The Washington Post: Walter Dellinger, Renowned Legal Scholar Who Served in Clinton Justice Department, Dies at 80

Former Chief of the Office of Legal Counsel and acting US Solicitor General under the Clinton administration Walter Dellinger has passed away at the age of 80. The Washington Post wrote that Dellinger “helped shape generations of jurists with the intellect he brought to questions of constitutional law.” Dellinger argued a total of 24 cases before the US Supreme Court as both Solicitor General and as a partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP. “Walter Dellinger was a great lawyer and a valuable public servant,” US Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer said. “He was thoughtful. imaginative, and had a very good sense of humor. His positive contribution to law and to the rule of law in this country will be long remembered.” Dellinger remained active in a professional capacity until his death, having recently served on President Joe Biden’s US Supreme Court commission and on his 2020 election campaign's national litigation team. Dellinger was counsel of record for an amicus brief in Lawrence v. Texas, which resulted in a major victory for gay rights in the United States by striking down Texas' Homosexual Conduct Law. Dellinger’s private practice included representing clients such as ExxonMobil and Martha Stewart. “He was a phenomenal lawyer with an endless string of accomplishments, but he always gave the credit to others,” Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan said.

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