Tony Cotto is a Chairman, Republican National Lawyers Association, George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC.

1. STUDENT PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Tony Cotto: Chairman, Republican National Lawyers
Association, George Washington University Law School,
Washington, DC
[By Charisse Dengler]
“The lawmaking process is most affected by people with influence, money, and the desire to see things changed for the
better,” Tony Cotto, a May 2006 graduate of George Washington University (GWU) Law School, said when asked what
he learned during his summer internships.
Cotto, who is now working at the U.S. Office releases, conducting research on judicial “While I respect greatly the people who
of Special Counsel, spent his 1L summer nominees, managing our blog, helping put poured all their efforts during law school into
interning with the Competitive Enterprise together conference materials, and traveling academics, I think student organizations are
Institute and working at Taxpayers Against to staff many of our local chapter events equally important, if not more important,”
Fraud; but it was the time he spent working around the country.” he said. “They were essential to me for
with the Republican National Lawyers developing friendships with like-minded
Association (RNLA) that really helped shape Throughout the year, the RNLA hosts forums students [and] contacts with famous scholars
his law school career. In fact, it was his boss during which lawmakers and lawyers explore and public policy figures, and [they] provide a
at the RNLA during his 2L summer and 3L topics of interest to Republican lawyers. great discussion forum for things that often
year, Mike Thielen, who influenced him the In addition, the association has a National interest law students but do not come out in
most during law school. Policy Conference and national and local the pedagogy of classes.”
Election Law Seminars. These Election Law
“He is a former lobbyist and researcher and Seminars are meant to inform attorneys on Cotto said his current position at the U.S.
an unbelievably adept political operative,” the process of litigating election challenges Office of Special Counsel is exactly what he
Cotto said of Thielen, who is the RNLA’s and recounts. expected when he accepted the offer, even
Executive Director. “His sensibility and though it’s not what he thought he would
perspective on the entire Beltway life was “The RNLA also helps make arrangements to be doing after graduating from law school.
fantastic to help me put my life and future send lawyers to precincts around the country However, he admits that this is probably
career in perspective.” as election monitors. I spent the 2004 because he had “no idea what [he] would be
election as part of the RNLA/Bush-Cheney doing after law school.”
In addition to being chair of the GWU Law legal team in Dayton, OH,” Cotto said. “The
“At the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, it is
School’s chapter of RNLA, Cotto worked as RNLA also participates in just about every
our mission to promote good governance by
Assistant Director of the RNLA—a part-time event related to the confirmation of President
investigating and prosecuting abnormalities
position during the school year and a full- Bush’s judicial nominees. On the more fun
in executive branch employment matters,
time position during the summers. and celebratory side, the association hosts
with specific jurisdiction where the Hatch
several embassy receptions and awards
Act and the Whistleblower Protection Act are
“In my role as the RNLA’s Assistant Director, ceremonies to celebrate the recipients of the
concerned,” Cotto said.
I was responsible for a host of things Edwin Meese and the Republican Lawyer of
involved in the day-to-day operations of a the Year awards.”
Cotto applied to law school because he
3,500-member-plus lawyers association,”
has always been interested in why people
he said. “This included everything from the At GWU Law School, Cotto was also a
make the decisions they make and because
menial tasks of entering members’ updated member of both the St. Thomas More Society
he enjoys the “vast universe of factors,
addresses into our database to big tasks and the Federalist Society. He thinks student
considerations, and gamesmanship that go
like representing the group at right-wing organizations are a great way to make
into the final product of why and how laws
coalition strategy meetings. I was also friends with people who are passionate about
are made.”
occasionally responsible for drafting press the same things you are.
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2. STUDENT PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
“I also love to argue and make people think “As much as every law student appreciates ON THE NET
twice about their choice of words, so law doctrinal certainty because it makes an
school seemed like a great fit,” he said. exam easier, I always enjoyed hypothetical Republican National Lawyers Association
situations more because they were an www.rnla.org
Overall, Cotto said he appreciates the opportunity to truly get at why laws are
uncertainty of the law and enjoys the process structured the way they are,” he said. “The George Washington University Law School
of coming up with “creative and appropriate” law can never account for every ‘what if’ www.law.gwu.edu/default.htm
solutions to situations. situation, but it is fun to try.”
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
www.osc.gov
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