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« September 2009 | Home | June 2010 »

October 5, 2009

Extensive Reshaping Possible In Federal Judiciary In Connecticut

Potential changes not seen in a generation could take place among the highly sought-after federal and legal positions in the state. At the top of this list are openings for two Connecticut judges on the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Two or more District Court seats could open in Connecticut depending on who receives the appellate judgeships and whether a sitting Connecticut district judge assumes senior status. Also open are the offices of U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal which usually occurs when there is a change in political parties occupying the White House. The number of open federal positions has not been this large since President Bill Clinton’s election in 1993 when, during his terms in office, he nominated seven U.S. district judges in Connecticut and filled a Connecticut seat on the appeals court. "There seems to be a confluence of opportunity that will allow the president to make an imprint on the judiciary in the 2nd Circuit and in Connecticut for decades to come," said state Sen. Andrew McDonald, co-chairman of the state legislature's judiciary committee. "In the last generation there has never been such an opportunity for shaping the future of the judiciary in Connecticut. The good news is that there is a stellar lineup of potential candidates."

President Barack Obama’s expression of interest in diversifying the federal appeals courts throughout the country has sparked greater interest in predicting nominations among lawyers and political figures following these issues. Sources say that Connecticut's U.S. senators, Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman have written to the White House with regard to the appeals court openings in support of U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny, who conveyed interest in a 2nd Circuit seat. “Several qualified candidates expressed interest in the appellate court and the senators sent their names to the White House for their consideration,” according to a spokesperson for the senators.

In July, a 2nd Circuit seat allocated to Connecticut, opened when Guido Calabresi assumed the status of senior judge. A second seat is likely to open this month when Judge Barrington D. Parker assumes senior status. According to a University of Richmond law professor, there will be twenty-one openings on federal appeals courts throughout the United States, of which, eight replacements thus far - two black men, three white women and three white men - have been nominated by President Obama.

If Chatigny were appointed to one of the two available appellate openings allocated to Connecticut, Obama could balance the appointment of a white man with that of a woman or minority. Some possible candidates are: Joette Katz, an associate justice of the state Supreme Court; Janet C. Hall, a U.S. district judge sitting in Bridgeport; and Susan Carney, Yale University's deputy general counsel.

Another opening could be created if U.S. District Judge Janet B. Arterton, who sits in New Haven, chooses to become senior when she becomes eligible next spring. Judge Arterton has not yet filed notice of any such intentions.

Posted by Jerry C. Pia at 12:48 PM | | Comments (0)