Sarah A. L. Merriam

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sarah A. L. Merriam

| image = Judge_Sarah_Merriam.png

| office = Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

| term_start = September 23, 2022

| term_end =

| appointer = Joe Biden

| predecessor = Susan L. Carney

| successor =

| office1 = Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut

| appointer1 = Joe Biden

| term_start1 = October 8, 2021

| term_end1 = September 28, 2022

| predecessor1 = Janet C. Hall

| successor1 = Sarah F. Russell

| office2 = Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut

| term_start2 = April 3, 2015

| term_end2 = October 8, 2021

| predecessor2 = Holly B. Fitzsimmons

| successor2 = Maria E. Garcia

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1971}}

| birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

| education = {{nowrap|Georgetown University (BA)}}
Yale University (JD)
Duke University (LLM)

| party = Democratic

}}

Sarah Ann Leilani Merriam (born 1971){{Cite web |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Merriam%20SJQ%20Public%20Final.pdf |title=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Sarah Ann Leilani Merriam |access-date=July 12, 2021 |archive-date=July 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712235712/https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Merriam%20SJQ%20Public%20Final.pdf |url-status=live }} is an American attorney serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is a former United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut and former district judge of the same court.{{Cite web|title=Sarah A. L. Merriam {{!}} District of Connecticut {{!}} United States District Court|url=https://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/content/sarah-l-merriam|access-date=June 15, 2021|website=www.ctd.uscourts.gov|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608005208/https://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/content/sarah-l-merriam|url-status=live}}

Early life and education

Merriam was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, where she attended the Hopkins School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University in 1993, a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2000, and a Master of Laws in judicial studies from the Duke University School of Law in 2018.{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2021 |title=President Biden Announces 4th Slate of Judicial Nominations |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/15/president-biden-announces-4th-slate-of-judicial-nominations/ |access-date=June 15, 2021 |website=The White House |language=en-US |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615161423/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/15/president-biden-announces-4th-slate-of-judicial-nominations/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=Biography – Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam {{!}} District of Connecticut {{!}} United States District Court|url=https://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/biography-judge-sarah-l-merriam|access-date=June 15, 2021|website=www.ctd.uscourts.gov|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608005647/https://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/biography-judge-sarah-l-merriam|url-status=live}}

Career

Merriam clerked for Judge Alvin W. Thompson of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut from 2000 to 2002 and Judge Thomas Meskill of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 2002 to 2003. She began her career as an associate with Cowdery, Ecker & Murphy in Hartford, Connecticut. From 2007 to 2015, Merriam served as an assistant public defender for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.{{Cite web |last=Mahony |first=Edmund H. |title=President Biden nominates three lawyers to fill vacant federal judgeships in Connecticut |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-biden-federal-judges-20210615-20210615-26r4qfvfbzgvfpzgrib7pic3ru-story.html |access-date=June 15, 2021 |website=courant.com |date=June 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618110348/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-biden-federal-judges-20210615-20210615-26r4qfvfbzgvfpzgrib7pic3ru-story.html |url-status=live }}

Merriam was political director for a state employee union and helped manage the campaigns of two Democratic U.S. Senators, Chris Murphy and Chris Dodd.{{cite news |last1=Mahony |first1=Edmund H. |title=Sarah Merriam, the first of the state's three U.S. judicial nominees, breezes though an initial Senate hearing |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-merriam-senate-20210714-20210714-7ahc4mdgsnfv3l6uguobupjadq-story.html |work=courant.com |date=July 14, 2021 |access-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928171555/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-merriam-senate-20210714-20210714-7ahc4mdgsnfv3l6uguobupjadq-story.html |url-status=live }}

= United States magistrate judge =

In March 2015, Merriam was selected as a magistrate judge of the District of Connecticut.{{Cite press release|title=Sarah A.L. Merriam '00 Selected as a United States Magistrate Judge|date=March 25, 2015|publisher=Yale Law School|url=https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/sarah-al-merriam-00-selected-united-states-magistrate-judge|access-date=June 17, 2021}} She replaced Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons, who retired.{{Cite web|last=Rodinone|first=Nicholas|date=March 25, 2015|title=Federal Defender Named U.S. Magistrate Judge|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-new-us-magistrate-judge-0326-20150325-story.html|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=courant.com|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200222/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-new-us-magistrate-judge-0326-20150325-story.html|url-status=live}} She was sworn in on April 3, 2015.{{Cite web|title=Sarah A.L. Merriam|url=https://www.uscourts.gov/judicial-milestones/sarah-al-merriam|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=United States Courts|language=en|archive-date=May 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515193151/https://www.uscourts.gov/judicial-milestones/sarah-al-merriam|url-status=live}} Her service terminated on October 8, 2021, when she was elevated to a district court judge.

= District court service =

On June 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Merriam to serve as a United States district judge for the District of Connecticut to the seat vacated by Judge Janet C. Hall, who assumed senior status on January 21, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/15/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-20/|title=Nominations Sent to the Senate|date=June 15, 2021|website=The White House|access-date=June 15, 2021|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804234641/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/15/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-20/|url-status=live}} On July 14, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/07/07/2021/nominations|title=Nominations for July 14, 2021|date=July 14, 2021 |publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|access-date=July 14, 2021}} On August 5, 2021, her nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a 13–9 vote.{{Cite web|date=August 5, 2021|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – August 5, 2021|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting%20August%205,%202021.pdf|access-date=November 25, 2022}} On October 4, 2021, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed cloture on her nomination.{{Cite web |title=PN640 — Sarah A.L. Merriam — The Judiciary |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/640 |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=Congress.gov|date=October 6, 2021 }} On October 6, 2021, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 53–47 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1171/vote_117_1_00408.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Sarah A.L. Merriam to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut)|date=October 6, 2021|website=United States Senate|access-date=October 6, 2021}} Her nomination was confirmed later that day by a 54–46 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1171/vote_117_1_00409.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Sarah A.L. Merriam, of Connecticut, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut)|date=October 6, 2021|website=United States Senate|access-date=October 6, 2021}} She received her judicial commission on October 8, 2021. She was sworn in on October 12, 2021.{{Cite press release|date=October 13, 2021|title=DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT WELCOMES NEW DISTRICT JUDGE|url=https://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Press-Release-District-Judge-Sarah-A-L-Merriam-2021-final.pdf|website=ctd.uscourts.gov|access-date=May 27, 2023}} Her service as a district judge was terminated on September 28, 2022, when she was elevated to the court of appeals.{{FJC Bio|nid=10826741|inline=yes}}

= Court of appeals service =

On April 27, 2022, President Joe Biden announced he would nominate Merriam to serve as a United States circuit judge for the Second Circuit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/exclusive-bidens-latest-judicial-nominees-dominated-by-public-defenders-2022-04-27/|title=Exclusive: Biden's latest judicial nominees dominated by public defenders|first1=Nate|last1=Raymond|newspaper=Reuters|date=April 27, 2022|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=April 27, 2022|archive-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427125205/https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/exclusive-bidens-latest-judicial-nominees-dominated-by-public-defenders-2022-04-27/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/27/president-biden-names-seventeenth-round-of-judicial-nominees/|title=President Biden Names Seventeenth Round of Judicial Nominees|date=April 27, 2022|website=The White House|access-date=April 27, 2022|archive-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427125445/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/27/president-biden-names-seventeenth-round-of-judicial-nominees/|url-status=live}} On May 19, 2022, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Merriam to the seat to be vacated by Judge Susan L. Carney, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor.{{Cite press release |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate |date=May 19, 2022 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/19/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-67/}} {{PD-notice}} On May 25, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.{{Cite web |title=Nominations |date=May 23, 2022 |publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/05/25/2022/nominations |access-date=May 24, 2022}} On June 16, 2022, her nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a 12–10 vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/EBM%20Results%20-%202022-06-16.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – June 16, 2022|website=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=June 16, 2022}} On September 12, 2022, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed cloture on her nomination.{{Cite web |title=PN2141 — Sarah A. L. Merriam — The Judiciary |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2141 |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=Congress.gov|date=September 15, 2022 }} On September 14, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 52–47 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00336.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Sarah A. L. Merriam to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit)|date=September 14, 2022|website=United States Senate|access-date=September 14, 2022}} On September 15, 2022, her nomination was confirmed by a 53–44 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00337.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Sarah A. L. Merriam to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit)|date=September 15, 2022|website=United States Senate|access-date=September 15, 2022}} She received her judicial commission on September 23, 2022.