Laura Taylor Swain

Laura Taylor Swain is a United States district judge serving on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 2000, she succeeded the trailblazing Constance Baker Motley. Swain has presided over a wide array of complex and high-profile cases, including major financial litigation and the historic Puerto Rico debt restructuring proceedings.

Early life and education

Laura Taylor was born in Washington, D.C. and spent her formative years in the New York metropolitan area. She pursued her undergraduate education at Radcliffe College, the former women's coordinate institution for Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then attended Harvard Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree. Her legal education placed her among a cohort of future prominent jurists and practitioners in the American legal system.

Legal career

Following her graduation from Harvard Law School, Swain began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge John M. Walker Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She then entered private practice, becoming an associate and later a partner at the prominent New York City law firm Debevoise & Plimpton. Her practice focused on complex civil litigation, including matters involving securities law, commercial law, and professional liability. During this period, she also served as a member of the Character and Fitness Committee for the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, First Department.

Federal judicial service

On June 15, 2000, President Bill Clinton nominated Swain to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by Judge Constance Baker Motley. Her nomination was reported favorably by the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and she was confirmed by the full United States Senate by voice vote on October 3, 2000. She received her judicial commission on October 13, 2000, becoming one of the many judges appointed by Bill Clinton to the influential Southern District bench.

Notable cases

Judge Swain has overseen numerous significant cases. She presided over the criminal trial of Bernard Kerik, the former Police Commissioner of New York City. A major portion of her docket has involved the Puerto Rico debt crisis; in 2016, she was appointed by the Supreme Court of the United States to oversee the debt restructuring proceedings under PROMESA, making her court the center for resolving the largest public debt restructuring in American history. She has also handled complex civil rights litigation, such as a long-running case concerning the Department of Correction's treatment of adolescent inmates at Rikers Island.

Personal life

She is married to attorney John Swain, and they have two children. Beyond her judicial duties, she has been involved with various legal and civic organizations, including service on the board of the Legal Aid Society in New York City. She maintains an active role in the legal community, often participating in events hosted by institutions like the New York City Bar Association and the Federal Bar Council.

Category:1958 births Category:American judges Category:United States district judges