The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is pleased to announce the engagement of Robert Corn-Revere as the organization’s new legal counsel. Bob will lead the CBLDF’s legal program, serving as the first responder to First Amendment emergencies that come to the organization’s attention, as well as providing guidance and assistance to the comics community on legal issues that impact their First Amendment rights. He succeeds legendary First Amendment advocate Burton Joseph, who passed away earlier this year.
Corn-Revere is one of the country’s most prominent First Amendment experts, with extensive publications and litigation experience. He is a partner in the firm Davis Wright Tremaine for whom he specializes in First Amendment law and communications, media and information technology law. His litigation highlights include serving as co-counsel for respondent in U.S. v. Stevens, in which the Supreme Court invalidated a federal law prohibiting depictions of “animal cruelty” as a violation of the First Amendment; and as lead counsel in United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc., where the Court struck down Section 505 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. He currently is serving as counsel for CBS in litigation against the FCC in cases challenging fines arising from the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, and the FCC’s application of broadcast indecency rules to “fleeting expletives.” He also successfully petitioned Governor George E. Pataki to grant the first posthumous pardon in New York history, to the late comedian Lenny Bruce in a landmark pro bono case.
On joining the CBLDF as counsel, Corn-Revere says, “It is an honor to be asked to advise and support the comic book industry, which has been no stranger to significant First Amendment challenges over the years. It is particularly meaningful to me to follow in the footsteps of my friend and mentor Burt Joseph. I only hope to live up to his example.”
CBLDF President Larry Marder says, “The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund strives to provide the comics industry with the best First Amendment advocacy and education possible, and with Bob joining our team, we’re poised to do that job better than ever!”
CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein says, “Bob joining as counsel completes a trifecta in terms of establishing changes that will allow us to better perform our mission. The Board of Directors adding Dale Cendali, a leading intellectual property attorney, to serve alongside entertainment attorney and long-time board member Louise Nemschoff, gives us a solid trust of legal talent to draw from at the Board level. Creating the Advisory Chair for Education and Outreach and appointing Betsy Rosenblatt, the Director of the Center for Intellectual Property Law at Whittier Law School, gives us the ability to better channel the resources of volunteers to create more and better education tools. Bob is an exciting addition to that group. His extensive experience and passion for the First Amendment rounds out the Fund’s powerhouse legal team, and insures that we’ll be able to serve the comics community even better in the years to come!”
