Peter Kirsanow Explained

Peter Kirsanow
Birth Date:30 October 1953
Birth Place:Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Party:Republican
Alma Mater:Cornell University (BA)
Cleveland State University (JD)

Peter N. Kirsanow (born October 30, 1953) is a partner with the law firm of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, working within its Labor & Employment Practice Group in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a black civil-rights commissioner and a member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights (a part-time appointment), serving his fourth consecutive 6-year term, which he was reappointed to by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in December 2019. He is the longest-serving member among the current commission. He was previously a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from January 2006 to January 2008.

Education

Kirsanow received his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in 1976 and then in 1979 received his Juris Doctor cum laude from the Cleveland State University College of Law, where he served as articles editor of the Cleveland State Law Review.[1] [2]

Career

Kirsanow served as labor counsel for the City of Cleveland and as senior labor counsel of Leaseway Transportation Corp.[2] [3]

Kirsanow was appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights by President George W. Bush in December 2001, but Chairwoman Mary Frances Berry told the White House that it would take federal marshals to seat Kirsanow, fighting his appointment all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In May 2002, the United States Department of Justice prevailed in its lawsuit to seat Kirsanow as a member of the Commission.[4] He was re-appointed by President Bush to serve a second six-year term on the commission, and then re-appointed once more by U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan.

President Bush appointed Kirsanow to the five-member NLRB in 2006 for two years, where he was involved with significant decisions including Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., Dana/Metaldyne and Oil Capital Sheet Metal, Inc. In 2008, Kirsanow returned to the Cleveland law firm of Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, where he is a partner with the firm's Labor & Employment Practice Group and a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He represents management in employment-related litigation, contract negotiations, NLRB proceedings and EEO matters.[2]

Kirsanow has written articles for National Review since 2003.[5] Kirsanow testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the nominations of John Roberts,[6] Samuel Alito,[7] Sonia Sotomayor[8] and Elena Kagan[9] to the Supreme Court, and at the confirmation hearing for Jeff Sessions nomination for United States Attorney General.[10]

Bar admissions and associations

Memberships

Books

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peter N. Kirsanow U.S. Commission on Civil Rights . www.usccr.gov . 25 January 2022.
  2. Web site: Peter Kirsanow. Major Issues Lecture Series. Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. 7 March 2013.
  3. Web site: Peter N. Kirsanow. People. Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP. 7 March 2013.
  4. News: No Warm and Fuzzy Welcome for Peter Kirsanow. 7 March 2013. Fox News. 18 May 2002.
  5. Web site: Peter Kirsanow Archive. National Review Online. 7 March 2013.
  6. News: Davis. Marcia. John Roberts and a Judge of History. 7 March 2013. Washington Post. 16 September 2005. Jennifer Cabranes Braceras and Peter Kirsanow, both members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and supporters of Roberts, were among the day's 30 witnesses offering their views on the nominee..
  7. News: Lowry. Rich. Alito's true bias . 7 March 2013. Jewish World Review. 6 June 2006. Peter Kirsanow, an expert on employment law and a Bush appointee on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, found that Alito heard 20 civil-rights cases while sitting on a three-judge panel with two Democrat-appointed colleagues, and all the decisions were unanimous..
  8. News: Kroll. Kathryn. Cleveland lawyer Peter Kirsanow to testify Thursday at hearing for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor . 7 March 2013. The Plain Dealer. 15 June 2009.
  9. Web site: Testimony of Peter N. Kirsanow Before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Nomination of Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court. 7 March 2013. 1 July 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121217053748/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/pdf/07-01-10%20Kirsanow%20Testimony.pdf. 17 December 2012. dead.
  10. 2017-01-11 . Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Day 2 . . 420933-1.
  11. Web site: Peter Kirsanow. Labor Mediation Attorney in Ohio. Mediation.com. 7 March 2013.