Alan Morrison Fired from D.C. Gun Case
Well-known litigator Alan Morrison has been fired from his post as special counsel defending Washington, D.C.’s gun ban before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Morrison learned of his firing by acting D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles in an e-mail from Nickles’ deputy, the Washington Post reports. Morrison had been hired by former Attorney General Linda Singer, but she resigned two weeks ago, reportedly because she was frustrated that the mayor was relying on Nickles to make key legal decisions.
Morrison had argued 16 cases before the Supreme Court for the Public Citizen Litigation Group. Georgetown law professor David Vladeck told the Post that Morrison’s departure will be a major blow to the city legal team defending the gun ban.
At issue in the case, District of Columbia v. Heller, is whether the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms. The court was expected to hear arguments in the case in March.
Morrison told BLT, The Blog of Legal Times, that he wasn’t given a reason for his firing. “I assume it is because I was seen as a Linda loyalist,” he said.
