His son Hampton Dellinger confirmed that Dellinger passed away Wednesday morning in Chapel Hill.
Dellinger was the Acting Solicitor General, the highest ranking Supreme Court lawyer, during the Clinton administration.
He was the acting solicitor general for the 1996-97 term. He personally argued nine cases during that time, more than any of his predecessors over the past two decades. Dellinger was an professor at Duke University School of Law. He had been a faculty member there since 1969.
On Wednesday, he will be remembered for his friendship as well as his guidance, from Duke’s campus to Supreme Court.
“Walter was a great mentor to me. “He gave me the best advice, and shared everything he knew about the job, when I was Solicitor General,” Justice Elena Kagan, who was the solicitor general under the Obama administration, stated in a statement. He was kind and generous, and made everyone he worked with feel ten foot tall. He was an extraordinary lawyer, with endless accomplishments. But he never took credit for others.”
Justice Stephen Breyer described Dellinger as “a great lawyer” and “a valuable public servant.”
Breyer stated in a statement that “His positive contribution towards law and the rule of law here in this country will live long in our memory.”
Dellinger was an active commentator on legal and political news until his death. Dellinger was part of a Democratic legal team that handled election-related court cases ahead of the 2020 election. In an essay published in the New York Times, Dellinger defended Biden’s promise to name a Black woman as Supreme Court Justice.
“There are about 25,000 Black female lawyers in America. Dellinger stated that there is every reason for President Biden to focus on this extraordinary group of women as the next justice at the United States Supreme Court.
Walter Dellinger was born and raised in Charlotte. He attended Yale Law School and the University of North Carolina. Dellinger was a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black early in his career.
“Walter had a remarkable and extraordinary life. Hampton Dellinger, a former assistant attorney general in Biden’s Justice Department, said that he had many loves.
Walter Dellinger was the acting solicitor general and won five cases. He also defended President Clinton’s line-item vote. He lost one case and got split decisions in another. This was when the Brady gun control law was thrown out and the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit against Clinton could proceed.
In 1997, Dellinger stated that “this is the best job in the world” as he was about to quit the position to return to Duke and teach. He stated that his decision was made to spend time with his North Carolina family.
Before that, Dellinger was the Office of Legal Counsel’s Director. He issued opinions about the President’s authority to send U.S. soldiers to Haiti and Bosnia. Also, the President’s rights to refuse to enforce unconstitutional laws.
According to site oyez.org, Dellinger represented the government in 24 cases before the high court.
Many Washington lawyers, particularly Democrats, were influenced by Dellinger and he was a friend and mentor to them. On Wednesday, tributes were offered from all political parties, including former Judge Michael Luttig (a conservative) tweeting: “Walter Dellinger, a remarkable human being, a phenomenal lawyer and counselor, as well as a friend.”
Merrick Garland, Attorney General, worked alongside Dellinger at Justice Department and praised his dedication and impactful work.
“Walter did not view the law as a profession, but rather as a calling. Garland stated in a statement that he believed it was his privilege and right to use the law for democracy’s benefit.
Dean Kerry Abrams stated that Dellinger will also be missed by the Duke Law Community.
She said that Walter Dellinger was “a lion of law, the legal profession and legal education.” He was a beloved member of the Duke Law School faculty and was loved by many. He was an intellectual, generous, big-hearted, mentor, friend, and mentor.
