There is little doubt among appellate lawyers that Sri Srinivasan would make a great judge. The nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is smart, they say, and has an engaging personality and easy style that has endeared him to his peers and U.S. Supreme Court justices alike.

“Sri has a special touch with everyone in every building he’s ever been in, no matter what their position,” said Walter Dellinger, an appellate partner in O’Melveny & Myers’ Washington office and a former colleague of Srinivasan.