Robert I. Berdon Explained

Robert I. Berdon
Office:Associate Justice of the
Connecticut Supreme Court
Term Start:September 4, 1991
Term End:December 24, 1999
Appointer:Lowell P. Weicker Jr.
Predecessor:T. Clark Hull
Successor:Christine S. Vertefeuille
Office2:Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court
Term Start2:1973
Term End2:1991
Office3:74th Treasurer of Connecticut
Term Start3:1971
Term End3:June 28, 1973
Governor3:Thomas Meskill
Predecessor3:John A. Iorio
Successor3:Alden A. Ives
Birth Date:24 December 1929
Party:Republican

Robert Irvin Berdon[1] (December 24, 1929 – October 31, 2019)[2] was a justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from September 4, 1991 to 1999.

Education and career

Berdon earned both his undergraduate and an LL.B. degree from the University of Connecticut, graduating from the University of Connecticut law school in 1957.[3] Berdon worked for sixteen years in private practice before entering his political career.[4]

In 1970, Berdon ran for and was elected Connecticut State Treasurer. He received national attention during his tenure, first in 1972 when refused to give up his office space at the Capitol, even when an eviction notice was served. Another significant feat during Berdon's tenure occurred when Connecticut won a seat on the PBW Stock Exchange in Philadelphia, "becoming the first public body to gain membership on a stock exchange."[5] [6]

In 1973, he was appointed to the Connecticut Superior Court, and after being passed over for the position by Governor William A. O'Neill following a controversial 1981 ruling requiring the state to pay for abortions for poor women, in 1991 he was elevated to the Connecticut Supreme Court by Governor Lowell Weicker.[7] Berdon stepped down in 1999 after reaching the mandatory retirement age, but continued working as a state trial referee until 2014.[7]

Berdon was married until the death of his wife in 1992. Berdon died in 2019.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Who's Who in American Law, 1994-1995. 1994. Marquis Who's Who. 65.
  2. Web site: Ex-Justice Robert Berdon Remembered as Uncompromising, Principled. Robert. Storace. November 4, 2019. Connecticut Law Tribune.
  3. Web site: Liberal Judge Named To State's High Court. Jack. Ewing. courant.com. 28 August 1991 .
  4. Web site: LibGuides Home: Judge & Attorney Biographies. libguides.ctstatelibrary.org.
  5. News: Saving of $1‐Million Per Year Seen by State Treasurer. Lawrence. Fellows. The New York Times. December 14, 1972.
  6. Web site: Lone Justice. Lynne. Tuohy. Dana. Tofig. courant.com. 31 October 1999 .
  7. Web site: Justice Robert I. Berdon, Connecticut's great dissenter, dies at 89. Mark. Pazniokas. Connecticut Mirror. November 1, 2019.