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Judicial Reform Second Circuit Judges
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Judges for the United States Court of Appeals: 2nd Circuit
Robert A. Katzmann Chief Judge
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Nominated on March 8, 1999, to a seat vacated by Jon O. Newman. Confirmed by the Senate on July 14, 1999, and received commission on July 16, 1999. Served as chief judge, 2013-present.
Education: Columbia College, A.B., 1973; Harvard University, A.M., 1976; Harvard University, Ph.D., 1978; Yale Law School, J.D., 1980
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Hugh H. Bownes, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1980-1981; Fellow, Brookings Institution, 1981-1999; acting program director, 1998 Faculty, Georgetown University, 1984-1999; adjunct professor of law, 1984-1989; adjunct professor of public policy, 1987-1992; Walsh Professor of Government, professor of law and professor of public policy, 1992-1999 President, Governance Institute, 1986-1999; Special assistant to the director, Federal Judicial Center, 1986-1988; Visiting professor, University of California, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. program, 1990-1992; Wayne Morse chair in law and politics, University of Oregon, 1992
Christopher Fitzgerald Droney
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Nominated by Bill Clinton on June 5, 1997, to a seat vacated by Alan H. Nevas. Confirmed by the Senate on September 11, 1997, and received commission on September 18, 1997. Service terminated on December 1, 2011, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Nominated on May 4, 2011, to a seat vacated by Guido Calabresi. Confirmed by the Senate on November 28, 2011, and received commission on December 1, 2011.
Education: College of the Holy Cross, B.A., 1976; University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., 1979
Professional Career: Private practice, Hartford, Connecticut, 1979-1993; Deputy mayor, West Hartford, Connecticut, 1983-1985; Mayor, West Hartford, Connecticut, 1985-1989; U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, 1993 1997
Debra Ann Livingston
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Nominated on January 9, 2007, to a seat vacated by John M. Walker, Jr.. Confirmed by the Senate on May 9, 2007, and received commission on May 17, 2007.
Education: Princeton University, B.A., 1980; Harvard Law School, J.D., 1984
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. J. Edward Lumbard, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1984-1985; Private practice, New York, 1985-1986, 1991-1992; Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1986-1991; Assistant professor, University of Michigan Law School, 1992-1994; Faculty, Columbia Law School, 1994-2007; associate professor, 1994-2000; professor, 2000-2007; vice dean, 2005-2006
Dennis G. Jacobs
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Nominated on March 20, 1992, to a seat vacated by Wilfred Feinberg. Confirmed by the Senate on September 29, 1992, and received commission on October 2, 1992. Served as chief judge, 2006-2013.
Education: Queens College, City University of New York, B.A., 1964; New York University, M.A., 1965; New York University School of Law, J.D., 1973
Professional Career: Private practice, New York City, 1973-1992
Denny Chin
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Nominated by Bill Clinton on March 24, 1994, to a new seat authorized by 104 Stat. 5089. Confirmed by the Senate on August 9, 1994, and received commission on August 10, 1994. Service terminated on April 26, 2010, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Nominated on October 6, 2009, to a seat vacated by Robert D. Sack. Confirmed by the Senate on April 22, 2010, and received commission on April 23, 2010.
Education: Princeton University, B.A., 1975; Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1978
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Henry Werker, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1978-1980; Private practice, New York City, 1980-1982, 1986-1994; Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1982-1986; Adjunct professor (part-time), Fordham University School of Law, 1986-1994
Gerard E. Lynch
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Nominated by Bill Clinton on February 28, 2000, to a seat vacated by John E. Sprizzo. Confirmed by the Senate on May 24, 2000, and received commission on May 25, 2000. Service terminated on September 21, 2009, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Nominated on April 2, 2009, to a seat vacated by Chester J. Straub. Confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2009, and received commission on September 18, 2009.
Education: Columbia College, B.A., 1972; Columbia Law School, J.D., 1975
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Wilfred Feinberg, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1975-1976; Law clerk, Hon. William J. Brennan, Jr., Supreme Court of the United States, 1976-1977; Professor, Columbia University School of Law, 1977-2000; vice dean, 1992-1997; Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1980-1983, 1990-1992; chief, Criminal Division, 1990-1992; Associate counsel, Office of Independent Counsel, Iran-Contra investigation, 1988-1990; Private practice, New York City, 1992-2000
Jose Alberto Cabranes
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. Nominated on by Jimmy Carter on November 6, 1979, to a seat vacated by Jon O. Newman. Confirmed by the Senate on December 5, 1979, and received commission on December 10, 1979. Served as chief judge, 1992-1994. Service terminated on August 12, 1994, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Nominated on May 24, 1994, to a seat vacated by Richard J. Cardamone. Confirmed by the Senate on August 9, 1994, and received commission on August 10, 1994.
Education: Columbia University, A.B., 1961; Yale Law School, J.D., 1965; University of Cambridge, Queens` College, M.Litt., 1967
Professional Career: Supervisor in law, Queens' College, University of Cambridge, England, 1966-1967; Private practice, New York City, 1967-1971; Associate professor of law, Rutgers University School of Law, 1971-1973; Special counsel, Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., 1973-1975; General counsel/director of government relations, Yale University, 1975-1979
Peter W. Hall
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Nominated on March 5, 2003, to a seat vacated by Pierre N. Leval. Confirmed by the Senate on June 11, 2003, and received commission on June 12, 2003.
Education: State University of New York at Albany, B.A., 1971; Cornell Law School, J.D., 1974
Professional Career: Private practice, Pittsford, New York, 1974-1976; Private practice, Geneseo, New York, 1976-1987; Assistant minority counsel, New York State Assembly, 1979-1982; State assemblyman, New York, 1983-1987; Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Seventh Judicial District, 1987-1994; Associate justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, 1994-1996; Associate judge, New York State Court of Appeals, 1997-2003
Raymond Joseph Lohier Jr.
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Nominated on March 10, 2010, to a seat vacated by Sonia Sotomayor. Confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 2010, and received commission on December 20, 2010.
Education: Harvard College, A.B., 1988; New York University School of Law, J.D., 1991
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Robert P. Patterson, Jr., U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1992-1993; Private practice, New York City, 1991-1992, 1993-1997; Trial attorney, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997-2000; senior trial attorney, 1998-2000; Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 2000-2010
Reena Raggi
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York Nominated by Ronald Reagan on January 20, 1987, to a seat vacated by Frank X. Altimari. Confirmed by the Senate on May 7, 1987, and received commission on May 7, 1987. Service terminated on October 7, 2002, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Nominated on May 1, 2002, to a seat vacated by Amalya L. Kearse. Confirmed by the Senate on September 20, 2002, and received commission on October 4, 2002.
Education: Wellesley College, B.A., 1973; Harvard Law School, J.D., 1976
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Thomas E. Fairchild, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1976-1977; Private practice, New York City, 1977-1979, 1986-1987; Assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of New York, 1979-1986; chief, Narcotics Division, 1982-1984; chief, Special Prosecutions Division, 1984-1986; U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York (interim court appointment), 1986
Richard C. Wesley
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Nominated on March 5, 2003, to a seat vacated by Pierre N. Leval. Confirmed by the Senate on June 11, 2003, and received commission on June 12, 2003.
Education: State University of New York at Albany, B.A., 1971; Cornell Law School, J.D., 1974
Professional Career: Private practice, Pittsford, New York, 1974-1976; Private practice, Geneseo, New York, 1976-1987; Assistant minority counsel, New York State Assembly, 1979-1982; State assemblyman, New York, 1983-1987; Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Seventh Judicial District, 1987-1994; Associate justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, 1994-1996; Associate judge, New York State Court of Appeals, 1997-2003
Rosemary S. Pooler
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York Nominated by Bill Clinton on April 26, 1994, to a seat vacated by Howard G. Munson. Confirmed by the Senate on August 9, 1994, and received commission on August 10, 1994. Service terminated on June 9, 1998, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Nominated on November 6, 1997, to a seat vacated by Frank X. Altimari. Confirmed by the Senate on June 2, 1998, and received commission on June 3, 1998.
Education: Brooklyn College, B.A., 1959; University of Connecticut, M.A., 1961; University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1965; Harvard University, Program for Senior Managers in Government, 1978; State University of New York at Albany, Certificate in Regulatory Economics, 1985
Professional Career: Private practice, Syracuse, New York, 1966-1972; Assistant corporation counsel and director of consumer affairs unit, Syracuse, New York, 1972-1973; District representative, Syracuse [New York] Common Council, 1974-1975; Chair and executive director, New York State Consumer Protection Board, 1975-1980; Commissioner, New York State Public Service Commission, 1981-1986; Staff director, Committee on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, New York State Assembly, 1987; Visiting professor of law, Syracuse University, 1987-1988; Vice-president of legal affairs, Atlantic States Legal Foundation, 1989-1990; Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Fifth Judicial District, 1990-1994
Susan Laura Carney
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Nominated on January 5, 2011, to a seat vacated by Barrington D. Parker. Confirmed by the Senate on May 17, 2011, and received commission on May 17, 2011.
Education: Harvard University, A.B., 1973; Harvard Law School, J.D., 1977
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Levin H. Campbell, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1977-1978; Private practice, Boston, Massachusetts, 1979; Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1979-1988, 1994-1996; Independent legal consultant, Washington, D.C., 1988-1993; Associate general counsel, Peace Corps, Washington, D.C., 1996-1998; Office of General Counsel, Yale University, 1998-2011; associate general counsel, 1998-2001; deputy general counsel, 2001-2011; acting general counsel, 2008