Susan L. Carney

Born in Waltham, Massachusetts, Carney grew up attending public schools in Lexington and Weston, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard College, cum laude, in 1973, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, in 1977. After graduating from law school, Carney worked as a law clerk for Judge Levin H. Campbell of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.[1]

From 1979 until 1986, Carney was an attorney at Rogovin, Huge & Lenzner in Washington, D.C., first as an associate and later as a partner.[2] She worked on litigation in federal courts and provided business counsel, primarily for large nonprofit organizations. In 1986, Carney joined two other Rogovin partners to form the Washington, D.C. office of the Los Angeles-based firm of Tuttle & Taylor. She was subsequently Of Counsel to the D.C. labor law firm of Bredhoff & Kaiser, where she engaged in an appellate practice. From 1996 to 1998, Carney served as Associate General Counsel of the Peace Corps.[1]

Carney moved from Washington to Connecticut in 1998, and at that point joined Yale University in the school's general counsel's office. In 2001, she became Yale's Deputy General Counsel.[1] In this capacity, she was the second-ranking legal officer of a leading educational and research institution with an annual budget of more than $2 billion. Her work for Yale addressed many areas covered by federal law, including scientific research, intellectual property, and health care. Her practice also focused on Yale’s international affiliations and transactions. She served as Yale’s Acting General Counsel from July to December 2008.

Carney is a member of the Connecticut, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts bars and served on the board of directors of the National Association of College & University Attorneys.[3]

On May 20, 2010, President Obama nominated Carney to the seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that was vacated by Judge Barrington Daniels Parker Jr., who took senior status in October 2009. In announcing the nomination, President Obama stated, “At every step of her career, Susan Carney has performed with excellence and unwavering integrity. I am confident she will serve the people of Connecticut with distinction on the Circuit Court bench."[1][3][4] On May 17, 2011, the United States Senate confirmed Carney's nomination in a 71–28 vote. She received her commission on May 17, 2011. She entered duty as a Circuit Judge on June 21, 2011.[5]

Carney has five brothers. Her mother, Cleo Carney, and father, John R. Carney, both served in the United States Navy. She is married to journalist Lincoln W. Caplan II. Their daughter, Molly, was born in 1988.

Carney was elected to a six-year term on the Harvard Board of Overseers on May 30, 2013.[6]

• Susan L. Carney at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Susan L. Carney at Ballotpedia
• Copy of Yale University profile at the Wayback Machine (archived May 21, 2011)