Susan Carney - CONFIRMED

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

On May 20, 2010, President Obama nominated Susan L. Carney, age 52, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Ms. Carney currently serves as Deputy General Counsel in the Office of General Counsel, Yale University, specializing in international affiliations and transactions, scientific research, international property, technology transfer and compliance. President Obama remarked upon her nomination that, “[a]t every step of her career, Susan Carney has performed with excellence and unwavering integrity. I am confident she will serve the people of Connecticut with distinction on the Circuit Court Bench.”

Biography

Ms. Carney was born in 1958 in Waltham, MA, and attended public schools in Lexington and Weston. She graduated with an A.B., cum laude, from Radcliffe (Harvard College) in 1973 with a major in Russian History and Literature, and in 1977 she received a J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School. She and her family reside in Connecticut.

Legal experience

Following law school, Ms. Carney clerked for Judge Levin Campbell on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She then worked at Rogovin, Huge and Lenzner in Washington, D.C., where she primarily represented large nonprofit organizations. Ms. Carney was promoted to partner before leaving the firm in 1986. In 1986 Ms. Carney and two other partners from Rogovin formed the Washington, D.C. office of Tuttle and Taylor. From 1988 to 1994 she was self-employed, doing contract legal work volunteer service. In 1994 she became Of Counsel to the Washington, DC labor law firm Bredhoff and Kaiser, where she engaged in an appellate practice. From 1996 to 1998 she served as Associate General Counsel of the Peace Corps in Washington, D.C. In 1998, Ms. Carney joined Yale University’s General Counsel’s Office, where she currently serves as Deputy General Counsel.

Professional Activities

Ms. Carney is a member of the Massachusetts, District of Columbia, and Connecticut state bars. She serves on the board of directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and previously served on the Board of Directors of Fine By Me, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to give voice to friends and supporters of LGBT people and publicly demonstrate against homophobia.

Conclusion

The Alliance for Justice commends President Obama for nominating Ms. Carney to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Her background indicates that she will be a strong addition to the bench. We look forward to working with the President to ensure that his future nominees are also committed to upholding our nation’s core constitutional values and to ensuring equal justice for all, not a select few.

» AFJ Report on Susan Carney (pdf)