NCJW supports Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam. Here’s why:
Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam currently serves as a Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. With her clerkships under judges of the US District Court for the District of Connecticut and the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and her experience in private practice, public defense, and federal judgeship, Judge Merriam has demonstrated a qualified and impressive understanding of the legal system. Judge Merriam has spent a large part of her career ensuring the protection of individuals’ constitutional rights. She specializes in criminal law proceedings, and has made significant decisions in the field of civil law. If confirmed, Judge Merriam would bring a much needed perspective to the bench as a former public defender.
Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam’s stance on important issues:
Criminal Law:
Judge Merriam has a particular expertise in criminal law, which she has illustrated throughout her time on the bench. A case to highlight is World v. Semple, in which Judge Merriam thoroughly assessed a complaint brought by an incarcerated individual against the Connecticut Department of Corrections regarding deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. Judge Merriam held dozens of phone conferences and visited the plaintiff in the hospital, with the dispute ultimately ending in a $1.3 million settlement. Additionally, in Goff v. Chivers, a case stemming from the arrests of a driver and passenger by a state trooper, Judge Merriam ruled that the state trooper had lacked probable cause to arrest the passenger and that the officer did not hold qualified immunity in the case.
Judicial Temperament:
Judge Merriam has said that she “learned how to separate [..] political views from [..] legal opinions” under her clerkship with Judge Meskill of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has expressed his approval of Judge Merriam’s nomination, saying “her values emphasize equity and equal opportunity,” and that she takes “every legal claim and following the facts and law with care and intellect” seriously. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) has stated that “Judge Merriam is one of Connecticut’s brightest legal minds.”
Experience:
Following her graduation from Yale Law School, Judge Merriam clerked for Judge Thompson for the US District Court for the District of Connecticut (2000-2002) and Judge Meskill for the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2002-2003). She then went on to work as an associate for a Connecticut-based private practice, Cowdery, Ecker & Murphy, LLC. From 2006 to 2007, Judge Merriam left the legal field to assist the political campaigns of now-Senator Chris Murphy and former-Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). Following her brief work in politics, Judge Merriam moved on to work eight years as an Assistant Federal Defender for the Office of the Federal Defender for the District of Connecticut. While in this role, Judge Merriam carried a heavy federal court caseload, frequently advised Criminal Justice Act attorneys and private practitioners on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, and held training for defense attorneys on a myriad of important issues. In 2015, Judge Merriam was selected to serve as a US Magistrate Judge and did so until 2021, when she was nominated by President Biden and confirmed to the US District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Education and Awards:
Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam earned her BA from Georgetown University, cum laude, in 1993, and her JD from Yale Law School in 2000.. In 2018, Judge Merriam earned her LLM in Judicial Studies from Duke Law School.
Professional Affiliations:
Judge Merriam remains active within the legal community. From 2000 to 2019, she was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Federal Practice Section, which communicates important information regarding new legal procedures to Connecticut federal court practitioners. Additionally, Judge Merriam has served on multiple judicial-adjacent committees due to her affiliation with the Federal Magistrate Judges Association and the US District Court for the District of Connecticut. Judge Merriam has also written for Judicature, a scholarly journal published by the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School.