Colleen McMahon

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Colleen McMahon is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She joined the court in 1998 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton (D). She served as chief judge of the court from 2016 to 2021. Prior to joining the court, McMahon was a New York Court of Claims Judge for the New York Supreme Court from 1995 to 1998.^[1]

McMahon assumed senior status on April 10, 2021.^[2]

Biography

Education

A native of Ohio, McMahon graduated from Ohio State University with her bachelor's degree in 1973 and later graduated from Harvard Law with her J.D. degree in 1976.^[1]

Professional career

McMahon was in private practice as an attorney in New York from 1976 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1995. She served one year as a speechwriter/special assistant to Donald McHenry of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations from 1979 to 1980.^[1]

Judicial career

Article III judgeship

On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, McMahon was nominated by President Bill Clinton on May 21, 1998, to a seat vacated by John Keenan as Keenan was elevated to a judgeship on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. McMahon was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 21, 1998, on a majority voice vote and received commission on October 22, 1998.^[3] She assumed senior status on April 10, 2021.^[2]

Claims judgeship

McMahon served as a judge in the New York Court of Claims in the New York Supreme Court from 1995 to 1998.^[1]

Noteworthy cases

Flavored tobacco ban law challenge (2010)

See also: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Manufacturing Co. LLC et al. v. City of New York, 1:2009cv10511)

Judge McMahon on March 24, 2010, ruled against a lawsuit that challenged a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco in New York City. The law, which was approved by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2007, was challenged by well-known tobacco maker Altria-Philip Morris.^[4]