"Greens Wary Of Sri Srinivasan's Fossil Fuel Past"

"The prospect of President Barack Obama tapping Sri Srinivasan for the Supreme Court is spawning a sharp debate among at least one part of the Democrats’ liberal grass roots — environmentalists turned off by his high-profile defense of giant fossil fuel companies.

The federal appellate court judge has emerged as an early favorite to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, given Srinivasan’s sterling educational and professional credentials, his bipartisan work history and his inspiring biography as an immigrant who has risen to the highest ranks of the legal profession. But his history of representing large corporations runs the risk of alienating Obama allies looking to gauge his still-developing record on key liberal priorities.

Srinivasan’s work on human rights cases in which he defended ExxonMobil and the mining company Rio Tinto have raised particular objections from environmentalists. He also represented that enduring symbol of corporate excess, former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling, in the appeal of the executive’s fraud and conspiracy convictions."

Elana Schor reports for Politico February 17, 2016.