Former Stamford state Sen. Andrew McDonald has been confirmed to Connecticut’s State Supreme Court, becoming the state’s first openly gay appellate jurist, The Associated Press reports.
The House of Representatives approved McDonald’s nomination Wednesday on a 125-to-20 vote. Earlier in the day, the Senate confirmed McDonald on a 30-3 vote.
The 46-year-old McDonald was praised by his former Senate colleagues and House members as someone with both the intellect and temperament to serve on the state’s highest court.
However, he was criticized by Republican Sen. Michael McLachlan of Danbury for proposing legislation in 2009 giving lay members of the Roman Catholic Church more control over parish finances.
McDonald has most recently served as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s legal counsel.
