In 1971, as deputy city attorney in charge of appellate cases, he unsuccessfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Cohen v. California (arguing against famed first amendment attorney Melville B. Nimmer) — an obscenity case stemming from a defendant who appeared in a county courtroom wearing a jacket decrying the draft.
In 1971, as deputy city attorney for appellate matters, he made an unsuccessful appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in the Cohen v. California case (opposing prominent first amendment advocate Melville B. Nimmer) — a challenge to freedom of expression arising from a defendant's courtroom protest against the draft.