Allan Appel file photo
Judge Sarah Merriam (left) at an annual "law day" celebration in 2018.
President Biden has tapped current U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Merriam of New Haven to a seat on to the federal appellate court.
The White House made that announcement Wednesday morning in an email press release describing five new federal judicial nominees.
One of those is Merriam, who grew up in New Haven and has served in New Haven’s Church Street federal courthouse as a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Connecticut since 2021.
Biden has tapped her for a new job on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which consists of 13 judges and which has appellate jurisdiction within Connecticut, New York and Vermont.
According to the bio included in the White House’s email press release, before becoming a federal district court judge, Merriam served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Connecticut from 2015 to 2021. Before that, she worked as an assistant federal public defender for the District of Connecticut from 2007 to 2015. She is a graduate of Hopkins School, Georgetown University, and Yale Law School.
She previously worked as current U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy’s campaign manager when he first ran for U.S. Congress.
“Sarah A. L. Merriam moved to New Haven at an early age and is proud to call the Elm City her hometown,” the judge’s bio states on the district court website.
Both Murphy and fellow U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal praised Biden’s pick of Merriam in a separate Wednesday morning email press release.
“Judge Merriam is one of Connecticut’s brightest legal minds,” Murphy is quoted as saying. “As her friend, I’m thrilled President Biden has nominated her to serve on the Second Circuit. Sarah brings a keen intellect and a passion of for justice to her work as a federal judge, and I was proud to support her confirmation to the U.S. District Court of Connecticut. Having been recently confirmed by a bipartisan majority, I expect her to win swift confirmation to the Second Circuit.”
“Judge Merriam has demonstrated deep legal insight, unflinching fairness and fidelity to justice,” Blumenthal is quoted as saying. “She’s a great listener — taking seriously every legal claim, and following the facts and law with care and intellect. She will bring to the appellate court an unstinting commitment to the rule of law at a time when its importance is paramount. Her values emphasize equity, and equal opportunity. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I look forward to championing her nomination, which I expect to receive the same bipartisan support as did her confirmation to the U.S. District Court.”
Her appointment now advances to the U.S. Senate for review and a potential confirmation vote.