The legislature’s Judiciary Committee will vote Monday on Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s nominee for Supreme Court Chief Justice and a bill that would give the legislature oversight of law enforcement lists like the one Ken Krayeske ended up on. Then later Monday afternoon it will hold a public hearing on a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature rule making power over the Judicial branch.
It’s likely Justice Chase Rogers will be unanimously approved by the Judiciary Committee. The committee left the vote open until 5 p.m., but more than a dozen legislator’s gave her their approval Monday morning, pretty much guaranteeing her the Judicial Branch’s top spot.
Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, who co-chairs the Judiciary Committee said Monday that he hopes all his colleagues join him in appointing Rogers as the next chief justice.
Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said Rogers is clearly qualified. “Her judicial philosophy is that of a pragmatist,” he said adding that her opening statement was “incredibly impressive.”
Here is the opening statement of Chief Justice Nominee Chase Rogers. The statement was referred to often often before the Judiciary Committe voted in favor of Rogers this past Monday.
The most controversial issue the committee will hear at 2 p.m. this afternoon is about the proposed constitutional amendment. Click here to read the testimony in advance.
Chris Powell, managing editor of the Journal Inquirer, said, “This committee questioned Judge Rogers for more than four hours. Much of that questioning involved the rule-making power. Judge Rogers evaded it all. This committee has no idea where Judge Rogers stands on the
rule-making issue, and little idea where she stands on anything else. From the chair of this committee Judge Rogers was even encouraged not to answer any question she found inconvenient.”
“So your process with Judge Rogers did not enlighten you or the public. To the contrary, it kept us all in the dark,” Powell said.
Even Attorney General Richard Blumenthal supported a constitutional amendment. Read his testimony on the issue.