Barbara Bailey Jongbloed testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut on Wednesday. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

As Superior Court Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed—President Donald Trump's nominee for a federal judgeship in Connecticut—appeared Wednesday in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for a confirmation hearing, colleagues at home said she is one of a few judges who could excel at both criminal and family law.

"Judge Jongbloed did family short calendar in Norwich, and sat on the criminal bench in New London," said John Nazzaro, a former Superior Court judge and current partner at The Reardon Law Firm in New London. "It's rare that you have a judge who has split assignments between civil and criminal. It's an art, and she did it with aplomb."

Nazzaro, who has known the 59-year-old Jongbloed since 1997, called the president's pick to replace outgoing U.S. District Judge Alvin Thompson "very even-tempered."

"Unlike me, she never raised her voice," he quipped.

Jongbloed "has had an illustrious career," according to Nazzaro. She served as a law clerk to U.S. District Chief Judge T.F. Gilroy of the District of Connecticut, worked as a federal prosecutor, and was chief of the criminal unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office before being appointed Superior Court judge in 2000.

Plus, the nominee has bipartisan appeal, garnering support from the state's two Democratic senators, Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal.

"We here in Connecticut are fortunate to have an experienced state jurist become a federal jurist." Nazzaro said. "It's a natural progression for her. She is a dedicated professional with a lot of service left in her."

Paul Geraghty, a partner with New London-based Geraghty & Bonnano agreed, saying Jongbloed has a reputation in New London County as a diligent jurist.

"That's what you want in a federal judge," he said.

New London solo practitioner Gregg Wagman, who has appeared before Jongbloed numerous times, echoed that view.

"She has great judicial temperament and was always fair," he said.

One example of Jongbloed's diligence: The judge knew that presiding over criminal matters meant that guilty verdicts would usually come with an appeal, so Nazzaro said she worked with that in mind.

"It was important for her to rule correctly and deliberately, and make a clear record," Nazzaro said.

A Madison resident, Jongbloed received her law degree from New York University School of Law. Her husband, Peter, is a federal prosecutor in Connecticut's Office of the U.S. Attorney.

Next, the full U.S. Senate will vote on Jongbloed's nomination.

Read more:

Trump Announces Judicial Nominees for Connecticut, Nation