William Consovoy, an attorney who was a prominent face for conservative causes, dies at 48, his law firm Consovoy McCarthy. Let’s see more details about Consovoy and his cause of death.
How did William Consovoy die?
He was diagnosed in 2020 with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, said his mother. He stepped away from litigation last fall.
McCarthy told CNN last year that Consovoy was being treated for brain cancer. “He was an exceptionally skilled writer and among the top lawyers.
He married the love of his life, Masa Anisic, in 2020. She died in April 2021 following a brief battle with cancer; Will was a deeply devoted husband and caregiver.
1/ William Consovoy, a leading conservative lawyer and founding partner of Consovoy McCarthy, has passed away, at 48. May he rest in peace.
— David Lat (@DavidLat) January 10, 2023
Cause of Death-Obituary
William S. Consovoy passed away on January 9, 2023, in Falls Church, VA, surrounded by his family; he was 48 years old. Will died from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was diagnosed two years before.
Will was a leader in the conservative legal community, but of more importance to him were his family and his friends. Will is survived by his mother, Linda Whalen; his stepfather, Bernie Whalen; his father, Andrew Consovoy; his sister, Amanda Consovoy; his niece, Lila; his Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tim; and many other loving aunts and uncles, cousins and friends.
There will be a celebration of Will’s life, for friends and family, at a later date.
2/ Will Consovoy was suffering from brain cancer; it was diagnosed two years ago, as his law partner Thomas McCarthy told @JoanBiskupic of @CNN in October.https://t.co/jzEF2vG0cd
— David Lat (@DavidLat) January 10, 2023
About William Consovoy
Will, who came from a modest background and had a permanent influence on both his personal and professional life via brilliance, hard effort, warmth, and sensitivity, was in many ways a symbol of the American dream. Will was raised in the suburban New Jersey community of Florham Park after being born in Plainfield, NJ. He was a perfect big brother, caring for Amanda wholeheartedly.
His love of sports and his ability to make others laugh with his sharp observations and subtle humor began early in life. Will was the head coach of the men’s basketball teams at both Marist High School and Monmouth University while he was a student there.
He initially intended to pursue a career in sports management but decided that law was the better fit for him. Before working as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, with whom he formed a close friendship, Will clerked for the Arlington County Circuit Court and Judge Edith H. Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Will graduated with honors from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School.
The Antonin Scalia Law School’s first alumnus to work as a Supreme Court clerk was Will; others have since followed. After his clerkships, Will worked at Wiley Rein, where he was instrumental in litigating Supreme Court cases challenging the University of Texas’s use of race in admissions (Fisher v. Texas) and Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
William is Not afraid of Taking Risks
Will was not afraid to take chances. In 2014 he made the decision to leave the security of an established law practice to form the Consovoy McCarthy PLLC law firm with his close friend Tom McCarthy.
The firm has increased in size from two attorneys to more than 20 now. Will and other firm attorneys frequently appear before the Supreme Court, which has had a substantial impact on the law under his leadership.
Will placed a lot of value on the mentoring and professional development. He and the firm provided for new attorneys. He was their friend, offering advice and support on both a personal and professional level, in addition to being a powerful role model for them.
The Eagles defeat the Patriots
Despite his professional achievement, Will never placed the greatest value on his work. A broad smile spread across his expressive face as he said that his family and friends were like family to him.
He was especially dedicated to his niece Lila, whom he referred to as “his favorite person in the world,” and his sister Amanda. He was passionate about the Philadelphia Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, and the Jersey shore, though not as much as his friends and family.
Attending Super Bowl LII to watch the Eagles defeat the Patriots was among his happiest memories.
Mr. Consovoy’s Best works
Mr. Consovoy was perhaps best known for his work with Edward Blum, the conservative activist who engineered the effort to have the Supreme Court overturned Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act and, more recently, to outlaw affirmative action in higher education.
In 2013, in one of his early cases before the Supreme Court, Mr. Consovoy was part of the team that successfully argued the Section 4 case, Shelby County v. Holder, persuading the Court to get rid of the requirement that several states and counties, mostly in the South, had to receive federal clearance before changing their election laws.
Tributes Poured on Social Media
NYT Obituaries Posted
William Consovoy argued against affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act . He also represented former President Trump is fighting the release of his tax returns. He died at 48.
The Harvard Crimson Posted
William S. Consovoy, an attorney who was a prominent face for conservative causes, died on Monday evening, his law firm Consovoy McCarthy announced on Tuesday. He was 48.
R3dacted Posted
“Prominent right-wing hobby-horse lawyer William Consovoy – who made his name suing Ivy League schools for having the temerity to admit black students before hitting the big time as a stooge to Donald J. Trump – has passed away at age 48.”
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