NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey to hear the appeal of the six-game suspension levied by retired former federal judge Sue L. Robinson.
Under the terms of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, when the NFL decided to appeal the proposed six-game suspension, Commissioner Goodell had the authority to decide the appeal himself, or designate another person to decide the appeal:
NFL statement on Peter C. Harvey being tabbed to hear Deshaun Watson’s appeal. pic.twitter.com/qT0aty6Yq8
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 4, 2022
Harvey is currently a partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, practicing out of their office in New York City. According to his biography on the firm’s website, he “has been a central player in civil and criminal trials, government investigations and consumer fraud matters for many years. A gifted trial lawyer, his nearly 30 years of courtroom experience includes significant commercial matters, frequently within the hospitality, pharmaceutical and entertainment/sports industries.”
According to the same biographical page, he is also a member of the NFL’s Diversity Advisory Committee, where he serves as a “consulting expert with respect to the NFL’s effort to improve racial and gender diversity in the hiring of head coaches and senior executives throughout the NFL’s 32-member clubs and League office.”
As noted by the league, Harvey has “deep expertise in criminal law, including domestic violence and sexual assault, and has advised the NFL and other professional leagues on the development and implementation of workplace policies, including the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.”
