In what could be the biggest tech monopoly case of the 21st century, Google is facing an antitrust trial based on US Department of Justice (DOJ) allegations that claim the Alphabet-owned company has employed several illegal approaches to establish the dominance of its search engine. The trial kicked off on September 12 and is largely expected to continue for about 10 weeks, i.e., until mid-November.
While the case is seeing major revelations and claims made in court, most notably by Microsoft chief Satya Nadella on how Google has been engaged in anticompetitive practices with Apple, massively hindering Bing’s potential as a search engine, the Internet is also abuzz with discussions on the Barack Obama-appointed Indian-origin judge overseeing the hearings.
Who is Judge Amit Mehta?
District of Columbia Judge Amit P. Mehta began his tenure in the United States District Court on December 22, 2014.
Originally hailing from Patan, Gujarat, he pursued a B.A. in Political Science and Economics at Georgetown University in 1993, followed by a J.D. (Juris Doctor or Doctor of Law) from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1997.
Having completed his legal studies, Judge Mehta commenced his career at Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco, gaining valuable experience. Following this, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Susan P. Graber of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Subsequently, he practised law at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP in Washington, D.C., from 1999 to 2002.
Making a transition in 2002, he assumed the role of a staff attorney at the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. In 2007, Judge Mehta rejoined Zuckerman Spaeder, dedicating his practice to white-collar criminal defence, complex business disputes, and appellate advocacy.
Judge Mehta is known for presiding over high-profile cases and has made significant rulings, notably involving the January 6 US Capitol riot. One of these rulings involved the denial of former US President Donald Trump’s attempt to dismiss civil lawsuits that held him accountable for inciting the riot.
In a comprehensive 112-page ruling, Mehta emphasised, “To deny a President immunity from civil damages is no small step,” and further stated, “The court well understands the gravity of its decision. But the alleged facts of this case are without precedent, and the court believes that its decision is consistent with the purposes behind such immunity.”
Additionally, Judge Mehta concluded that Trump could face litigation for his role in inciting the riot, as his “Stop the Steal” speech was deemed not an official presidential act.
Judge Mehta, Beyond Legal Practice
Beyond his legal profession, Judge Mehta has actively engaged with various organisations. Notably, he contributed to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project as a member of the Board of Directors.
Additionally, he held the position of co-chair for the District of Columbia Bar’s Criminal Law and Individual Rights Section Steering Committee.
Further, he took on the role of Director at Facilitating Leadership in Youth, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing after-school activities and mentorship for at-risk youth.
Fun trivia: Judge Mehta has time and again showcased a keen interest in hip-hop music during his professional journey. Throughout several rulings, he illustrated his familiarity with hip-hop music and its lyrics.
In a 2015 opinion, Judge Mehta shared his admiration for hip-hop icons such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, and Eminem. Moreover, in a 2018 opinion, he incorporated lyrics from Beyoncé’s track “Sorry.”