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William H. Bright, Jr.
2025 - Present
2033
0
William H. Bright Jr. is a judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He assumed office on March 6, 2025. His current term ends on March 6, 2033.
Governor Ned Lamont (D) appointed Bright to the Connecticut Supreme Court on January 27, 2025.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Gov. Dan Malloy (D) appointed Bright to the Connecticut Appellate Court on October 4, 2017. He was sworn in November 1, 2017.[2]
Bright previously served as a judge for the Tolland District Superior Court in Connecticut from 2008 to 2017.[3] Governor Mary Jodi Rell appointed Bright to the superior court in 2008.[4]
Biography
Bright earned his undergraduate degree from Dickinson College in 1984 and his J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1987.[5] Before becoming a judge, Bright was a partner for the law firm of McCarter & English. He was also a shareholder in Cummings & Lockwood.[2] Bright was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Bar Foundation.[2]
Appointments
2025
On January 27, 2025, Governor Ned Lamont (D) nominated William H. Bright, Jr. to the Connecticut Supreme Court to replace justice Raheem L. Mullins, who ascended to the Chief Justice position on September 5, 2024.[6] Bright's nomination was confirmed by both houses of the Connecticut General Assembly on March 6, 2025. He was sworn in later that day.[7] Bright is Governor Lamont's fifth nominee to the seven-member supreme court.
In Connecticut, state supreme court justices are selected through assisted appointment with a governor-controlled judicial nominating commission. Justices are appointed by the governor with the assistance of a commission with a majority of members selected by the governor. There are 10 states that use this selection method. To read more about the assisted appointment of judges, click here.
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]
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.[9][10]
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.[10]
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).[11]
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.[9]
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.[12]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Governor Ned Lamont, "Governor Lamont Nominates Judge William Bright to the Supreme Court, Judge Robin Wilson to the Appellate Court, and 13 Other Jurists to the Superior Court," January 27, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Honorable William H. Bright, Jr.," accessed October 5, 2018
- ↑ Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Judges by Judicial District," accessed January 20, 2015
- ↑ Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Hon. William H. Bright, Jr.," accessed February 10, 2015
- ↑ Martindale, "Judge Profile:William H. Bright," accessed February 10, 2015
- ↑ Governor of Connecticut, "Governor Lamont Nominates Judge William Bright to the Supreme Court, Judge Robin Wilson to the Appellate Court, and 13 Other Jurists to the Superior Court," January 27, 2025
- ↑ CT Mirror, "William H. Bright Jr. confirmed as justice of CT Supreme Court," March 5, 2025
- ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Sec. 51-44a. Judicial Selection Commission. Members. Duties. Nomination of judges by Governor.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 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
