Connecticut Supreme Court - Current and Former Justices

Current and Former Justices

The current Connecticut Supreme Court includes:

• Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers
• Justice Flemming L. Norcott, Jr.
• Justice Richard N. Palmer
• Justice Peter T. Zarella
• Justice Dennis G. Eveleigh
• Justice Lubbie Harper, Jr.
• Senior Justice Christine S. Vertefeuille

Governor Dannel Malloy nominated Appellate Court Judge Lubbie Harper, Jr. to fill the seat vacated by Justice Joette Katz on February 23, 2011.

Justices must retire upon reaching the age of 70. They may continue to hear cases as Judge Trial Referees in the Superior Court or the Appellate Court. Justices may assume Senior Status before attaining age 70 and continue to sit with the Supreme Court, as needed. Justice Ellen Ash Peters took Senior Status in 1996, continuing to sit until 2000 and Justice Angelo Santaniello assumed senior status in 1987 and continued to sit as needed until 1994.

In the event of a recusal or absence, a Judge of the Appellate or Superior Court may be called to sit with the Supreme Court. One of the most recent instances of a lower court judge being called to "pinch-hit" was Judge Thomas Bishop of the Appellate Court in Bysiewicz v. Dinardo. Judge Lubbie Harper of the Appellate Court also sat with the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health

Notable former justices include:

• Anthony J. Armentano (1981–1983), Served as lieutenant governor and a Member of the Supreme Court.
• Raymond E. Baldwin (1949–1963), Only person to serve as Governor of Connecticut and Chief Justice.
• Robert I. Berdon (1991–1999), An outspoken civil Libertarian, he authored 500 dissents in 8 years, opposed the death penalty, and authored the decision of State v. Geisler to assess claims of rights under the Connecticut Constitution, infra. Still active as a Judge Trial Referee in New Haven.
• Joseph W. Bogdanski (1972–1981, Chief Justice, 1981)- Modernized Connecticut jurisprudence, also an outspoken dissenter like Robert Berdon, served briefly as Chief Justice, part of the majority in Horton v. Messkill.
• David M. Borden (1990–2007) One of the original members of the Appellate Court, drafter of Connecticut's Penal Code, first administrative judge for the Appellate System, served as acting chief justice from 2006–2007, still active as a Judge Trial Referee on the Appellate Court, screening cases for transfer to the Supreme Court.
• Alfred V. Covello (1987–1992), Currently a Federal District Judge
• Joseph Dannehy (1984–1987), One of two jurists to sit at all five levels of Connecticut's judiciary, first Chief Presiding Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court.
• Robert Glass (1987–1992), First African-American named to the Supreme Court, the Waterbury Juvenile Matters Courthouse is now named for him.
• Arthur Healey (1979–1990), Also served with Ellen Ash Peters and David Shea and innovated State Constitutional Law, former Chief Judge of the Superior Court before the major judicial reorganization of 1978. Still extremely respected.
• T. Clark Hull (1987–1991), Former State Senator and Lieutenant Governor.
• Joette Katz (1993–2011), Retired from the court to serve as the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families of Connecticut
• C. Ian McLachlan (2009–2012), Retired from the court and entered private practice.
• William M. Maltbie (1925–1950, Chief Justice, 1930–1950)
• Francis M. McDonald, Jr. (1996–2001, Chief Justice, 1999–2001). Former Waterbury State's Attorney, another dissenter like Robert Berdon (and his occasional ally), successfully integrated the Sheriffs into the Judicial Branch as Judicial Marshals and State Marshals, appointed a new lawyer grievance review panel, reduced a civil and criminal backlog, and worked to give the Appellate Court its own courthouse. Still active as a Judge Trial Referee and sitting with the Appellate Court.
• Ellen Ash Peters (1978–2000, 1984–1996 as Chief Justice) First woman to serve on the court, innovated Connecticut Constitutional Law. Still active as a Judge Trial Referee.
• Leo Parskey (1979–1985), Scholar who served with Ellen Ash Peters, Arthur Healey, and David Shea.
• Tapping Reeve (1798–1823, Chief Justice, 1814–1823), Succeeded Stephen Mix Mitchell, founded Litchfield Law School.
• Angelo Santaniello (1985–1994, Senior Justice, 1987–1994) Innovated the Pre-Argument Conference (PAC) program for settling appeals before oral arguments, ran the "Supreme Court on Circuit" program taking the Court throughout Connecticut. Still sat regularly with the Court as a Senior Justice.
• Barry R. Schaller (2007–2008) One of two men to sit at every level of Connecticut's Judiciary.
• David M. Shea (1981–1992) Justice who also innovated Connecticut Constitutional Law with Justices Ellen Ash Peters, Arthur Healey, and Robert Berdon.