Introducing the judge who decides Google’s destiny, appointed by Obama.
ANTITRUST CASE OF THE CENTURY: WHAT TO EXPECT AS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT V. GOOGLE CASE BEGINS
One judge holds the power to determine the fate of Google as it faces allegations of monopolizing the internet search sector. Judge Amit Mehta, appointed by President Obama, presides over the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google. The case revolves around the government’s claim that Google has unfairly limited competition by securing deals to have its search engine set as the default option on various mobile devices and browsers. With over nine years of experience in the District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Mehta’s decisions will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the world’s largest search engine.
Google vs. DOJ: A Nine-Week Trial
Under Judge Mehta’s watchful eye, the trial between Google and the DOJ will commence on Tuesday and span nine weeks. The focus of the case will be on the agreements made between Google, web browser developers, and mobile phone manufacturers, which establish Google as the default search engine. The Department of Justice argues that this practice hampers the ability of other companies to compete.
In an August ruling, Judge Mehta narrowed the scope of the case to concentrate on the specific contracts rather than broader allegations of monopolistic behavior.
“A dominant firm like Google does not violate the law, however, merely because it occupies a monopoly market position,” Mehta wrote. “It must act in a manner that produces anticompetitive effects in the defined markets. That is, a company with monopoly power acts unlawfully only when its conduct stifles competition.”
Appointed to the court on December 22, 2014, Judge Mehta’s background includes a B.A. in political science and economics from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He clerked for Ninth Circuit Judge Susan Graber and worked at the legal firm Zuckerman Spaeder before serving as a public defender in D.C. and eventually returning to Zuckerman Spaeder, specializing in white-collar crime and business disputes.
Given his limited experience in technology policy and antitrust matters, it remains uncertain how Judge Mehta will rule in the DOJ v. Google case. One notable case in his career involved blocking a $3.5 billion Sysco deal for US Foods in 2015 on antitrust grounds, following opposition from regulators, resulting in the termination of the deal.
Furthermore, Judge Mehta gained recognition for granting Congress access to former President Donald Trump’s court records in 2019. He is currently overseeing the trial of former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro, who was found guilty by a federal jury for disregarding calls from the House Jan. 6 committee to provide documents and testimony.
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