Phil Weiser Explained

Phil Weiser
Office:	39th Attorney General of Colorado
Governor:	Jared Polis
Term Start:	January 8, 2019
Predecessor:	Cynthia Coffman
Office1:	15th Dean of the University of Colorado Law School
Term Start1:	June 2011
Term End1:	July 2016
Predecessor1:	David Getches
Successor1:	James Anaya
Birth Date:	10 May 1968
Party:	Democratic
Education:	Swarthmore College (BA) New York University (JD)

Philip Jacob Weiser (born May 10, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 39th Attorney General of Colorado since 2019. He is the Hatfield Professor of Law and Telecommunications, executive director and Founder of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, and Dean Emeritus at the University of Colorado Law School.^[1] He previously served in the Obama and Clinton Administrations in the White House and Justice Department.^{[2] [3]} A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected Attorney General for the State of Colorado in the 2018 election, defeating Republican George Brauchler on November 6, 2018.^[4] He was re-elected in 2022.^[5]

Early life and education

Weiser was born to an Ashkenazi Jewish family. His grandparents survived the Holocaust, and his mother, Estare, was born in the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945.^{[6] [7]}

After high school, Weiser studied political science at Swarthmore College, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts with high honors. He then attended the New York University School of Law, where he was an Articles Editor for the New York University Law Review. He graduated from NYU Law in 1994 with a Juris Doctor degree and Order of the Coif honors.^{[8] [9]}

Academic and federal government career

Law clerk and Clinton administration

After graduating, Weiser served as law clerk to Judge David Ebel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals from September 1994 to August 1995. He was then a law clerk to Justices Byron R. White and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the U.S. Supreme Court from September 1995 to August 1996. Following his clerkships, he was senior counsel to Joel Klein, the Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Antitrust Division from 1996 to 1998.

Academia career

In 1999, Weiser joined the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder as a professor of law and telecommunications. There, Weiser established the national center of excellence in telecommunications and technology law and founded the Journal on Telecommunications & High Technology Law.^[10] He also founded the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship and he wrote and taught in the areas of competition policy, innovation policy, and Internet policy.^{[11] [12]}

From June 2011 through July 2016, Weiser served as the fifteenth dean of the law school,^{[13] [14]} and he was named one of the National Jurist's most influential leaders in legal education.^[15] Through the Silicon Flatirons Center, Weiser developed a range of programs to build up CU Boulder's support for entrepreneurship and has linked it to the local startup community.^{[16] [17]} Some of the initiatives include Tech Lawyer Accelerator, the Corporate Counsel Intensive Institute and the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative.^{[18] [19]}

Obama administration

In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Weiser as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.^{[20] [21]} He took the post in July 2009, taking a leave of absence from the University of Colorado Law School.^[22] In 2010, President Obama named him senior advisor for technology and innovation to the National Economic Council Director, and he participated in a series of policy initiatives.^{[23] [24] [25] [26]}

Attorney General of Colorado

See main article: article and 2018 Colorado Attorney General election.

Elections

Colorado Attorney General Election, 2018
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Democrat	Phil Weiser	1,281,916	51.6
Republican	George Brauchler	1,120,834	45.1
Libertarian	William Robinson	81,222	3.3

Weiser was elected Attorney General for the State of Colorado in the 2018 election, defeating Republican George Brauchler on November 6, 2018. Weiser took office in January 2019, becoming the first Democratic Colorado Attorney General in 15 years. Later that same month, Weiser withdrew Colorado from a lawsuit that his predecessor, Republican Cynthia Coffman, had filed against the Clean Power Plan.^[27]

In the 2022 Colorado Attorney General election, Weiser was re-elected for a second term, defeating Republican challenger John Kellner and winning over 54% of votes cast.

Tenure

Catholic Church investigation

On October 23, 2019, Weiser released the results of an eight-month investigation revealing that 43 Catholic clergy were credibly accused of sexually abusing at least 166 children throughout the state of Colorado since 1950.^[28] On October 16, 2020, it was revealed that all three of Colorado's Catholic Dioceses, the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and Diocese of Pueblo, had paid $6.6 million in compensation to 81 victims of clergy sex abuse within the past year, regardless of how long ago the abuse happened.^[29]

On December 1, 2020, Weiser's final report revealed that there were an additional 9 credibly accused clergy and 46 alleged victims in both in the Archdiocese of Denver and its suffragan Diocese of Pueblo.^{[30] [31]} Statewide, 52 Colorado Catholic priests were named in Weiser's final report as committing acts of sex abuse.^{[32] [33]} Prominent Archdiocese of Denver priest Fr. Charles B. Woodrich, also known as "Father Woody," was among those listed.^[34] Father Woody was known for his work in local homeless shelters.

Personal life

In 2002, Weiser married Heidi Wald, a physician, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and they now live together with their two children in Denver.^{[35] [36]}

Selected publications

Books

• Phil Weiser & Jon Nuechterlein, Digital Crossroads: American Telecommunications Policy in the Internet Age (MIT Press 2013) .^[37]
• Phil Weiser, Stuart Benjamin, Howard Shelanski & James Speta, Telecommunications Law and Policy (Carolina Academic Press 2012) .^[38]
• Phil Weiser, The Jury and Democracy: How Jury Deliberation Promotes Civic Engagement and Political Participation (Oxford University Press 2010) .^[39]

Articles

• Weiser. Philip J.. Federal Common Law, Cooperative Federalism, and the Enforcement of the Telecom Act. N.Y.U. L. Rev.. 2001. 76. 6. 1692. September 14, 2017.
• Weiser. Philip J.. 2003. Cooperative Federalism and Its Challenges. Mich. St. L. Rev.. 2003. 727. September 15, 2017.
• Weiser. Philip J.. Justice White and Judicial Review. U. Colo. L. Rev.. 2003. 74. 1305. September 14, 2017.
• Weiser. Philip J.. 2003. Regulatory Challenges and Models of Regulation. J. On Telecomm. And High Tech. L.. 2. 1. September 15, 2017.
• Weiser. Philip J.. 2003. Toward A Next Generation Regulatory Regime. Loyola L. Rev.. 35. 41. September 15, 2017.
• Weiser. Philip J.. 2005. First Principles for an Effective Rewrite of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. AEI-Brookings Joint Center Paper Series. 707124.
• Weiser. Philip J.. Hatfield. Dale N.. 2005. Policing the Spectrum Commons. Fordham L. Rev.. 75. 2. 74. September 15, 2017.
• Weiser. Philip J.. The Ghost of Telecommunications Past. Mich. L. Rev.. 2005. 103. 6. 1671. September 14, 2017.
• Weiser . Philip J.. 2005. The Relationship of Antitrust and Regulation in A Deregulatory Era. Antitrust Bulletin. 50. September 2005. 814945.
• Weiser. Philip J.. What Carrier Doesn't Address. Ala. L. Rev.. 2010. 61. 3. 571. September 14, 2017.

See also

• List of Jewish American jurists
• List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 6)
• Attorney General Alliance

External links

• Government website
• Campaign website
• Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
• Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law.
• Colorado Technology Law Journal. University of Colorado School of Law.

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Notes and References

1. http://lawweb.colorado.edu/profiles/profile.jsp?id=62 Professor Philip J. Weiser faculty profile
2. News: Anas. Brittany. Daily Camera. CU law professor appointed to Justice Department's antitrust division. April 22, 2009. June 14, 2017.
3. Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2012. Congressional Record, 112th Congress, 2nd Session. March 27, 2012. 158. 50. H1610. September 16, 2017. Former White House adviser Philip Weiser.
4. Web site: Salazar Concedes; Phil Weiser To Face George Brauchler For Attorney General In November. Colorado Public Radio. July 2, 2018. July 4, 2018.
5. Web site: Sherry . Allison . 8 November 2022 . Phil Weiser wins a second term as Colorado attorney general . 2022-11-25 . . en.
6. Web site: Luning . Ernest . Holocaust survivor Estare Weiser featured in ad for her son Phil Weiser's attorney general campaign . Colorado Politics . 4 March 2021 . en . 22 February 2018.
7. News: Young. Lisa. Attorney General candidate Phil Weiser stumps in Sterling. September 14, 2017. Journal-Advocate (Sterling, CO). July 24, 2017.
8. Web site: Philip Weiser '94 named dean of the University of Colorado Law School. NYU Law School News. September 13, 2017. May 31, 2011.
9. Web site: Masthead for 1993-94, Vol 68-69. New York University Law Review. September 15, 2017.
10. http://www.jthtl.org/ Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law
11. News: Kata. Sarah. Daily Camera. Phil Weiser to lead new innovation, entrepreneurship initiative at CU Boulder. January 20, 2017. June 14, 2017.
12. Web site: Weiser. Phil. Boulder is for Startups. Obama Whitehouse Archive. September 15, 2017. May 11, 2011. having worked at the University of Colorado Law School and run the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship from 1999 until joining the Obama Administration in 2009.
13. News: Anas. Brittany. CU-Boulder names Phil Weiser dean of law school. September 13, 2017. Daily Camera. May 31, 2011.
14. News: Mendoza. Monica. CU Law School Dean Weiser stepping down. September 16, 2017. Denver Business Journal. August 24, 2015. He also organized the Gathering of the Bench and Bar Conference, worked with the White Center to establish the Stevens Lecture, which brought four Supreme Court Justices to Colorado Law.
15. Web site: The National Jurist. 25 Finalists Named to Most Influential in Legal Education. November 28, 2012 . June 13, 2017.
16. News: Weiser to lead Innovation and Entrepreneurship initiative. January 19, 2017. CU Boulder Today. June 13, 2017. en.
17. News: Kuta. Sarah. Daily Camera. Phil Weiser to lead new innovation, entrepreneurship initiative at CU Boulder. January 20, 2017. June 13, 2017.
18. News: Inside Clinton's tech policy circle. POLITICO. June 13, 2017.
19. News: Philip Weiser to step down as dean of the University of Colorado Law School. August 24, 2015. CU Boulder Today. June 13, 2017. en.
20. Web site: Chopra. Aneesh. Providing Leadership on Standards to Address National Challenges. Obama White House Archives. September 15, 2017. March 24, 2010. Philip Weiser, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for International, Policy and Appellate Matters, Department of Justice.
21. News: Press release: Professor Weiser Appointed to Justice Department's Antitrust Division. University of Colorado Law School. April 22, 2009. June 14, 2017.
22. News: Anas. Brittany. Daily Camera. CU-Boulder names Phil Weiser dean of law school. May 31, 2011. June 13, 2017.
23. Web site: American Association for the Advancement of Science Agenda. Obama White House Archives. September 15, 2017. December 16, 2010. Phil Weiser, Senior Advisor for Technology and Innovation to the National Economic Council Director.
24. Web site: Chopra. Aneesh. Innovation for America: Technology for Economic Growth and Empowering Americans. Obama White House Archives. September 15, 2017. June 15, 2010. Phil Weiser, Senior Advisor for Technology and Innovation to the National Economic Council Director.
25. News: Moore. Tom. TimesArrow. Phil Weiser appointed as White House Senior Advisor for Technology and Innovation. April 29, 2010. June 14, 2017.
26. News: President Obama Details Plan to Win the Future through Expanded Wireless Access. February 10, 2011. Obama White House Archives. June 14, 2017.
27. Web site: With Democrats in charge, Colorado now backs clean air rule. Elliott. Dan. January 30, 2019. AP NEWS. January 31, 2019.
28. News: Investigator finds 43 Catholic priests in Colorado sexually abused at least 166 children . Elise. Schmelzer. The Denver Post. October 24, 2019 .
29. News: Catholic Dioceses In Colorado Pay $6.6 Million To Sex Abuse Survivors. Anica. Padilla. CBS 4 Denver. October 16, 2020. December 1, 2020.
30. News: Further investigation into Colorado Catholic Church IDs 46 more victims, 9 more abusive priests — including Denver's Father Woody. Elise. Schmelzer. Denver Post. December 1, 2020. December 1, 2020.
31. News: Final State Report Concludes More Than 200 Colorado Children Were Abused By Priests, Catholic Church Vows Reform. Allison. Sherry. CPR News. December 1, 2020. December 1, 2020.
32. News: Colorado report names nine more priests accused of abusing minors decades ago. Julie Asher, Catholic News Service. Union of Catholic Asian News. December 7, 2020. December 7, 2020.
33. News: 52 Catholic priests in Colorado, including iconic Father Woody, abused 212 victims, further investigation finds. Jesse. Paul. Jennifer. Brown. The Colorado Sun. December 1, 2020. December 7, 2020.
34. News: Father Woody Among 9 Additional Priests Named In New Colorado Child Sex Abuse Report. Anica. Padilla. CBS 4 Denver. December 1, 2020. December 1, 2020.
35. Web site: Phil Weiser announces bid for Colorado attorney general with big-time endorsement. Frank. John. The Denver Post. May 11, 2017. June 13, 2017.
36. News: Weddings/Celebrations: Heidi Wald, Philip Weiser. September 14, 2017. New York Times. November 10, 2002.
37. Book: Digital Crossroads. February 4, 2005 . MIT Press . 9780262140911 . en-US. June 13, 2017.
38. Book: Telecommunications Law and Policy. law.duke.edu. June 13, 2017.
39. Book: The Jury and Democracy: How Jury Deliberation Promotes Civic Engagement and Political Participation. November 10, 2010. Oxford University Press. 9780195377316. Oxford, New York.