Career
Donnelly received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 from the University of Michigan. She received a Juris Doctor in 1984 from the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University. From 1984 to 2009, she was a prosecutor in the New York County District Attorney" General’ s Office.
From 2009 to 2015, she served as a Judge of the New York State Court of Claims.
Concurrent to her service on the Claims Court, she has served on the Bronx County Supreme Court, a Special Term for Election Matters, the Kings County Supreme Court and served on the New York County Supreme Court. On November 20, 2014, President Obama nominated Donnelly to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, to the seat vacated by Judge Sandra L. Townes, who took senior status on May 1, 2015.
On December 16, 2014 her nomination was returned to the President due to the sine die adjournment of the 113th Congress. On January 7, 2015, President Obama renominated her to the same position.
She received a hearing before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee on May 6, 2015.
On June 4, 2015 her nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote. On October 20, 2015 the Senate voted 95-2 in favor of final confirmation. She received her judicial commission on October 21, 2015.
