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Joan K. Alexander
2022 - Present
2030
3
Joan K. Alexander is a judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court. She assumed office on April 30, 2022. Her current term ends on April 30, 2030.
Alexander became a member of this court by appointment. She was nominated by Gov. Ned Lamont (D) on April 13, 2022, to succeed Justice Christine E. Keller. The Connecticut General Assembly confirmed Alexander on April 29, 2022.[1] To read more about judicial selection in Connecticut, click here.
Education
Alexander earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University in 1984 and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1987.[1]
Career
- 2022 - Present: Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court
- 2020-2022: Judge, Connecticut Appellate Court
- 2000-2020: Judge, Hartford District Superior Court, Connecticut
- 1988-2000: Prosecutor, State of Connecticut[1]
Awards and associations
- 2011-2015: Judge member, State of Connecticut Judicial Review Council[2]
Appointments
2022
Alexander was nominated to the state supreme court by Gov. Ned Lamont on April 13, 2022, to succeed Justice Christine E. Keller.[1]
2020
Alexander was appointed to the state court of appeals on July 20, 2020, by Governor Ned Lamont to replace Alexandra DiPentima.[3] She left the court when she joined the Connecticut Supreme Court on April 30, 2022.[1]
2000
Gov. John Rowland appointed Alexander to the Hartford District Superior Court in Connecticut in 2000. She served until 2020 and was the presiding judge of criminal matters for the court.[4][2]
State supreme court judicial selection in Connecticut
- See also: Judicial selection in Connecticut
The seven justices on the Connecticut Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. The Connecticut Judicial Selection Commission is responsible for screening candidates and submitting a shortlist to the governor. The commission is made up of 12 members: six appointed by the governor and six appointed by leaders in the state legislature. The governor must appoint a justice from the commission's shortlist and the appointee must then be confirmed by a majority vote of the Connecticut General Assembly.[5][6]
Justices serve for eight years after their appointment. To continue to serve on the court, they must be renominated by the governor and reapproved by the General Assembly.[6]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a state resident;
- licensed to practice law in the state; and
- under the age of 70 (retirement at 70 is mandatory).[7]
Chief justice
The chief justice is appointed by the governor and confirmed by a majority vote of the Connecticut General Assembly. In the event of a vacancy, however, the governor may nominate an associate justice to serve as chief without involving the judicial nominating commission. Chief justices appointed this way will serve out the remainder of their predecessor's term rather than a full eight years, which is the typical term length of the chief justice.[5]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a judge's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends qualified candidates to the governor and the governor selects a successor from that list with legislative approval. The new appointee serves an eight-year term.[8]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
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Officeholder Connecticut Supreme Court |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Associate Justice Joan K. Alexander," accessed August 25, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 State of Connecticut Judicial Review Council, "Annual Report 2012," accessed May 24, 2013
- ↑ The Office of Governor Ned Lamont, "Governor Lamont Makes Supreme and Appellate Court Appointments," July 20, 2020
- ↑ Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Superior Court Judges," accessed June 3, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Sec. 51-44a. Judicial Selection Commission. Members. Duties. Nomination of judges by Governor.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Article Fifth. of the Judicial Department - Sec. 2.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Frequently Asked Media Questions," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map," accessed March 23, 2023
Federal courts:
Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Connecticut • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Connecticut
State courts:
Connecticut Supreme Court • Connecticut Appellate Court • Connecticut Superior Court • Connecticut Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Connecticut • Connecticut judicial elections • Judicial selection in Connecticut
