Michael Boos

Executive Vice President, Citizens United

Michael Boos is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Citizens United. Mr. Boos was co-counsel for Citizens United in the landmark First Amendment case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. He has litigated dozens of cases -- civil and criminal -- and authored or co-authored numerous court briefs and public policy papers. Mr. Boos frequently testifies before regulatory agencies on the impact of proposed government regulations.<br /> <br /> Mr. Boos received his Juris Doctorate degree from George Mason University School of Law in 1994, and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence award in Trusts and Estates. He received his undergraduate degree in agribusiness economics from Rutgers University in 1981.<br /> <br /> Mr. Boos began his professional career in 1981, with a position as a campaign director for the National Conservative Political Action Committee. In 1982, he joined the staff of Young Americans for Freedom as project director, and from 1983-1988, he served as program director for Young America’s Foundation. <br /> <br /> While at Young America’s Foundation, Mr. Boos was named lead plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court Case of Boos v. Barry. The case involved a successful constitutional challenge to a Washington, DC law that prohibited the carrying of signs or banners near foreign embassies, if those signs or banners were designed to bring the foreign government into “public odium” or “public disrepute.” The law had been selectively enforced to prohibit demonstrations near the Soviet Embassy.<br /> <br /> From 1988-1990, Mr. Boos served as executive director of the Legal Affairs Council, where he oversaw efforts to defend conservatives and conservative values in the nation’s courts. He entered law school in the fall of 1990 and continued to serve as editor of Legal Affairs Council’s newsletter, Legal Briefs Bulletin, until he graduated in 1994.<br /> <br /> Mr. Boos joined the staff of Citizens United in January 1995. He also maintains a private law practice in Northern Virginia. Mr. Boos is admitted to practice before the Virginia Supreme Court and all other Virginia courts, U.S. Supreme Court, 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeal, 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, U.S. District court for Colorado, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.<br /> <br /> Mr. Boos resides in Northern Virginia. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, golf and other outdoor recreational activities.