Blumenthal & Murphy Applaud Nomination of Vanessa Avery to Serve as United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut
A current Associate Attorney General and former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Avery would become the first Black woman to lead the office in Connecticut
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) applauded President Joe Biden’s nomination of Vanessa Avery to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
“Having held this job myself, I’m particularly proud of this nomination,” said Blumenthal. “Vanessa Avery is a proven prosecutor – tough and fair – who has deep roots in her community and a lifetime of service. A champion and fighter for Connecticut’s people with broad trial experience and solid, good judgement, she’ll follow the facts and law to deter and punish wrongdoers and fight discrimination. I’m proud to have recommended her nomination to the White House with Senator Murphy and I look forward to advocating for her confirmation in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where I anticipate strong bipartisan support.”
“A Connecticut native, Vanessa Avery has dedicated her career to advancing fairness and equity in the judicial system, and I was proud to recommend her nomination to the Biden administration. Her vast legal experience and deep commitment to justice for all will prepare her well to serve in this new role leading the District of Connecticut as United States Attorney. I look forward to her confirmation in the Senate,” said Murphy.
Avery’s nomination will now be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Blumenthal is a member. If approved by the Judiciary Committee, her nomination will be sent to the full Senate for consideration.
Vanessa Avery has served as the Associate Attorney General for Enforcement, Litigation and Investigations at the Connecticut Attorney General's Office since 2019. In this role, she has managed multi-district litigation and investigations involving the opioid epidemic, the Affordable Care Act, federal immigration laws, environmental regulation, and cases pending locally in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.
Prior to that, Avery was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut. Avery has also served as a Trial Attorney for the Department of Justice Civil Division in Washington, D.C., a pro bono advocate for children, adults, and non-profit entities, and is a past President and current Advisory Board member of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association.
A native of the Newhallville neighborhood of New Haven, Avery attended Yale University for her undergraduate degree and earned her law degree at the Georgetown University Law Center.
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