As Connecticut works to strengthen and diversify its courts, the UConn School of Law hosted an event to explain how the state\u2019s judges are selected, nominated and confirmed.<\/p>\n
Dean Eboni S. Nelson moderated the panel discussion, \u201cHow to Become a Judge in State Court,\u201d which was held in the Reading Room of William F. Starr Hall on Sept. 18, 2023. The offices of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz joined the law school in sponsoring the panel discussion, which featured three judges and three officials with a role in choosing them. <\/p>\n
\u201cDiversifying the bench and having courts that look like Connecticut is a very important mission of mine and also of Gov. Lamont\u2019s,\u201d Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz told the audience. In the 1990s, when she was a state legislator sitting on the Judiciary Committee, classes of new judges would often be entirely white and male, she said.<\/p>\n
Panelist Leander Dolphin, chair of the Judicial Selection Commission and managing partner of Shipman & Goodwin, said it\u2019s important that candidates for the bench show clarity and expertise, but also humility and respect. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs a sitting judge, your demeanor and your temperament and how you treat people who are not making decisions for you is really, really important,\u201d she said. The commission keeps an eye out \u201cfor signs of what we call robe-itis,\u201d she said, a kind of overconfidence in people who think they know everything and who may end up abusing their power.<\/p>\n
Natalie Braswell \u201907, general counsel in the governor\u2019s office, said the governor looks for diversity in candidates that the office nominates, in terms of professional experience as well as race and gender. She said she wants to know whether candidates believe in justice and the rule of law. \u201cWhat is your \u2018why?\u2019 That\u2019s what I\u2019m looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n
State Sen. Gary Winfield, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, said he is shocked that some candidates can\u2019t answer when asked to describe their concept of justice. Everyone who makes it to the committee is qualified, he said, so he is primarily concerned with whether they can empathize with defendants who are facing bad circumstances.<\/p>\n
For those candidates who aren\u2019t nominated on the first try, Dolphin recommended coming back in a few years with more experience, prepared to give a stronger interview. Braswell said circumstances also change, depending on who occupies the governor\u2019s office and many other factors.<\/p>\n
Judge Vikki Cooper said the process of becoming a judge was stressful from beginning to end, but she would recommend paying attention to details. She said she watched judiciary committee hearings in preparation and shared her personal story to distinguish herself from other judges in the application process. <\/p>\n
Judge Emily Wagner \u201906 said that the opportunity to become a judge is beyond an individual\u2019s control, so it shouldn\u2019t be a life goal. Wagner was a public defender for more than a decade and believes that she was nominated because the time came when the governor wanted the professional diversity and sensitivity she represented. <\/p>\n
Judge Walter Menjivar \u201912 said it\u2019s critical for a candidate to be known as respectful to opposing counsel, who may have an opportunity to comment on the candidate\u2019s character. The entire panel agreed that reputation matters, and a good reputation is critical to making it through the nomination and confirmation process.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour reputation speaks for itself, your involvement in the community, who you are as an attorney,\u201d Braswell said. \u201cWhat are we looking for? We\u2019re looking for good lawyers.\u201d<\/p>\n