Quinnipiac’s Margulies named to ethics panel

House Majority Leader Denise Merrill named Quinnipiac University law professor Martin Margulies to the state Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board.

Margulies, of Newtown, fills the remaining term of Rebecca Doty, who resigned recently. The term ends Sept. 30, 2011.  

The panel is an independent watchdog for ensuring honesty, integrity and accountability in state government.

Merrill (D-Mansfield, Chaplin) said Margulies is a longtime champion of free speech, exercise of religion and assembly, and the equivalent provision in the Connecticut Constitution as well.  

“Martin Margulies is a great fit for this important position. His background and experience will be a tremendous asset for the board,” she said in a statement Tuesday.

“I’m looking forward to serving the people of Connecticut in this new, exciting capacity and I’ll do my best,” Margulies said.

Margulies served on the board of directors for the Connecticut Center for First Amendment Rights from 1994 to 2008, the national board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union from 1987 to 1994 and the board of directors for the Connecticut ACLU from 1983 to 1984.