Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis  

(born 1948 in   Paterson, New Jersey) is a   United States   district judge serving on the   United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He was nominated by   President Clinton   on February 28, 2000, to a seat vacated by   Charles P. Sifton   and confirmed by the   United States Senate   on May 24, 2000. Garaufis received his commission on May 25, 2000.

Garaufis graduated from   Columbia College of Columbia University   in 1969 and received his   law degree   from   Columbia Law School   in 1974.

Nicholas G. Garaufis entered service as a United States District Judge in the Eastern District of New York on August 28, 2000. Judge Garaufis was nominated by President Clinton on February 28, 2000 upon the recommendation of U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY). On May 24, 2000, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Garaufis by unanimous consent.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Garaufis served for more than five years as the Chief Counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C., overseeing a staff of 200 attorneys. Prior to his appointment to the Clinton Administration in June, 1995, Judge Garaufis served for nine years as counsel to Queens Borough President Claire Shulman in New York City.

Judge Garaufis began his legal career in 1974 as an associate of Chadbourne & Parke. He also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s office under Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz and has practiced law privately in Queens County, New York.

After receiving his B.A. from Columbia College in 1969, Judge Garaufis taught in New York City public schools. In 1974, he received his J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law. Judge Garaufis is married.