Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, TOP STORY: FTC Commissioner Joshua D. Wright resigns, (Aug 17, 2015)

By Greg Hammond, J.D.

FTC Commissioner Joshua D. Wright has announced his resignation, effective at the close of business on Monday, August 24, 2015. He served as a Commissioner since January 2013, when he was appointed by President Obama to replace J. Thomas Rosch. Wright previously held the position of inaugural Scholar in Residence at the Bureau of Competition and was an intern at both the Bureau of Economics and Bureau of Competition.

“I am honored and grateful to have had the opportunity to serve at an agency dedicated to protecting American consumers,” Wright wrote in an August 17 statement. “The Commission’s accomplishments during my tenure—especially our bipartisan effort to provide guidance on the boundaries and meaning of its Section 5 unfair methods of competition authority—have been some of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. I also hope the agency will benefit from my efforts to foster the continued integration of economic analysis into all facets of our competition and consumer protection missions.”

Wright noted that he will be returning to his position at George Mason University School of Law as a professor and as Director of the Global Antitrust Institute at the Law and Economics Center. He is a leading scholar in antitrust law, economics, and consumer protection, having published more than 60 articles and book chapters, co-authored a leading casebook, and edited several book volumes focusing on these issues.

A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, Wright earned both a J.D. and Ph.D. in Economics from UCLA. He clerked for Judge James V. Selna of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and taught at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Public Policy.

“I especially want to thank my colleagues: Chairwoman Ramirez and Commissioners Brill, Ohlhausen, and McSweeny,” Wright wrote. “It has been a privilege to serve with a group of such accomplished and knowledgeable lawyers. While we agreed upon the right course of action for the Commission more often than not, when we did disagree, our discussions were always productive and respectful of the diverse perspectives within the agency.”

“It has been a privilege to work with Commissioner Wright during his tenure at the Federal Trade Commission,” remarked FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. “The agency has benefited greatly from his perspective as a lawyer and economist in connection with the matters that have come before us. We are going to miss him and wish him well on his return to academic life.”

MainStory: TopStory Antitrust FederalTradeCommissionNews