Gov. Ned Lamont announced Tuesday morning that Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson will retire from the Connecticut Supreme Court this year.
Robinson’s last day overseeing the state’s highest court will be Sept. 6, Lamont said, adding that he will nominate a successor to fill the chief justice position at a later date.
This will be the second consecutive year that Lamont will need to fill a Connecticut Supreme Court vacancy.
Last year, he had to replace Justice Maria Araujo Kahn, who stepped down from the role to sit on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.
Lamont’s initial pick to fill Kahn’s seat, Sandra Slack Glover, faced push back from lawmakers, so he chose a second candidate, well-known lawyer Nora R. Dannehy, who was eventually confirmed.
Robinson’s replacement will be Lamont’s third appointee to the state Supreme Court.
“Justice Robinson has provided dedicated public service to the people of Connecticut for four decades, including 24 years as a judge and the most recent six years as Connecticut’s chief justice, imparting our system of justice with well-respected and valued leadership that has improved our courts for the better and is leaving a legacy that benefits the people of our state,” Lamont said. “During his tenure, Justice Robinson has made improving public access to the courts a hallmark of his approach, recognizing that justice operates best when it operates for everyone. He is universally admired as a compassionate, thoughtful, and skillful jurist.”
