White House nominates Connolly, Noreika for federal district court judgeships

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The  White House announced that Maryellen Noreika and Colm F. Connolly, who were recommended by U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) for judgeships on the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, will be nominated for the bench.

Maryellen Noreika and  Colm Connolly, both of Wilmington, will be nominated for the two judicial vacancies created when Judge Sue L. Robinson (now retired) and Judge Gregory M. Sleet took senior status. 

“Delaware’s courts are renowned for their judges’ expertise. Maryellen Noreika and Colm Connolly are two highly-respected, sought-after attorneys who have displayed a vast knowledge of the law and a thorough understanding of the courts during their extensive careers working in the Delaware judicial system,” said  Carper. “Now that the White House has put forth their nominees, I hope we can swiftly move through the Senate confirmation process so that Delaware’s courts are running at full strength once again.”

“I’m pleased that the White House consulted with Senator Carper and me and accepted our recommendations for the U.S. District Court bench. I am also grateful for our Judicial Nominating Committee’s hard work in evaluating several excellent candidates.” said  Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Colm Connolly and Maryellen Noreika are seasoned attorneys, with impressive trial skills, deep experience in federal practice, and profound respect for the law. I am confident that they will both be capable jurists, and I look forward to their confirmation hearings.”

Noreika has practiced law in Delaware for nearly 24 years at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, in Wilmington, where she is a partner and represents plaintiffs, defendants, individuals, and companies large and small.

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She began her career litigating corporate and commercial disputes, and later focused on intellectual property matters and complex litigation in federal courts.  Noreika has been appointed to multiple advisory committees assisting the court and has served as a mentor for young attorneys in a federal judges training program. She has a B.S. in Biology from Lehigh University, an M.S. in Biology from Colombia University and a J.D. from University of Pittsburgh. 

Connolly has been a partner with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, in Wilmington where he is a member of the litigation and intellectual property groups.

He was a United States Attorney from 2001 to 2009. During that time, he established the Delaware Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council consisting of 25 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate training and the collection and dissemination of intelligence information.

Connolly was previously a partner at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP. He has a B.A. in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Political Philosophy from the London School of Economics and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

Connolly  may be best known as the prosecutor in the murder case involving attorney Thomas Capano.

 

 

 
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