Second Circuit Court of Appeals Nominee Maria Araújo Kahn Appears Before Senate Confirmation Hearing

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, Justice Maria Araújo Kahn, President Biden’s nominee to fill a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, appeared for a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Blumenthal, a member of the Committee, introduced her before her testimony. Following today’s hearing, Justice Kahn’s nomination is expected to receive a vote in the committee and, if approved, will advance to the full Senate. 

“As impressive as her immigrant story, as inspiring as her accomplishments are her incredible intellect, experience, integrity, and dedication to public service,” said Blumenthal at today’s hearing. “She is a judge’s judge. She is deeply and extraordinarily well-qualified…Her life experience, her depth of compassion and empathy, as well as her strict adherence and respect for the rule of law will broaden the quality of our Second Circuit Court of Appeals.”

“Justice Kahn has had a long and distinguished career as a member of the Connecticut legal community, and I am confident that she has the skills, experience, and temperament to serve as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. I look forward to voting for her confirmation on the Senate floor,” said Murphy.

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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