Judiciary committee advances broad slate of judicial nominees, approves consent calendar

The Connecticut Judiciary Committee on Feb. 26 favorably reported a broad consent calendar of judicial nominations and held roll-call votes on several nominees, moving dozens of governor’s appointments toward confirmation.

The committee approved a consent calendar that included nominations to the Supreme Court, superior court, family support magistrate and workers’ compensation administrative law judge posts. Several nominees were considered individually by roll call, and committee leadership announced that recorded votes would remain open until 4 p.m.

The consent calendar announced by the committee clerk listed the following nominees as placed on consent: William H. Bright Jr., associate judge of the Supreme Court and judge of the Superior Court (Columbia); David G. Bothwell (Fairfield); Tracy C. Brown (Windsor); Donald R. Green (Meriden); Caitlin A. Halloran (West Hartford); Angeline N. Ianno (West Hartford); Daniel R. Shapiro (Westbrook); Kevin C. Shea (Madison); Latonia C. Williams (West Hartford); Benedict R. Daigle (Cromwell); Leanne S. Neal (Waterbury); Christine M. Conley (Groton); Colette S. Griffin (Newtown); and Michael L. Anderson (North Stonington).

Committee members moved and seconded favorable reports on individual nominations and on the consent calendar. Several nominees — including Robin L. Wilson (to the Appellate Court and Superior Court), Michael C. D’Agostino (Superior Court), Jesse W. Giddings (Superior Court), Kevin C. Kelly (Superior Court) and Yanetan E. Zamir (Superior Court) — were called for separate roll-call votes. The committee’s administrator called the roll for each of those nominees, recording individual votes on the record.

Representative Fishbein moved multiple nominees to the consent calendar during the meeting; several senators, including Senator Kissel and Senator Flexer, offered motions and seconds at different points on the agenda. At one point a committee officer said the committee would “leave the votes open ... until 4 p.m. today,” and paused the meeting to return later to complete votes.

The committee also announced a schedule for the coming weeks: public hearings on substantive bills will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the Joint Favoring (JF) week, with daily hearings expected during JF week.

Votes at a glance - William H. Bright Jr. — placed on consent; favorably reported to the full chamber (consent calendar). - Robin L. Wilson — considered by roll call for appointment to the Appellate Court and Superior Court; roll-call vote recorded. - David G. Bothwell — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Tracy C. Brown — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Michael C. D’Agostino — considered by roll call for Superior Court; roll-call vote recorded. - Jesse W. Giddings — considered by roll call for Superior Court; roll-call vote recorded (see separate article on the committee debate). - Donald R. Green — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Caitlin A. Halloran — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Angeline N. Ianno — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Kevin C. Kelly — considered by roll call for Superior Court; roll-call vote recorded. - Kevin C. Shea — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Latonia C. Williams — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Yanetan E. Zamir — considered by roll call for Superior Court; roll-call vote recorded. - Benedict R. Daigle — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Leanne S. Neal — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Christine M. Conley — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Colette S. Griffin — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar). - Michael L. Anderson — placed on consent; favorably reported (consent calendar).

The committee clerk read the consent calendar into the record before calling the roll; individual roll-call records for the nominees taken separately appear in the hearing transcript. Several members asked that particular nominations be removed from consent earlier in the meeting before the committee placed the full set on the consent calendar.

Ending The committee recessed after completing its votes and scheduled regular public hearings going forward, signaling the start of the committee’s active session into March and daily hearings during JF week.