Maria Araújo Kahn, an associate justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as she seeks confirmation to sit on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But she largely avoided tough questioning from Republicans as they channeled their focus toward a fellow judicial nominee who testified alongside Kahn.
Kahn is President Joe Biden’s second nominee from Connecticut elevated to serve on the 2nd Circuit. Wednesday’s confirmation hearing is the first step toward processing her nomination before the Judiciary Committee votes on her confirmation and then sends it to the full chamber. If confirmed, she will replace retiring Judge Jose Cabranes.
While the minority party usually asks challenging questions of a president’s nominees, Kahn was able to bypass tough GOP scrutiny as they reserved most of that for Julie Rikelman, who is under consideration for a seat to the 1st Circuit Court, based in Massachusetts. Rikelman argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of the Mississippi abortion clinic at the center of the case that ultimately led to the end of Roe v. Wade, which protected a constitutional right to abortion.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced Kahn to the committee, praising her career both as an attorney as well as time served on the bench. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., could not introduce her due to a scheduling conflict but submitted a statement supporting her…
