Maria Araujo Kahn at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Circuit Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Maria Araujo Kahn
U.S. Circuit Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Law Clerk (1989–1991): Hon. Peter C. Dorsey, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
- Public Defender (1991–1993): Deputy Assistant Public Defender, State of Connecticut.
- Disability Advocacy (1993–1997): Staff attorney, Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities.
- Federal Prosecutor (1997–2006): Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Connecticut, prosecuting healthcare fraud, computer crimes, and white-collar cases.
- State Court Judge: Connecticut Superior Court (2006–2017) — primarily criminal matters. Connecticut Appellate Court (2017). Associate Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court (2017–2023).
- Professional Career: Assistant U.S. attorney, District of Connecticut, 1997-2006; Civil Division, 1997-1999; Criminal Division, 1999-2004; computer crimes coordinator, 2004-2006
- Professional Career: Adjunct faculty, University of Connecticut School of Law, 1991-1993, 2020, 2022
- Professional Career: Adjunct faculty, Quinnipiac University School of Law, 2012-
- Professional Career: Staff attorney, Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, Hartford, Connecticut, 1993-1997
- Professional Career: Deputy assistant public defender, State of Connecticut, 1991-1993
- Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Peter C. Dorsey, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, 1989-1991
Judicial service
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- Professional Career: Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court, 2017-2023
- Professional Career: Judge, Connecticut Superior Court, 2006-2017
- Professional Career: Judge, Connecticut Appellate Court, 2017
- Maria Araújo Kahn is an American judge serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, appointed in March 2023 by President Joe Biden after a career in Connecticut state courts and as a federal prosecutor.
- On July 29, 2022, President Biden nominated Kahn to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, replacing José A. Cabranes. She was confirmed by the Senate on March 9, 2023, and took office March 10, 2023.
Education
- Fordham University School of Law · J.D., 1989
- New York University · B.A., 1986
Personal record
Born August 20, 1964 · Angola
Courtroom rules and guidance
Appellate Oral Argument
In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.
Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessaryFederal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/13373966Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure