Earlier this week, President Obama announced the nomination of Marietta S. Robinson to serve as a Commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). If approved, Ms, Robinson, a former Michigan trial lawyer, would fill the seat vacated by Thomas H. Moore and give the Commission a fifth vote that will likely enable the more liberal members of the Commission to exert greater control over Commission policy. Ms. Robinson’s professional experience includes 33 years of law practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Ms. Robinson specialized in medical malpractice and personal injury law during much of her legal career, and recently served eight years as a federally appointed trustee of the Dalkon Shield Trust. Ms. Robinson has a B.A. from University of Michigan-Flint and a J.D. from UCLA. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will likely try to move Ms. Robinson’s nomination to a vote in the Senate as quickly as possible as her appointment may give the Democrats on the CPSC a tie breaking vote on regulatory issues. However, a hearing on the nomination has not yet been scheduled.

For further information, please contact Georgia C. Ravitz, James R. Ravitz or Scott S. Cohn at Arent Fox.