Colm Connolly

Colm Felix Connolly (born 1964) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. He was formerly a United States Attorney for the District of Delaware.

Colm F. Connolly
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
Assumed office
August 3, 2018
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded bySue Lewis Robinson
United States Attorney for the District of Delaware
In office
September 2001 – January 20, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byCarl Schnee
Succeeded byCharles M. Oberly III
Personal details
Born
Colm Felix Connolly

1964 (age 55–56)
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame (BA)
London School of Economics (MSc)
Duke University School of Law (JD)

Biography and career

Colm Connolly was born on October 18, 1964, in Wilmington, Delaware. He earned his Bachelor of Arts, with honors, from the University of Notre Dame, his Master of Science from the London School of Economics, and his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the Duke University School of Law.[1]

After graduating from law school, Connolly clerked for Judge Walter King Stapleton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and then spent seven years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Delaware. In that capacity he became known for his prosecution of Thomas Capano for capital murder. Connolly would later be portrayed by Steven Eckholdt and make a cameo appearance in the made-for-television movie based on the murder, And Never Let Her Go (2001), directed by Peter Levin. Connolly then worked at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell for two years before becoming the United States Attorney for the District of Delaware in 2001 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. In 2009, Connolly left the United States Department of Justice to become a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, where he worked until becoming a judge. At the U.S. Attorney's office, Connolly was succeeded by Charles M. Oberly III, with David C. Weiss serving as acting United States Attorney in the interim.[1]

Federal judicial service

Failed district court nomination under George W. Bush

On February 26, 2008, Connolly was nominated by George W. Bush to fill the United States District Court for the District of Delaware seat vacated by Kent A. Jordan in 2006, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Although Connolly received a unanimous well-qualified rating from the American Bar Association, the Senate Judiciary Committee did not afford him a hearing and therefore his nomination to the federal bench expired at the conclusion of the Senate's session in 2008. Senator Tom Carper returned his blue slip in support of Connolly, but then-Senator Joe Biden did not.[2]

Renomination to district court under Trump

On December 20, 2017, Connolly's renomination was announced and sent to the Senate.[1] He was nominated to the seat vacated by Sue Lewis Robinson, who took senior status on February 3, 2017.[3] On February 14, 2018, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[4] On March 15, 2018, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 20–1 vote.[5] On August 1, 2018, his nomination was confirmed by voice vote.[6] He received his judicial commission on August 3, 2018.

References
  1. " President Donald J. Trump Announces Ninth Wave of Judicial Nominees and Tenth Wave of United States Attorney Nominees " White House, December 20, 2017 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Bush nominates Connolly for U.S. District Court seat
  3. "Eight Nominations Sent to the Senate Today" White House, December 20, 2017
  4. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for February 14, 2018
  5. Results of Executive Business Meeting – March 15, 2018, Senate Judiciary Committee
  6. "PN1331 — Colm F. Connolly — The Judiciary". United States Senate. December 20, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Carl Schnee		 United States Attorney for the District of Delaware
2001–2009		 Succeeded by
Charles M. Oberly III
Preceded by
Sue Lewis Robinson		 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
2018–present		 Incumbent
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