United States District Court for the District of Connecticut

United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
Court name	United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
Caption	Seal of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
Established	September 24, 1789
Location	New Haven
Appeals to	United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Chiefjudgename	Jeffrey Alker Meyer
Chiefjudgetitle	Chief Judge
Us attorney	Vanessa Roberts Avery

United States District Court for the District of Connecticut is a federal court with jurisdiction over the entire state of Connecticut. It is part of the Second Circuit, and its main courthouse is located in New Haven. The court hears a wide range of civil and criminal cases arising under federal law.

History

The court was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, signed by President George Washington, making it one of the original thirteen district courts created under the United States Constitution. Its first session was held in New Haven in April 1790, with Judge Richard Law presiding. Throughout the 19th century, the court adjudicated matters related to admiralty, bankruptcy, and disputes arising from Connecticut's industrial growth. A significant procedural change occurred in 1966 with the implementation of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which standardized practice across all federal district courts. The court's history is also marked by its handling of cases during periods of national significance, including World War II and the Civil Rights Movement.

Current judges

As of the present, the court's active district judges include Chief Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer, appointed by President Barack Obama, and Judges Michael P. Shea, Victor A. Bolden, Sarala Vidya Nagala, and Omar A. Williams, all appointed by various presidents. The court also has several senior judges who continue to carry a reduced caseload, such as Janet Bond Arterton and Alvin W. Thompson. These judges are supported by a complement of magistrate judges, including Judge Robert A. Richardson, who handle preliminary proceedings and certain trials with consent of the parties. All appointments are subject to the confirmation process of the United States Senate.

Former judges

Notable former judges of the court include Robert P. Anderson, who later served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and José A. Cabranes, who was elevated from this district court to the Second Circuit. Other distinguished former jurists are Ellen Bree Burns, the first woman to serve as a federal district judge in Connecticut, and T. F. Gilroy Daly. The legacy of these judges is reflected in landmark rulings and their influence on federal jurisprudence within the Second Circuit and beyond.

Jurisdiction

The court's jurisdiction encompasses all of Connecticut's eight counties: Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham. It has original jurisdiction over all cases involving federal questions, diversity of citizenship where the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, and federal crimes. The court also handles cases involving the United States Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, and agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission. Appeals from its decisions are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and potentially to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Courthouses

The primary courthouse is the United States Courthouse at 141 Church Street in New Haven, a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The court also maintains active divisional courthouses, including the Abraham A. Ribicoff Federal Building in Hartford and the United States Courthouse in Bridgeport. These facilities house courtrooms, chambers for district and magistrate judges, and offices for the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut and the United States Marshals Service.

Notable cases

The court has presided over many high-profile cases. These include the 1970 trial of Bobby Seale and Erika Huggins of the Black Panther Party, the 1989 prosecution of Michael Milken for securities fraud, and the 2005 case of United States v. Stewart, involving Martha Stewart and Peter Bacanovic. More recently, it handled the 2011 case against Raymond Clark III for the murder of Annie Le, a graduate student at Yale University, and the 2013 lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association regarding athlete compensation. The court also played a role in adjudicating disputes related to the September 11 attacks and litigation involving major corporations like General Electric and Aetna.

Category:United States district courts Category:Connecticut law Category:1789 establishments in Connecticut