Connecticut Appellant Court
Encyclopedia
The Connecticut Appellate Court is the court of first appeal
s for all cases arising from the Connecticut Superior Court
s. 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.
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.)
Former members include:
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
s for all cases arising from the Connecticut Superior Court
Connecticut Superior Court
The Connecticut Superior Court is the Connecticut state trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears all matters other than those heard by the Connecticut Probate Courts...
s. Its creation in 1983 required Connecticut's voters and legislature to amend the state's constitution
Connecticut Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Connecticut is the basic governing document of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was approved by referendum on December 14, 1965, and proclaimed by the governor as adopted on December 30. It is the second constitution that the state has had...
. The court heard its first cases on October 4, 1983.
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.)
Current and former members
Current Members:- Chief Judge Alexandra DiPentima
- Judge Thomas Bishop
- Judge F. Herbert Greundel
- Judge Douglas Lavine
- Judge Robert Beach
- Judge Richard Robinson
- Judge Bethany Alvord
- Judge Stuart Bear
- Judge Carmen Espinosa
Former members include:
- David M. BordenDavid M. Borden-Judicial career:Justice Borden received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in 1959 and his Bachelor of Laws degree from Harvard Law School in 1962...
(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. - John DalyJohn DalyJohn Daly may refer to:*John Daly , former colonial Anglican bishop* J. Burrwood Daly , U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania* John Charles Daly , veteran radio & TV newsman and television host on What's My Line? 1950–1967...
(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). - Joseph Dannehy (1983-1984), first Chief Presiding Judge.
- Antoinette Dupont (1983-1984, 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.
- Judge Joseph P. Flynn 2001-2010Joseph P. FlynnThe Honorable Joseph P. Flynn was the Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court. Flynn was appointed judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court on February 7, 2001 and Chief Judge on February 1, 2006. Judge Flynn subsequently assumed in 2010 and Judge Alexandra DiPentima succeeded him...
- Paul M. Foti (1987-2005) One of the longest serving members of the Appellate Court.
- 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.
- T. Clark HullT. Clark HullTreat Clark Hull was an American politician and lawyer who was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1971 to 1973 and a judge for 23 years from 1973.-Early life:...
(1983-1987), one of the original five appointees. Former Lieutenant Governor. - C. Ian McLachlan (2003-2009), serve on the Connecticut Bar Association Intermediate Appellate Court Committee, recently elevated to the Supreme Court.
- Barry R. SchallerBarry R. SchallerThe Honorable Barry R. Schaller was an Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 2007-2008. He served as a judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court from 1992 to 2007. Before that, he was a trial court judge in Connecticut for 18 years...
(1992-2007) One of two judges to sit at all five levels of Connecticut's Judiciary, the other being Joseph Dannehy. - E. Eugene Spear (1993-2002), Former Chief Civil Administrative Judge, third African American member of the Court after John Daly and Flemming Norcott, former Public Defender.
- 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.
- 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, assisted Justice Borden in screening criminal cases for transfer to the Supreme Court.
- Robert Testo (1983-1986) One of the original five judges.