® since 2007.
- California Lawyer, California Lawyer of the Year (appellate law category) (2021, 2015, 2008)
- Daily Journal, “Top 100 Lawyers” list (2021)
- Law360 MVP: Appellate (2020)
- National Law Journal, Litigation Trailblazer (2020)
- Chambers USA, Recognized Practitioner (Nationwide Appellate Law) (2019-2022)
- Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer (Dispute resolution - Appellate: Supreme Court (federal and state)) (2019-2022)
- National Law Journal, 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America (2013 & 2006)
- Lawyers Weekly USA, Lawyer of the Year (one of ten) (2009 & 2004)
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award (organization’s highest honor) (2008)
- The American Lawyer, “Fab 50” Litigators Under 45 (2007)
- Daily Journal, Top 20 (in California) Under 40 (2007)
- National Law Journal’s “40 Under 40” (one of ten lawyers “of special note” within group) (2005)
- National Law Journal Lawyer of the Year, Runner-Up (2004)
- Washington State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Professionalism Award (2004)
- Recipient, Order of the Coif, University of Michigan Law School (1997)
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
- Washington
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court and numerous federal courts of appeals
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1997
- Duke University, A.B., 1992
Professional Activities
Jeff serves on the Board of Directors of the Due Process Institute and on multiple committees of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He also recently served on the Practitioners Committee of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court.
In addition to these roles, Jeff regularly publishes articles and comments in national media outlets on an array of legal issues. He speaks to organizations ranging from the National Association of Attorneys General to the National Association of Federal Defenders. He also frequently appears at judicial conferences.