Blumenthal & Murphy Applaud Senate Judiciary Committee Approval of Second Circuit Nominee Maria Araújo Kahn

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of Justice Maria Araújo Kahn, President Biden’s nominee to fill a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Second Circuit is one of thirteen appeals courts across the country and exercises appellate jurisdiction over federal district courts within Connecticut, New York, and Vermont.  With today’s bipartisan 11-9 vote, the nomination of Kahn, a Justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court and a former Appellate and Superior Court judge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, public defender, and attorney for individuals with disabilities, will now advance to the full Senate.

While Kahn was previously approved by the Committee in December, nominations not confirmed by the end of the Congress must be returned to the White House. President Biden resubmitted Kahn’s nomination on January 3, 2023 at the beginning of the 118^th Congress.   

“Maria Kahn’s immense integrity and intellect are reflected in today’s bipartisan approval of her nomination,” said Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “She has extraordinary experience as a prosecutor, public defender, judge and justice that will enrich and strengthen the Court of Appeals. She also has an inspiring American immigrant story, distinguished by hard work and perseverance. I am proud to have championed her as a nominee and look forward to her confirmation in the coming weeks.”

“Justice Kahn is a devoted public servant and a respected member of the Connecticut legal community,” Murphy said. “Her skills and temperament paired with her experiences as a public defender, civil rights litigator, and federal prosecutor make her uniquely qualified to sit on the federal bench. I’m glad my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee agree, and I look forward to voting for her confirmation in the Senate.”

Maria Araújo Kahn has served as an Associate Justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court since November 2017. Prior to that, Justice Kahn served as a judge on both the Appellate and Superior Courts, as an Assistant United States Attorney, as a Deputy Assistant Public Defender for the State of Connecticut, and as a Staff Attorney in the Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. During her time as a public defender, Justice Kahn represented indigent children in delinquency proceedings. As a Staff Attorney in the Office of Protection and Advocacy, Justice Kahn litigated civil rights cases on behalf of individuals with disabilities. As a federal prosecutor, Justice Kahn handled civil and criminal white collar investigations with a focus on health care fraud, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and trade secrets.

Born in Angola and fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese, Justice Kahn immigrated to the United States when she was ten years old, attended New York University for her undergraduate degree and completed her legal education at the Fordham University School of Law. Justice Kahn is a former law clerk for the Honorable Peter C. Dorsey of the U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Connecticut and currently serves as co-chair of the Judicial Branch’s Access to Justice Commission and the Limited English Proficiency Committee. Justice Kahn has also taught several courses at the Connecticut Judges’ Institute and is a James W. Cooper Fellow with the Connecticut Bar Foundation.

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