David Fein (Wiggin and Dana LLP)

David Fein (Dartmouth College, New York University School of Law) is nominated to be U.S. Attorney for Connecticut. He would replace Kevin O’Connor, who was the district’s U.S. Attorney from 2002 to 2006. O’Connor resigned in order to become Associate Deputy Attorney General. The district’s current acting U.S. Attorney is Nora Dannehy.

His vitals:

• Born in New York, N.Y., in 1960.
• Has been a partner at Wiggin and Dana LLP in Stamford, Conn., since 1997.
• Has been a visiting lecturer at Yale Law School in New Haven, Conn., since 1999.
• Was Associate Counsel to President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C., from 1995 to 1996.
• Worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1989 to 1995. Also served as deputy chief of the narcotics unit from 1992 to 1993, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division from 1993 to 1994 and counsel to the U.S. Attorney from 1994 to 1995.
• Was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in New York, N.Y., from 1986 to 1989.
• Clerked for The Honorable Frank M. Coffin in Portland, Maine from 1985 to 1986.
• Was a summer associate at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Southern District of New York in 1985.
• Was a summer associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York, N.Y., in 1984.
• Was a summer associate at Rosenman & Colin (now Katten Muchin Rosenman) in New York, N.Y., in 1983.
• Was a visiting lecturer at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford, Conn., from 1997 to 1998.
• Has tried approximately 15 cases tried to verdict, of which he was chief counsel in approximately 10.

Click here for his full Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire.

On his Office of Government Ethics financial disclosure Fein reported earning $1.8 million from Wiggin and Dana in 2009 in distribution and bonuses.

UPDATE: On his Senate Judiciary financial disclosure Fein reported assets valued at $4.5 million, mostly from his $2.8 million personal residence, and $978,000 in liabilities, mostly from a mortgage on the property, for a net worth of $3.6 million.

Kevin J. O'Connor (Bracewell and Giuliani)

Kevin O’Connor, a former U.S. Attorney in Connecticut and ex-Associate Attorney General, on Thursday announced he will not seek the Republican nomination for governor of Connecticut next year, WFSB, a Hartford television station, reports. The announcement came as O’Connor taped “Face the State,” a political program on WFSB that will air on Sunday.

Last week, Gov. Jodi Rell (R) announced that she will not seek re-election next year and mentioned O’Connor as a possible successor, calling him one of several qualified Republicans; however, she declined to endorse anyone.

O’Connor was the state’s top federal prosecutor from 2002 to April 2008. From January 2006 to April 2006, he also briefly served simultaneously as Associate Deputy Attorney General. In addition, O’Connor in 2007 was then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales‘ chief of staff and in 2008 was confirmed by the Senate as Associate Attorney General. He currently is a partner at Bracewell & Giuliani in Hartford.

When announcing his decision, O’Connor cited family considerations, including his four young children, WFSB reports. He did not, however, rule out a future run for office, according to the television station.

Kevin J. O'Connor (Bracewell and Giuliani)

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell (R), who on Monday announced that she will not seek re-election next year, has mentioned a former U.S. Attorney as a possible replacement, The Hartford Courant reports. Although Rell declined to endorse a candidate, she told The Courant there are several qualified Republicans, including former U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Connor.

O’Connor in 2002 was named U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, a position in which he served until April 2008. He also briefly served simultaneously as Associate Deputy Attorney General, from January 2006 to April 2006. In addition, O’Connor in 2007 was then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales‘ chief of staff and in 2008 was confimred by the Senate as Associate Attorney General. He currently is a partner at Bracewell & Giuliani in Hartford.

O’Connor told the Courant in July he was not interested in running, but Rell’s announcement alters the political landscape. He was the GOP nominee for the First District U.S. House seat in 1998, but lost by 17 percentage points to Democrat John B. Larson. O’Connor’s name has also been mentioned as a possible challenger to Democratic Sen. Christopher J. Dodd.

Although Rell has not issued an endorsement, Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele(R) on Monday night said the governor had said she would support him for the Republican nomination, The Courant reports. When asked about Fedele’s statement, Rell told The Courant, “He is one of many people right now that have expressed an interest. He hasn’t declared yet that he’s running.”

Gov. Jodi Rell

Rell also mentioned House Republican leader Lawrence Cafero and Senate GOP leader John McKinney. “They’re all great Republicans, and they’re all very competent,” Rell told The Courant. Cafero announced his candidacy before Rell announced her plans to leave politics; McKinney has not announced whether he will run.

Among potential Democratic candidates, Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz leads the pack, according to a poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University. She was favored by 26 percent of registered Democrats polled. She was followed by multimillionaire Ned Lamont, who was the Democratic nominee for Senate in 2006, with 23 percent. Lamont has not announced his candidacy for governor.

None of the other Democrats who have announced their candidacy reached double digits in the Quinnipiac poll. They include former state House Speaker Jim Amann, state Sen. Gary LeBeau, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy and Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi.

The poll was conduced before Rell announced her intention not to seek re-election.