Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar
Encyclopedia
Mariano-Florentino "Tino" Cuéllar (born July 27, 1972) is an American lawyer, academic, and former official in the Clinton and Obama administrations. He is an expert in administrative law
, international security
, and the law of public health and safety. He is currently Professor and Deane F. Johnson Faculty Scholar at Stanford Law School
and the Co-Director of Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation.
, Tamaulipas
, México
, and attended junior high school in Brownsville, Texas
. When he was in high school, his family moved to the town of Calexico
, in California’s Imperial Valley
.
He graduated magna cum laude with a BA from Harvard
in 1993, a JD from Yale Law School
in 1997, and a PhD in political science from Stanford
in 2000.
initiatives, border coordination, and financial enforcement. He clerked for the Honorable Chief Judge Mary M. Schroeder
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Cuéllar joined the Stanford Law School in 2001, and was promoted to Professor and Deane F Johnson Faculty Scholar in 2007. At Stanford, he is also the Co-Director of the university's inter-disciplinary Center for International Security and Cooperation.
Cuéllar was a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Project from 2008, where he co-directed the working group on immigration, borders and refugee policy.
From early 2009 to the summer of 2010, Cuéllar took leave from Stanford Law School and served as a Special Assistant to the President for Justice and Regulatory Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council. While at the White House
, he led the Domestic Policy Council’s work on public health and safety, regulatory reform
, civil rights
, immigration
, and rural and agricultural policy. He coordinated the Food Safety
Working Group, a new inter-agency effort tasked with revamping federal food safety efforts.
In July 2010, President Barack Obama
appointed Cuéllar to the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States
. In addition, Education Secretary Arne Duncan appointed Cuéllar to the National Commission on Equity and Excellence in Education in early 2011. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Constitution Project, a bipartisan non-profit organization that builds consensus on significant constitutional issues affecting the rule of law and criminal justice.
In 2011, Cuéllar was one of the candidates under consideration by California Governor
Jerry Brown
to fill the vacancy on the California Supreme Court
created by the retirement of Justice Carlos R. Moreno.
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
, international security
International security
International security consists of the measures taken by nations and international organizations, such as the United Nations, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security...
, and the law of public health and safety. He is currently Professor and Deane F. Johnson Faculty Scholar at Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
and the Co-Director of Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation.
Early life and education
An American citizen, Cuéllar was born in MatamorosMatamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and attended junior high school in Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
. When he was in high school, his family moved to the town of Calexico
Calexico, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about east of San Diego and west of Yuma, Arizona...
, in California’s Imperial Valley
Imperial Valley
The Imperial Valley is an agricultural area of Southern California's Imperial County. It is located in southeastern Southern California, centered around the city of El Centro. Locally, the terms "Imperial Valley" and "Imperial County" are used synonymously. The Valley is bordered between the...
.
He graduated magna cum laude with a BA from Harvard
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1993, a JD from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1997, and a PhD in political science from Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 2000.
Professional career
Cuéllar's research and teaching focus on administrative law, executive power, and how organizations implement regulatory responsibilities involving public health and safety, migration, and international security in a changing world. Before joining Stanford Law School, Cuéllar worked at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he focused on anti-corruptionAnti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption is a 1975 Hong Kong film directed by Ng See Yuen and released under the Eternal Film banner.-External links:* Anti-Corruption at...
initiatives, border coordination, and financial enforcement. He clerked for the Honorable Chief Judge Mary M. Schroeder
Mary M. Schroeder
Mary M. Schroeder is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.- Education :She received her B.A. from Swarthmore in 1962 and her J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1965, one of six women in her class...
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Cuéllar joined the Stanford Law School in 2001, and was promoted to Professor and Deane F Johnson Faculty Scholar in 2007. At Stanford, he is also the Co-Director of the university's inter-disciplinary Center for International Security and Cooperation.
Cuéllar was a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Project from 2008, where he co-directed the working group on immigration, borders and refugee policy.
From early 2009 to the summer of 2010, Cuéllar took leave from Stanford Law School and served as a Special Assistant to the President for Justice and Regulatory Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council. While at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, he led the Domestic Policy Council’s work on public health and safety, regulatory reform
Regulatory reform
Regulatory Reform concerns improvements to the quality of government regulation.At the international level, the "OECD Regulatory Reform Programme is aimed at helping governments improve regulatory quality -- that is, reforming regulations that raise unnecessary obstacles to competition, innovation...
, civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, and rural and agricultural policy. He coordinated the Food Safety
Food safety
Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards....
Working Group, a new inter-agency effort tasked with revamping federal food safety efforts.
In July 2010, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
appointed Cuéllar to the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States
Administrative Conference of the United States
The Administrative Conference of the United States is an independent agency of the United States government established by the Administrative Conference Act of 1964. It is also considered to be a federal advisory committee...
. In addition, Education Secretary Arne Duncan appointed Cuéllar to the National Commission on Equity and Excellence in Education in early 2011. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Constitution Project, a bipartisan non-profit organization that builds consensus on significant constitutional issues affecting the rule of law and criminal justice.
In 2011, Cuéllar was one of the candidates under consideration by California Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
to fill the vacancy on the California Supreme Court
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
created by the retirement of Justice Carlos R. Moreno.