Judiciary committee favorably reports dozens of judicial nominations; one member voices opposition to prosecutor-turned-nominee

The Judiciary Committee convened Feb. 26, 2025, and took up the governor's slate of judicial nominations, moving many nominees to a consent calendar and scheduling roll-call votes. Votes on several nominees were left open until 4 p.m.; the committee later approved a multi-name consent calendar during the session.

The nominations affect appointments to the state Supreme Court (associate judge), the Appellate Court, the Superior Court, family support magistrate posts and workers' compensation administrative law judge positions. Representative Fishbein objected to one nomination after recounting a prosecutor's handling of a criminal case; other members raised experience-related questions about a family support magistrate nominee.

Representative Fishbein, speaking on the nomination of Jesse W. Giddings of North Haven to be a judge of the Superior Court, described the facts of the case State v. Mims as presented in a public hearing and said the prosecutor determined the arrest and search were unconstitutional. Fishbein argued the prosecutor's decision to recommend a nolle prosequi that keeps a case open for 13 months was unfair and said, "I do intend to vote against, attorney Giddings here today." The record shows the committee nonetheless took a roll call on Giddings' nomination later in the meeting.

Committee members also debated other nominees in brief. A member raised concerns about a nominee for family support magistrate, Leanne S. Neal of Waterbury, noting the nominee's admitted lack of prior work in that specific court and that family support magistrates can work across different courts and locations; the member said she nevertheless intended to support the nomination while flagging the concern for the record.

Many nominations were placed on the consent calendar after motion and without extended debate. The consent calendar as read into the record included (among others) William H. Bright Jr. (associate judge of the Supreme Court and judge of the Superior Court), David G. Bothwell, Tracy C. Brown, Donald R. Green, Caitlin A. Halloran, Angeline N. Ianno, Daniel R. Shapiro, Kevin C. Shea, Latonia C. Williams, Benedict R. Daigle, Leanne S. Neal, Christine M. Conley, Colette S. Griffin and Michael L. Anderson. The committee asked that votes remain open until 4 p.m. and later called the roll on the consent calendar.

The committee chair and vice chair presided over the motions; Senator Kissel and Representative Fishbein were frequently recorded making or seconding motions to move nominees to the consent calendar. The meeting record shows multiple roll-call votes on individual nominees that had been pulled for separate consideration.

The session concluded with scheduling announcements: the committee planned public hearings on substantive bills every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the legislative period and daily meetings during the upcoming JF week. With that the committee recessed until 4:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar: multiple nominees (list read into the record) were moved to and approved from the consent calendar. The consent calendar was read into the record and a roll call was taken (see transcript record). - Jesse W. Giddings (North Haven), nominee for judge of the Superior Court: drew a public objection from Representative Fishbein over prosecutorial disposition in a criminal case; the committee conducted a roll-call vote on the nomination (recorded in the transcript). - Other nominees called for individual roll-call votes during the session included Robin L. Wilson (Appellate Court and Superior Court), Michael C. D'Agostino (Superior Court), Kevin C. Kelly (Superior Court) and Yanetan E. Zamir (Superior Court); votes and detailed roll-call listings are recorded in the meeting transcript.

The committee's transcript provides the full roll-call record and verbatim remarks cited above.