Kevin J. O'Connor (attorney)
Encyclopedia
Kevin J. O'Connor is an attorney
appointed by President George W. Bush
and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
as Connecticut
’s 48th United States Attorney
in 2002. From January to April 2006, O'Connor served as Associate Deputy Attorney General
of the United States. In 2007, O'Connor served as Chief of Staff to United States Attorney General
Alberto R. Gonzales. In 2008, O'Connor was unanimously confirmed as Associate Attorney General
of the United States, a position he held until 2009.
In 2009, O'Connor left the public sector to join the law firm of Bracewell and Giuliani.
and with honors from the University of Notre Dame
in 1989.
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
.
From 1993 to 1995, O'Connor was a litigation associate at the law firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel
in New York City
.
From 1995 to 1997, O'Connor served as a Staff Attorney and Senior Counsel in the Division of Enforcement of the United States Securities & Exchange Commission
in Washington, D.C.
Prior to his appointment as United States Attorney
, O'Connor was a partner in the law firm of Day, Berry & Howard. While with Day, Berry & Howard, O'Connor also served from 1999 to 2001 as Corporation Counsel for the Town of West Hartford, Connecticut
.
In 1998, O'Connor was the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Connecticut's heavily Democratic 1st district. He was defeated by John Larson
58% to 41%.
O'Connor currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law
. From 1996 to 1997, O’Connor served as Adjunct Professor at the National Law Center at George Washington University
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
appointed by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
as Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
’s 48th United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in 2002. From January to April 2006, O'Connor served as Associate Deputy Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of the United States. In 2007, O'Connor served as Chief of Staff to United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Alberto R. Gonzales. In 2008, O'Connor was unanimously confirmed as Associate Attorney General
United States Associate Attorney General
The Associate Attorney General is the third-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. The Associate Attorney General advises and assists the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General in policies relating to civil justice, federal and local law enforcement, and public...
of the United States, a position he held until 2009.
In 2009, O'Connor left the public sector to join the law firm of Bracewell and Giuliani.
Legal Education
O’Connor graduated in 1992 with high honors from the University of Connecticut School of LawUniversity of Connecticut School of Law
The University of Connecticut School of Law is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. The school was recently ranked forty-sixth out of the 190 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States and is considered a Tier 1 school by U.S...
and with honors from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1989.
Legal career
From 1992 to 1993, O'Connor served as a law clerk to the Honorable William H. TimbersWilliam H. Timbers
William Homer Timbers was a longtime federal judge in the United States.Timbers graduated from Dartmouth College and Yale Law School. He spent many years in private practice in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, including several years as a member of the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate & Timbers...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
.
From 1993 to 1995, O'Connor was a litigation associate at the law firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is a prominent New York-based international law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and London...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
From 1995 to 1997, O'Connor served as a Staff Attorney and Senior Counsel in the Division of Enforcement of the United States Securities & Exchange Commission
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is a federal agency which holds primary responsibility for enforcing the federal securities laws and regulating the securities industry, the nation's stock and options exchanges, and other electronic securities markets in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Prior to his appointment as United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
, O'Connor was a partner in the law firm of Day, Berry & Howard. While with Day, Berry & Howard, O'Connor also served from 1999 to 2001 as Corporation Counsel for the Town of West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
.
In 1998, O'Connor was the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Connecticut's heavily Democratic 1st district. He was defeated by John Larson
John Larson
John Barry Larson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the a Democratic Party. The district is based in the state capital, Hartford.Larson is the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus....
58% to 41%.
O'Connor currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law
University of Connecticut School of Law
The University of Connecticut School of Law is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. The school was recently ranked forty-sixth out of the 190 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States and is considered a Tier 1 school by U.S...
. From 1996 to 1997, O’Connor served as Adjunct Professor at the National Law Center at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
.