Bans Quote by Donald Verrilli Jr
![“There was only really one time that I had a substantive interaction with the president [Barak Obama] directly, and that was in 2013 when we were deciding whether to file a brief in the first gay marriage case, the Perry against Hollingsworth case. That was a weighty decision about whether the…” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/308/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_bans_there-was-only-really-one-time-that-i-ha_867816.jpg)
“There was only really one time that I had a substantive interaction with the president [Barak Obama] directly, and that was in 2013 when we were deciding whether to file a brief in the first gay marriage case, the Perry against Hollingsworth case. That was a weighty decision about whether the United States government was going to come in and say that heightened scrutiny ought to apply and some state bans on same-sex marriage ought to be unconstitutional. And that was the one time in my tenure where I thought I ought not make this decision without talking to the president.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Same‑Sex Marriage Litigation, 2013, United States Department of Justice
He consulted the president on a pivotal civil‑rights case, highlighting the weight of executive input in legal strategy.
In simple terms: He sought the president’s view on a major marriage equality case.
Key Takeaway
Seek counsel on high‑stakes decisions.
Themes
law
civil rights
executive counsel
Mood
thoughtful
strategic
Type
political
legal
historical
When to use this quote
- court filings
- government advisory
- public policy
- human rights
Key Concepts
constitutional law
judicial review
policy making
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternative viewpoints could inform such decisions?
- How does executive guidance shape legal outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Relying on a single opinion can overlook broader perspectives.
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![“I spent more time talking with this president [Donald Trump] in the last few days, I think, than I probably talked with this last president [Barack Obama] in the last six months. So this is something that he is working very closely hand in glove with congress.” quote by Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/960/paul-ryan-869_barack_i-spent-more-time-talking-with-this-pres_277876.jpg)
![“There was a huge movement that led up to [gay marriage legilization], and I played a small role in the great scheme of things. But it was really a privilege to get to do it.” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3b7/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_gay_there-was-a-huge-movement-that-led-up-to_144067.jpg)
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![“Justice [Sonia]Sotomayor said, "Let's talk - you want to talk about the tax power."And I got like a 10-minute run on the tax power. And, boy, was I glad I did because I was able to get across this idea that, yes, this is a narrower ground on which you can affirm it. And I think everybody agrees. I…” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc0/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_able_justice-sonia-sotomayor-said-let-s-talk_635926.jpg)
![“Ben Carson also denounced [Donald] Trump's ban all Muslims proposal saying we do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion.” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d7/rachel-maddow-1240_bans_ben-carson-also-denounced-donald-trump-s_674.jpg)
![“When observers look back 50 years from now, the arguments supporting Florida's ban on same-sex marriage, though just as sincerely held [as views of those who were opposed to interracial marriage], will again seem an obvious pretext for discrimination.” quote by Robert Lewis Hinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b38/robert-lewis-hinkle-98058_argument_when-observers-look-back-50-years-from-n_108007.jpg)
