Shaheen, Hassan Applaud Nomination of Seth Aframe to the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following joint statement after the White House announced the nomination of Seth Robert Aframe of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

“Seth Aframe is extremely qualified to serve as the next judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. As Chief of both the Criminal and Appellate Divisions in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Aframe’s dedication and commitment to justice, including his work on the LASER Docket – which prioritizes treatment over punishment for certain low-level drug offenses – is commendable. His long tenure of public service, his commitment to mentoring and teaching the next generation and his extensive litigation experience make him well suited to serve in this role, and we urge the Senate to swiftly confirm him,” said the Senators.

Seth Robert Aframe is an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire in Concord, New Hampshire. He has served as the Chief of the Criminal Division since earlier this year, and as Appellate Chief since 2010. From 2022 to 2023, Aframe served as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. Aframe joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2007, first serving in the Civil Division, then moving to the Criminal Division in 2010. From 2003 to 2007, Aframe served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jeffrey R. Howard, the First Circuit judge whom he would succeed, in Concord, New Hampshire. From 2000 to 2003, Aframe worked as an associate at Choate Hall & Stewart in Boston, Massachusetts. From 1999 to 2000, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judith A. Cowin, Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in Boston. Since 2008, Aframe has taught as an adjunct law professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Franklin Pierce School of Law in Concord.  Aframe graduated from Tufts University in 1996 and Georgetown University Law Center in 1999.  

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