U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Service and Career of Thomas E. Delahanty II

PORTLAND, Maine: Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark and the employees of the U.S. Attorney's Office honored the public service career of Thomas E. Delahanty II, who served as U.S. Attorney in both the Carter and Obama administrations. Delahanty died earlier this week at the age of 75.

Delahanty had a lengthy and distinguished career in both the state and federal courts of Maine. After starting his legal career in private practice in Lewiston, he was elected District Attorney in 1974 for the newly created Prosecutorial District Three, covering the counties of Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin. He held that position until President Carter appointed him U.S. Attorney for Maine. He was sworn into office on May 22, 1980, and served until August 1981, when he resigned following a change in the presidential administration.

Delahanty was in private practice in Lewiston until November 1983, when Governor Joseph Brennan appointed him to the Maine Superior Court. He served as a Superior Court Justice until 2010, when he again became U.S. Attorney on appointment of President Obama. He was sworn into office on July 1, 2010, and served until his resignation in March 2017, following the change in administration. He then returned to the Maine Superior Court as an active retired justice.

'Tom Delahanty was a giant in the Maine legal community,' said U.S. Attorney Clark. 'His service to the people of Maine, including two appointments as U.S. Attorney, spanned over 40 years. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was also an honorable, just man and a devoted husband, father and grandfather. We at the U.S. Attorney's Office mourn his passing and send our condolences to his family.'