About the Office

United States Attorney's Office

The United States Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut, and with representing the federal government in civil litigation in the District. The District is composed of approximately 68 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) and approximately 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.

Criminal Division
Civil Division
Appellate Division
Administrative Division

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut is one of the nation’s oldest. Pierrepont Edwards, Connecticut’s first United States Attorney, was appointed by President George Washington in 1789.

Today, Vanessa Roberts Avery serves as the District’s 54th United States Attorney.

United States Attorney's Office Alumni

Many former United States Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys have continued their distinguished careers in public service after leaving the Office. A number of former members of the Office have served or are serving in a variety of important federal and state public offices.

Members of the Judiciary

Former U.S. Attorney Jon O. Newman and former Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Nardini serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  Former U.S. Attorney Christopher F. Droney also served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  Prior to their appointment to the Court of Appeals, Judge Newman and Judge Droney both served as U.S. District Judges in Connecticut.

Other former U.S. Attorneys who have gone on to serve as U.S. District Judges in Connecticut include:

Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Meyer, Kari A. Dooley and Sarala V. Nagala currently serve as U.S. District Judges in Connecticut, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Nevins currently serves as the Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge for the District of Connecticut.

Additionally, former U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Robinson served as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Former U.S. Attorney Albert S. Dabrowski served as the Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge for the District of Connecticut, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Deirdre A. Martini served as the United States Trustee for the Second Circuit.

Alumni who have gone on to become U.S. Magistrate Judges in Connecticut include:

Five alumni of the U.S. Attorney's Office have gone on to serve on the Connecticut Supreme Court:

Two alumni have been appointed to the Connecticut Appellate Court:

The following alumni have served or now serve as Connecticut Superior Court Judges:

Appointed Positions

Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys have served in important law enforcement positions, both nationally and in Connecticut. After leaving office, Thomas J. Spellacy served as an Assistant Attorney General of the United States and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. David Margolis served as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Paul Coffey became Chief of the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington. Leonard Boyle served as Commissioner of Public Safety in Connecticut, Director of the National Terrorist Screening Center in Washington, and Connecticut’s Deputy Chief State’s Attorney. Andrew B. Bowman served as Federal Public Defender for Connecticut. John A. Connolly served as State’s Attorney for Waterbury, Connecticut. Arnold Markle, went on to serve for many years as the State's Attorney for New Haven. Nora R. Dannehy served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of Connecticut.

After serving as U.S. Attorney, Stanley A. Twardy, Jr. served as Chief of Staff to former Connecticut Governor Lowell P. Weicker, and Kevin J. O’Connor served as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General, and then as Associate Attorney General of the United States, the third-ranking position within the Department of Justice.

Elected Positions

U.S. Attorney Nathan Smith went on to serve as U.S. Senator in Connecticut, and U.S. Attorney Richard Blumenthal served five terms as Attorney General for the State of Connecticut and now serves as U.S. Senator. Thomas J. Spellacy was elected Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut in 1935.

Alumni Association

There is an active Alumni Association of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. In addition to hosting an annual dinner for all alumni, the Alumni Association is currently compiling a history of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut. Anyone interested in assisting in this project or joining the Alumni Association is encouraged to contact former United States Attorney Stanley A. Twardy, Jr. at satwardy@daypitney.com.