These 3 judges hold the fate of the Internet in their hands

Three judges from the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit have been named to hear the oral argument on Dec. 4. Much like the Supreme Court, the very makeup of this panel could subtly shape the course of events. What do we know about the judges? Are they familiar with the issues? How might they vote?

1. Judge Sri Srinivasan is a relative newcomer to the court, having been appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013. His views on network neutrality and technology aren't clear, making him a bit of an enigma. But we do know this much: He's said to be a rising star. Judge Srinivasan is reportedly on the Democratic Party's shortlist for Supreme Court nominees.
2. Judge Stephen Williams is a senior judge on the DC Circuit. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, Judge Williams is described by some court-watchers as skeptical of preemptive regulation when after-the-fact antitrust enforcement may suffice. He's written prolifically about regulation, particularly on environmental issues. That makes Judge Williams an incredibly interesting character.
3. Judge David Tatel's key credential here is that he authored the legal opinion that led to this current case. That 2014 net neutrality case is known as Verizon v. FCC, and Judge Tatel is the sole returning judge this time, drawing that much more attention to his role in the last round. Because both sides are claiming to have properly interpreted Tatel's 2014 ruling, everyone's watching to see how Judge Tatel himself will now view this case. A Clinton appointee, Judge Tatel has the unusual distinction of enjoying skiing, marathoning and climbing mountains — while blind. Judge Tatel has a background in civil rights and education law, and once served in the Carter administration.