Connecticut Appellate Court Explained

The Connecticut Appellate Court is the court of first appeals for all cases arising from the Connecticut Superior Courts. Its creation in 1983 required Connecticut's voters and legislature to amend the state's constitution. The court heard its first cases on October 4, 1983.^[1] The Appellate Court was also a partial successor to the former Appellate Session of the Superior Court, a court established to hear appeals in minor matters (e.g., misdemeanors and minor civil matters.)^{[2] [3]}

Composition

The Connecticut Appellate Court is composed of nine Appellate Court Judges. However, retired Judges of the Appellate Court and of the Supreme Court can still sit on Appellate Court panels, as needed. Retired Chief Justices Ellen Ash Peters, Francis McDonald, and William Sullivan continue to sit regularly with the Appellate Court, as do retired Justices David Borden and Barry Schaller, retired Appellate Court Chief Judges Antoinette Dupont and William Lavery, and a battery of other retired Appellate Court Judges (including Socrates Mihalakos, Joseph Pellegrino, George Stoughton, and Thomas West, among others). If the Chief Court Administrator is a Judge of the Appellate Court, the Appellate Court is authorized to have 10 seats. (Judge Joseph Pellegrino fulfilled this role and during his time, the Court had 10 members.)^[4] Some Judges of the former Appellate Session of the Superior Court went on to serve on the Appellate Court, notably, John Daly and Francis X. Hennessy.

Current members

Justice	Born	Joined	Term ends	Mandatory retirement	Appointed by	Law school
William H. Bright Jr, Chief Judge	15 August 1962	(as Appellate Judge) (as Chief Judge)	2025	2032		Dannel Malloy (D)	Chicago
Bethany Alvord	20 June 1957		2027	2027		Jodi Rell (R)	Connecticut
Nina F. Elgo	18 June 1962		2025	2032		Dannel Malloy (D)	Georgetown
Ingrid L. Moll	17 April 1973		2026	2043		Dannel Malloy (D)	Connecticut
Melanie L. Cradle			2028	2041		Ned Lamont (D)	Seton Hall
José A. Suarez			2028	2036		Ned Lamont (D)	Connecticut
Robert W. Clark	16 September 1971		2029	2041		Ned Lamont (D)	Connecticut
Hope C. Seeley	25 February 1964		2030	2034		Ned Lamont (D)	Connecticut
Dawne G. Westbrook	–		2031	–		Ned Lamont (D)	Vanderbilt
Eliot D. Prescott, Senior Judge	21 January 1965		N/A	N/A		Dannel Malloy (D)	Connecticut

Former members

• Judge Joan K. Alexander
• Judge F. Herbert Greundel^[5]
• Judge Robert Beach^[6]
• William C. Bieluch (1985-1988), a former member of the Appellate Session of the Superior Court.^[7]
• Judge Thomas Bishop (2001–2011) ^[8]
• David M. Borden (1983–1990), one of the original five appointees, drafted Connecticut's Penal Code, first Administrative Judge for the Appellate System, still active as a Judge Trial Referee.
• Albert W. Cretella (1990, Senior Judge, 1990-1995): Actually married Judge Dupont, former Chief Civil Administrative Judge and Assemblyman.^{[9] [10] [11]}
• John Daly (1984–1993), Also defended Joseph "Mad Dog" Taborsky (last man in Connecticut to be executed before Michael Ross), one of the original 44 circuit court judges when the court was established in 1961 (and later rendered defunct in 1978).^{[12] [13]}
• Joseph Dannehy (1983–1984), first Chief Presiding Judge.^[14]
• Robert J. Devlin Jr. (2019–2020)
• Alexandra Davis DiPentima (2011–2020, Senior Judge 2020–2023/24)
• Antoinette Dupont (1983–1999, Chief Judge, 1984–1997) Second Chief Judge, helped the Court clear an appellate backlog, brought the Court into its own right as an innovator. Still active as a Judge Trial Referee, authored the history of the Court in 2003.^[15]
• Joseph P. Flynn (2001–2010)
• Paul M. Foti (1987–2005), one of the longest serving members of the Appellate Court.^{[16] [2]}
• Lubbie Harper Jr. (2005–2011), served on the Appellate Court from 2005 to 2011, when he was elevated to the Connecticut Supreme Court.^[17]
• Francis X. Hennessy (1994-2000), originally selected as a Juvenile Court Judge, he went on to serve as the Administrative Judge of the Juvenile-Family Session of the Superior Court, served as the Deputy Chief Court Administrator, sat on the former Appellate Session of the Superior Court, sat by designation on multiple occasions at the Supreme Court, nominated by Governor Weicker to serve on the Appellate Court. Still was actively serving as a Judge Trial Referee designated to the Appellate Court and maintaining chambers there until recently.^{[18] [19] [20]}
• Maxwell Heiman (1990–1997), Former President of the Connecticut Bar Association, defended Joseph "Mad Dog" Taborsky (last man to be executed in Connecticut before Michael Ross), presided over Robert Breton's capital felony trial, served Chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Intermediate Appellate Court Committee with C. Ian McLachlan.^{[21] [22] [2]}
• T. Clark Hull (1983–1987), one of the original five appointees. Former Lieutenant Governor.
• Christine Keller (2013–2020), served for seven years until elevation to the Supreme Court.^[23]
• Judge Douglas Lavine
• C. Ian McLachlan (2003–2009), served on the Connecticut Bar Association Intermediate Appellate Court Committee, later elevated to the Supreme Court.^{[24] [2] [25]}
• Raheem L. Mullins (2014–2017)^[26] Served for 3 years until elevated to Supreme Court.
• Barry R. Schaller (1992–2007) One of two judges to sit at all five levels of Connecticut's Judiciary, the other being Joseph Dannehy.
• Judge Michael Sheldon (2011–2019), Served 28 years in the Connecticut judiciary. Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 70.^[27]
• E. Eugene Spear (1993–2002), Former Chief Civil Administrative Judge, second African American member of the Court after Flemming Norcott, former Public Defender.^{[28] [2] [22]}
• Daniel Spallone (1984–1991), Served 40 years in the judiciary, former Town Attorney in Deep River, spouse served as State Representative, son later served as State representative.^{[29] [30] [15]}
• George Stoughton (1987–1989) Former Hartford State's Attorney, returned to the Court as a Judge Trial Referee (after turning 70 in 1989 and enabling Legislation in 1995), was still active at 91 and heard cases until his death in June 2011, including assisting Justice Borden in screening criminal cases for transfer to the Supreme Court.^{[31] [32] [33] [34]}
• Robert Testo (1983) One of the original five judges. Opted to return to the Superior Court, opening the vacancy for Daniel Spallone.^{[15] [35]}

See also

• Courts of Connecticut

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. http://www.jud.state.ct.us/external/supapp/apphistory.htm History of the Connecticut Appellate Court
2. Web site: CT Appellate Court History. www.jud.ct.gov.
3. Web site: NCJRS Abstract - National Criminal Justice Reference Service. www.ncjrs.gov.
4. Web site: CT Appellate Court Judges - CT Judicial Branch. www.jud.state.ct.us.
5. Web site: Honorable F. Herbert Gruendel - Biography . 2011-07-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927181725/http://www.jud.state.ct.us/EXTERNAL/supapp/appjudge15.html . 2011-09-27 .
6. Web site: Honorable Robert E. Beach, Jr. - Biography. www.jud.state.ct.us.
7. Web site: Judge Bieluch Obituary, West Hartford, CTCarmon Community Funeral Homes. www.carmonfuneralhome.com.
8. Web site: Honorable Thomas A. Bishop - Biography. www.jud.state.ct.us.
9. Web site: CRETELLA, Judge Albert W., Jr..
10. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System. Vote Smart.
11. News: Judge Antoinette L. Dupont Marries Judge A. W. Cretella Jr. in New London. The New York Times. 25 August 1990.
12. Web site: Daly, Hon. John J..
13. Web site: Remarks by The Honorable Antoinette L. Dupont at 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Appellate Court - 10/15/03. jud.ct.gov.
14. Web site: Joseph Dannehy, Legendary Jurist, Dies.
15. Web site: CT Appellate Court History. www.jud.state.ct.us.
16. Web site: Resolution Confirming the Nomination of the Honorable Paul M. Foti of Branford to Be a Judge of the Appellate Court and a Judge of the Superior Court.. www.cga.ct.gov.
17. Web site: Honorable Lubbie Harper, Jr. - CT Judicial Branch. 2021-02-05. jud.ct.gov.
18. Web site: Retired Appellate Court Judge Francis X. Hennessy.
19. Web site: Retired Appellate Court Judge Francis X. Hennessy Dies at 82; Originally Appointed by Ella Grasso; 36-Year Career as Judge | Capitol Watch . 2013-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130210235908/http://courantblogs.com/capitol-watch/retired-appellate-court-judge-francis-x-hennessy-dies-at-82-originally-appointed-by-ella-grasso-36-year-career-as-judge/ . 2013-02-10 . dead .
20. Web site: The Honorable Francis Xavier HENNESSY's Obituary on Hartford Courant. Hartford Courant.
21. News: Judge Maxwell Heiman, 65. Wolfgang. Saxon. The New York Times. 8 November 1997.
22. Web site: Remarks by The Honorable Antoinette L. Dupont at 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Appellate Court - 10/15/03. www.jud.ct.gov.
23. Governor Lamont Makes Supreme and Appellate Court Appointments . July 20, 2020 . July 20, 2020.
24. Web site: Honorable C. Ian McLachlan - Biography . 2011-07-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325002203/http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/appjudge12.html . 2012-03-25 .
25. Web site: Justice C. Ian McLachlan biography . 2011-07-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325002207/http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/justiceMcLachlan.html . 2012-03-25 .
26. Web site: Appellate Judge Raheem L. Mullins - CT Judicial Branch. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141126122954/http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/appJudge_Mullins.htm . 2014-11-26 .
27. Web site: Storace . Robert . PM . 2019 at 03:57 . March 12, 2019 . Michael Sheldon to Step Down From Bench, Become Judge Trial Referee . June 22, 2020 . Connecticut Law Tribune . en.
28. Web site: Spear Nominated To Appellate Court.
29. Web site: Daniel Spallone, Connecticut judge - Boston.com . 2011-07-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120503211740/http://articles.boston.com/2007-08-23/news/29235748_1_jeanne-field-spallone-appellate-court-superior-court-bench . 2012-05-03 . dead .
30. Web site: Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 137 (Monday, September 17, 2007). www.gpo.gov.
31. Web site: CT Appellate Court History. www.jud.state.ct.us.
32. http://search.cga.state.ct.us/dtsearch_lpa.asp?cmd=getdoc&DocId=4541&Index=I%3A\zindex\1988&HitCount=0&hits=&hc=0&req=&Item=5655{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
33. Web site: George D. STOUGHTON's Obituary on Hartford Courant. Hartford Courant.
34. Web site: Connecticut Law Tribune: 'Til Death Do Us Part. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006185242/http://www.ctlawtribune.com/getarticle.aspx?ID=40986 . 2011-10-06 .
35. News: Robert Testo, 78, House Speaker In Era of Change in Connecticut. The New York Times. Associated Press. 23 April 1998.