Maria Araújo Kahn: In Conversation
Listening to Portuguese women, all March long
Judge Maria Araújo Kahn was born in Angola and immigrated to the United States at the age of 10. Today, she serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
She was appointed to the Second Circuit in 2023, following a distinguished judicial career in Connecticut that included service as an Associate Justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court, as well as earlier appointments to the Connecticut Appellate Court and the Connecticut Superior Court.
Judge Kahn began her judicial career in 2006 on the Connecticut Superior Court, where she was primarily assigned to criminal matters. During her time on the bench, she also played an active role in advancing key initiatives within the judicial system, serving as co-chair of the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s Access to Justice Commission and its Limited English Proficiency Committee. She was a member of the State Judges’ Education Committee and taught several courses at the Connecticut Judges’ Institute.
Before her judicial appointments, she served for nearly nine years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Connecticut, where she received multiple recognitions, including several Special Achievement Awards from the Department of Justice and two Integrity Awards from the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Earlier in her career, she worked as a Deputy Assistant Public Defender for the State of Connecticut and as a staff attorney at the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities.
She holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, from New York University, and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.
Read her full interview below.
What professional achievement are you most proud of, or a moment where you felt you advanced opportunities for women in your field?
My appointment to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 2023 is one of the professional accomplishments of which I am most proud. It’s a dream come true for me and I count myself lucky to contribute to the work of this historic court. Before my appointment to the Second Circuit, I served for 17 years as a state court jurist and prior to becoming a state court judge, I served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Connecticut for nearly nine years. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to mentor many talented attorneys at the beginning of their own careers, including current and former law clerks. I also mentored several women when they were first appointed to the bench and remained a resource when some aspired to be elevated to higher courts. I view mentoring as a professional responsibility and one of the greatest pleasures of my professional life. With this in mind, I encourage everyone, no matter what career phase or job title, to willingly assume the role of mentor.
What is one piece of advice you would give to women at your career stage?Have a vision of a larger purpose, a bigger mission, and never give up on that vision. If you fail, don’t allow yourself to be discouraged, learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. In 2013, I was one of five finalists considered for nomination to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. I wasn’t chosen but that experience served me well during the nomination process to become a circuit judge. It’s basic human nature to shy away from risk, to take the safe option, and to avoid failure rather than use it as an experience—but without failure, there is no growth. Failure is one of the great drivers of resilience and perseverance and without those there is no success. Take a chance and see what possibilities lay ahead.
Is there a book, tool, or resource that has helped you and that you're recommend other women explore this month?
I believe the single biggest resource to build a successful career is the presence of role models. I would not have the privilege of serving as a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals without the help of countless role models, mentors, and supporters. I will always be grateful to my greatest role model and mentor, the late Federal District Court Judge Peter C. Dorsey. My clerkship with Judge Dorsey changed my career trajectory and my admiration for him formed my desire to become a judge.
I was lucky that my first job out of law school helped cement a lifelong friendship, but finding a mentor is not always that easy. The best mentors are talented individuals who are deeply passionate and committed to the work they are doing. To connect with a mentor on a deeper level beyond similar interests, use your strengths in service of a purpose that inspires you. Then, identify successful individuals doing the type of work you want to be doing and ask them to mentor you. Don’t be shy—let’s face it, most people love to talk, and especially about themselves—allow others to offer guidance by sharing their career paths and challenges.