Sarah Russell
Sarah Russell is a law professor and director of the Civil Justice Clinic at Quinnipiac University School of Law.[1][2]
On October 4, 2023, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Sarah Russell to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.[1][2][3] Russell's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2024. The president renominated Russell on January 8, 2024.[4] As of January 18, 2023, she was awaiting a confirmation vote from the full U.S. Senate. Click here for more information on Russell's federal judicial nomination.
The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On October 4, 2023, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Russell to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.[1][2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Sarah Russell |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Connecticut |
| Progress |
| 335 days since nomination. |
 Nominated: October 4, 2023
|
| ABA Rating: Well qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: November 1, 2023
|
| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: November 30, 2023, January 18, 2023 (second)
|
 Confirmed:
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Confirmation vote
As of January 18, 2023, Russell was awaiting a confirmation vote from the full U.S. Senate. Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a full Senate vote.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Russell's nomination on November 1, 2023. She was reported to the full Senate on November 30, 2023, after a 11-10 committee vote.[5] After her renomination, Russel was again reported to the full Senate on January 18, 2023, after a 11-10 committee vote.[6]
Nomination
On October 4, 2023, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Sarah Russell to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Russell was nominated to replace Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on September 23, 2022.[7] Russell's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2024. The president renominated Russell on January 8, 2024.[4]
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Russell well qualified.[8] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
About the court
| District of Connecticut |
|---|
| Second Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 8 |
| Judges: 7 |
| Vacancies: 1 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Michael Shea |
| Active judges: Victor Allen Bolden, Kari A. Dooley, Jeffrey Meyer, Sarala Nagala, Vernon D. Oliver, Michael Shea, Omar A. Williams Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut is one of 94 United States district courts. The court has offices in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit based in lower Manhattan at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Federal Courthouse in the New York City area.
The District of Connecticut has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The jurisdiction of the District of Connecticut consists of all the counties in the state of Connecticut.
The court's headquarters are in New Haven, with additional courthouses in Bridgeport and Hartford.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The White House, "President Biden Names Thirty-Ninth Round of Judicial Nominees," October 4, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," October 4, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, PN1067 — Sarah French Russell — The Judiciary," accessed November 30, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Congress.gov, "PN1253 — Sarah French Russell — The Judiciary," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – November 30, 2023," November 30, 2023
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – January 18, 2024," January 19, 2023
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Merriam, Sarah Ann Leilani," accessed October 7, 2021
- ↑ [https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/government_affairs_office/emma-web-rating-chart-biden-congress.pdf American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ONTHE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed November 28th, 2023]
Federal courts:
Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Connecticut • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Connecticut
State courts:
Connecticut Supreme Court • Connecticut Appellate Court • Connecticut Superior Court • Connecticut Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Connecticut • Connecticut judicial elections • Judicial selection in Connecticut
