1891-1916

Emile Henry Lacombe,
Class of 1865

During its 118-year history, there have been many Columbia Law School alumni and faculty who have served on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Emile Henry Lacombe was one of the two first judges to serve on the newly established 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in 1891.

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1921-1924

Julius Marshuetz Mayer,
Class of 1886

During Julius Marsheutz Mayer's term, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals was located at the triangular end of City Hall Park, in a building designed by Alfred B. Mullett. The elaborately colonnaded building was widely disliked and nicknamed "Mullett's monstrosity." The 2nd Circuit remained there from 1891 to 1936, and the structure was demolished in 1939.

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1951-1980

Harold Medina, Class of 1912 LL.B.

In June of 1965, 2nd Circuit Judge Harold Medina was awarded Columbia Law School Alumni Association’s Medal for Excellence. Medina was quoted in the Law Alumni Bulletin as saying, “In all that Socratic method I found out why they gave that hemlock to Socrates he deserved every bit of it.”

• Photo Gallery

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1957-1982

Leonard Page Moore ’22

In 1970, Leonard Page Moore ruled that the Swedish film Language of Love was protected under the First Amendment and could not be banned for obscenity. At the time, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals was located at 40 Centre Street in Cass Gilbert’s classic revival-style building, which was one of the first skyscrapers constructed for federal use.

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1961-1980

Paul Raymond Hays ’33

Paul Raymond Hays taught at Columbia Law School from 1936 to 1961. As part of the March 1972 issue of Columbia Law Review dedicated to Hays, then Law School Dean Michael I. Sovern published a letter of thanks to Hays, whom Sovern described as “a valued colleague, brilliant scholar, [and] an inspiring teacher.”

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1966-present

Wilfred Feinberg ’43

In a 1986 Columbia Law Review article celebrating Wilfred Feinberg’s 25th year on the bench, and two decades on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Law School Professor Maurice Rosenberg described Feinberg as “the kind of jurist the Founding Fathers must have had in mind when they bestowed life tenure on federal judges.”

• Photo Gallery

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1986-1996

John Daniel Mahoney ’55

John Daniel Mahoney was appointed to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Prior to his appointment, Mahoney was the chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State, which he founded in 1962.

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1998-present

Robert D. Sack ’63

Appointed to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998, Robert D. Sack continues to teach as a lecturer-in-law at the Law School. He notes that teaching courses on media law has allowed him to stay up to date on developments in the field and maintain a high level of expertise on the subject.

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2007-present

Debra A. Livingston

The Paul J. Kellner Professor of Law, Debra A. Livingston began teaching at Columbia Law School in 1994. Read her account of how sitting judges and law professors often differ in how much value they assign various legal issues and elements.

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2009-present

Gerard Lynch  ’75

Columbia Law School’s most recent graduate to join the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Gerard Lynch was appointed to court in 2009. He joined the Law School faculty in 1977 and continues to help teach the course on criminal law. After graduating from the Law School, Lynch clerked for 2nd Circuit Court Judge Wilfred Feinberg.

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