--- title: "Colm Felix Connolly | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/colm-felix-connolly" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Colm Felix Connolly U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware - State: Delaware - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (2018–present) - Judge, District Court, D. Delaware, 2018-present - The Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and has held the role of a federal district judge since August 3, 2018 - Before joining the bench, Connolly was a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (2009–2018) and earlier at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell (1999–2001). - From 1993 to 1999, Connolly held the role of an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Delaware, later becoming U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush - Law clerk, Office of the U.S. Attorney, District of Delaware, 1992-1993 - Law Clerk, Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1991-1992 ### Education - Duke University School of Law — J.D. (1991) - B.A. — University of Notre Dame, an M.Sc. in 1987 from the London School of Economics, (1986) ### Additional information - Chief Judge since July 1, 2021 - Private practice, Wilmington, DE, 2009-2018 - Private practice, Wilmington, DE, 1999-2001 - M.Sc. — London School of Economics and Political Science — 1987 - Born October 18, 1964, in Wilmington, Delaware. - Date of birth: 1964-01-01 - He clerked for Hon. - Connolly is recognized for his prosecutorial skill, investigative leadership, and judicial management. - As Chief Judge, he oversees case scheduling, procedural rules, and court operations in Delaware’s federal district court - He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Law Institute - Birth place: Wilmington, DE ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### courtesy copies Scope: judge specific Chief Judge Connolly requires two hard copies of papers filed electronically, delivered to chambers by noon on the next business day. Evidence excerpt: Two (2) hard copies of all papers filed electronically shall be delivered to Chambers by noon on the next business day after filing. [Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly](https://www.ded.uscourts.gov/judge/chief-judge-colm-f-connolly) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### discovery disputes Scope: judge specific Discovery disputes before Chief Judge Connolly must follow the procedures linked from his official chambers page. Evidence excerpt: Discovery Matters and Disputes: Please review the Court's procedures regarding discovery matters and disputes. [Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly](https://www.ded.uscourts.gov/judge/chief-judge-colm-f-connolly) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/5018791) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/5018791) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/5018791) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8565/colm-felix-connolly/) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly](https://www.ded.uscourts.gov/judge/chief-judge-colm-f-connolly) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8565/colm-felix-connolly/) - [Wikidata: Colm Connolly](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5147665) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/colm-felix-connolly", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/colm-felix-connolly", "name": "Colm Felix Connolly | KnowJudges", "description": "Colm Felix Connolly, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. 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Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.