Washington, D.C. – Following President Obama’s announcement of Gerard Lynch to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued a statement praising the President’s decision:
“Judge Gerard Lynch is an exceptional judge, brilliant legal mind, and a man of outstanding character.
“His accomplished and distinguished background make him an excellent nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. I commend President Obama for his decision.”
Judge Gerard Lynch was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating first in his class from Regis High School, a Jesuit school in New York, he received his B.A. from Columbia in 1972, where he was valedictorian. He received his J.D. from Columbia in 1975, again graduating first in his class. Following law school, he clerked for Judge Wilfred Feinberg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1975-76 and for Justice William Brennan of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1976-77.
Judge Lynch joined the Columbia law faculty as an assistant professor in 1977, becoming an associate professor in 1980 and a full professor in 1986. He was awarded an endowed chair in 1996, which he continues to hold.
Prior to taking the bench, Lynch served in a wide range of government positions. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) from 1980 to 1983, Special Counsel for the New York Special Commission to Investigate City Contracts in 1986, Chief Counsel for the New York Commission on Government Integrity in 1987, Associate Counsel for the Iran-Contra Independent Counsel from 1988 to 1990, Chief of the Criminal Division in the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 1992, and Special Counsel for the Office of Independent Counsel Carol Elder Bruce from 1999 to 2000. In addition, from 1992 to 2000 he was of counsel to the firm Covington & Burling (formerly Howard Darby & Levin) in New York. Lynch currently serves as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.
Judge Lynch is being nominated for the Second Circuit seat made vacant when Judge Chester Straub took senior status in 2008.