Susan L. Carney

Susan L. Carney is a federal appellate judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in 2011, she has authored significant opinions on issues ranging from administrative law to civil procedure. Prior to her judicial service, Carney had a distinguished career as a legal advisor and litigator, including senior roles at Yale University and in private practice at the firm Debevoise & Plimpton.

Early life and education

Susan L. Carney was born in 1951. She completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then pursued her legal education at Yale Law School, where she served as an editor for the Yale Law Journal and earned her Juris Doctor degree. Her academic background at these prestigious institutions provided a foundation for her future work in complex legal and institutional settings.

Legal career

Following law school, Carney began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge James L. Oakes on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She then entered private practice, becoming an associate and later a partner at the New York City firm Debevoise & Plimpton, where her practice focused on corporate law and securities litigation. In 1994, she transitioned to an in-house role at Yale University, eventually rising to become its Deputy General Counsel and then its General Counsel. In this capacity, she advised the Yale Corporation and university administration on a wide array of legal matters, including intellectual property, research compliance, and major institutional policies.

Federal judicial service

On March 10, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Carney to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated by Judge Barrington Daniels Parker Jr.. Her nomination received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee and was reported favorably. The United States Senate confirmed her nomination by voice vote on May 17, 2011. She received her judicial commission on June 10, 2011, becoming one of the court's active judges. The Second Circuit hears appeals from the district courts in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.

Notable cases and jurisprudence

Judge Carney has authored numerous precedential opinions covering diverse areas of federal law. In *United States v. Cosme*, she wrote for the panel regarding sentencing guidelines and the Armed Career Criminal Act. In the area of employment law, she authored the opinion in *Graziano v. Pataki*, which addressed claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act. She was also part of the panel that decided *Oberlander v. United States*, a case involving the Federal Tort Claims Act. Her jurisprudence is noted for its careful statutory analysis and attention to the factual record, often engaging with complex issues of administrative law and constitutional law.

Professional affiliations and recognition

Throughout her career, Carney has been involved with several legal and educational organizations. She has served on committees for the American Bar Association and has been a member of the American Law Institute. Her service at Yale University included roles on various university committees, and she has been recognized for her contributions to legal education and ethics. Her professional standing was a significant factor in her nomination to the federal judiciary and her subsequent confirmation process.

Category:1951 births Category:American judges Category:United States circuit judges