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Judicial Nominees: Pawns In Budget Debate?

Governor defends move to fill 10 Superior Court openings

By THOMAS B. SCHEFFEY

Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week nominated 10 prospective Superior Court judges for eight-year terms. The immediate response from state lawmakers: Can the state afford them?

There was no shortage of irony in the discussion. Rell last week again leveled sharp criticism at the Democratic-controlled legislature, calling it “breathtakingly inept” for failing to address a mounting state budget deficit.

But lawmakers said the judicial appointments might not be the best use of state resources. Each judge costs about $250,000 a year in salary and benefits, before any support staff is figured in.

“We need to get our budget priorities straight,” said Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, co-chair of the legislative Judiciary Committee. “Each judge represents three or four marshals that the Judicial Branch can’t hire,” at a time when more than 240 vacancies for court marshals remain unfilled, Lawlor said. “Judges alone don’t do the work of the courts. They need clerks, marshals, interpreters – and courthouses that stay open.”

Melissa Farley, director of external affairs for the Judicial Branch, said Chief Court Administrator Barbara Quinn had no comment about the nominations. The branch has 20 official Superior Court openings. But Farley noted that Quinn recently told the legislature that only six more trial judges are currently needed, and that the branch has more pressing financial priorities.

One of the judicial nominees is Robert L. Genuario, the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Genuario, a former Norwalk state senator and private practice lawyer for 27 years, has defended Judicial Branch budget reductions that have prompted plans to close three courthouses and six law libraries this year.

Rell, a Republican, bristled at Lawlor’s criticism. In a prepared statement, she said: “The appointment of qualified judges to the bench is one of the most important obligations we have as leaders in state government. It should not be subject to political gamesmanship or horse-trading….There are 20 vacancies and I propose to fill just half of them. In this economic climate, that is a prudent and fiscally responsible decision.”

But a senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Arthur J. O’Neill of Southbury, said it is a “legitimate question” whether 10 judges are needed.

“I don’t think we should simply make a blanket decision not to appoint people simply on the grounds that the state is in financial distress,” said O’Neill, “but it’s a question I ask about any new addition to the activities of government: Can we really afford this?”

He said Genuario’s nomination underscores that question, “since he basically has been arguing against increasing any governmental activity or hiring any new people.”

Lawlor predicted the Judiciary Committee will hold hearings and vote on each nominee. But until there’s an overall state budget solution in place, Lawlor said it was “highly unlikely” anyone would win approval from the full House and Senate.

No Minorities

The nominees – five of whom, as per political custom, were put forth by Democratic legislative leaders – are an all-white group. In addition to Genuario, they are:

State Public Safety Director John A. Danaher III, 59, a West Hartford Democrat. After graduating from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1980, Danaher worked at Day, Berry & Howard for six years, and then joined the U.S. Attorney’s office for 20 years. As public safety director, he’s in charge of the State Police.

Laura Flynn Baldini, 39, a West Hartford Republican, earned her law degree from Seton Hall University and was an associate at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy from 1998 to 2003. She currently has a Farmington practice focused on litigation and real estate closings.

John L. Carbonneau, 54, is an East Lyme solo and a political independent. He earned his law degree in 1980 from the Catholic University of America and was employed by the Plainfield firm of Kaplan & Brennan from 1996 to 2000. Before that, he worked for the Connecticut Laborers’ Legal Services Fund.

Susan Q. Cobb, 49, a West Hartford Democrat, has worked as an assistant state’s attorney since 1994. She previously was at Tyler, Cooper & Alcorn.

Susan A. Connors, 44, an Old Lyme Republican, has worked for 15 years at the four-lawyer negligence firm of Krevolin, Roth & Connors, of West Hartford and Middletown. Her law degree is from the University of Connecticut.

Assistant Attorney General Jane B. Emons, 59, a Woodbridge Democrat, previously worked in the State’s Attorney’s Office in New Haven. She earned her law degree from Suffolk University in 1977.

Assistant State’s Attorney Brian J. Leslie, 42, is a Wallingford Republican who earned his law degree from Boston College in 1994. For the next four years, he worked for the firm of Farrell, Leslie & Grochowski.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen McNamara, 56, an East Hartford Democrat, has been a prosecutor since 1990. She earned her law degree from Western New England School of Law while serving as an East Hartford police officer.

David M. Sheridan, 54, a Manchester Democrat, has been an attorney at Farmington’s Levy & Droney since 1990. Sheridan received his law degree from the University of Connecticut in 1985. •