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Andrew J. McDonald

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For other people with the same name, see Andrew McDonald (disambiguation).
Andrew McDonald
McDonald in 2018
Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
Acting
In office
September 6, 2024 – September 30, 2024
Preceded byRichard A. Robinson
Succeeded byRaheem L. Mullins (acting)
Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 24, 2013
Appointed byDan Malloy
Preceded byLubbie Harper
Member of the Connecticut State Senate
from the 27th district
In office
January 2003 – January 2011
Preceded byGeorge Jepsen
Succeeded byCarlo Leone
Personal details
Born (1966-03-11) March 11, 1966 (age 58)
Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCharles Gray
EducationCornell University (BA)
University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD)

Andrew J. McDonald (born March 11, 1966)[1] is an American judge and former politician from Connecticut. He has served as an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court since 2013. He served as acting chief justice in September 2024, after the retirement of then-Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson.

He previously served as a member of the Connecticut Senate from 2003 to 2011, representing the state's 27th district in Stamford and Darien as a Democrat. McDonald resigned from the legislature on January 4, 2011, to serve as Governor Dan Malloy's chief legal counsel, a post he left to join the bench.[2]

Early life and career

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A Stamford native, McDonald is the son of Alex and Anne McDonald. His mother was a sixth-grade teacher who represented Stamford in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1991 to 2003.[3]

McDonald was educated at the Stamford Public Schools (Stark, Dolan and Stamford High School), and completed a Bachelor's degree in Government from Cornell University. He completed a Juris Doctor at the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1991, and served as managing editor of the Connecticut Journal of International Law.[4]

McDonald was a litigation partner with Pullman & Comley, LLC, in Stamford from 1991.[4] He also worked as Director of Legal Affairs for the City of Stamford from 1999 to 2002.[citation needed] McDonald also served on the Stamford Board of Finance from 1995 to 1999, as the board's chairman from 1997 to 1999, and as co-chair of the Audit Committee from 1995 to 1997. He served on the Stamford Board of Representatives from the Cove from 1993 to 1995.[citation needed]

Political career

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McDonald narrowly won election to the Connecticut State Senate in 2002, defeating his Republican opponent, Michael Fedele (who later served as Lieutenant Governor), by 53% to 47%. He was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. He served as Deputy Majority Leader and as Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee.

In 2006 and 2007 McDonald challenged the decision of Connecticut Chief Justice William J. Sullivan to delay publication of a court decision in an effort to promote the chief justice candidacy of his colleague, Justice Peter T. Zarella. Sullivan challenged the power of a legislator to subpoena him to appear at a hearing, which led to a court challenge.[5]

In 2007 McDonald opposed a special session of the General Assembly to address parole issues following the horrific home invasion murders in Cheshire, stating "Legislating by bumper sticker motto is not the way to go."[6] Other Democrats were more willing to respond as Congressman Chris Murphy proposal making home invasion a federal crime.[7]

McDonald relented under public pressure and a special session was held January 22, 2008, to pass laws declaring home invasion a class A felony and reforming the parole board. McDonald opposed a Three Strikes Law favored by Governor Jodi Rell to mandate life terms to career violent criminals; that measure failed to pass.[citation needed]

Rell reiterated her call for a Three Strikes bill on March 31, 2008, following the kidnapping and murder of an elderly New Britain woman committed by a sex offender recently released from Connecticut prison. Following the New Britain crime, McDonald lambasted the prosecutor who had handled the assailant's previous case, Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly, who had agreed to a plea bargain which sentenced the defendant to an eight-year prison term.[8] Defense lawyer Norm Pattis called McDonald a "knucklehead" for attacking Connelly as soft on crime, noting Connelly was responsible for most of the death penalty convictions in Connecticut.[9]

In March 2009, McDonald and Judiciary committee co-chair Mike Lawlor proposed a bill (SB 1098) to regulate the management of Roman Catholic parishes in Connecticut. Opponents charged the bill would violate the separation of church and state clause in the First Amendment.[10][11][12]

Judicial career

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After two years of serving as Governor Dan Malloy’s chief legal counsel, McDonald was nominated to a seat on the Connecticut Supreme Court on December 27, 2012.[13] His nomination required the approval of the Connecticut General Assembly. The Joint Committee on Judiciary of the Connecticut General Assembly approved his nomination by a vote of 40–2 on January 14, 2013.[14] On January 23, his nomination won the approval of the Senate by a vote of 30–3 and of the House by a vote of 125–20.[15] He took his seat on the bench the following day.

In November 2017, the chief justice of Connecticut Chase T. Rogers announced that she would retire in February 2018.[16] Governor Malloy announced on January 8, 2018, that he had nominated McDonald to be the next Chief Justice, to succeed Rogers.[17] However, in March 2018, McDonald’s nomination was rejected by the Connecticut Senate in a 19–16 vote, with all 18 Republican state senators voting no.[18] If he'd been confirmed, McDonald would have been the first openly gay person to serve as chief justice of a U.S. state supreme court.[17] Governor Malloy subsequently nominated justice Richard A. Robinson to be chief justice, instead of McDonald.[19]

Personal life

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McDonald is gay.[20] His campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. McDonald married Charles Gray in 2009. As of 2021, He is one of eleven LGBT state supreme court justices serving in the United States.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Justice Andrew J. McDonald - Biography". Jud.ct.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  2. ^ "Both Judiciary Panel Leaders Leaving To Join Malloy: Lawlor Takes Budget Office Post, McDonald To Be Chief Legal Counsel". Hartford Courant. December 16, 2010.
  3. ^ Haigh, Susan (2007-10-05). "Anne McDonald, 74; mastered issues as Connecticut lawmaker - The Boston Globe". Boston.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  4. ^ a b Leblanc, Jeanne (January 9, 2018). "Andrew McDonald '91 Nominated Chief Justice of CT Supreme Court". University of Connecticut School of Law. University of Connecticut. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Microsoft Word - Sullivan_cleanedup.doc" (PDF). Jud.state.ct.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  6. ^ "Headless Horseman". Headlesshorseman2008.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  7. ^ "Murphy seeks to make home invasion a federal crime - Boston.com". Archived from the original on June 8, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
  8. ^ [1][dead link]
  9. ^ "Connecticut Law Tribune: Connelly Soft on Crime? Old McDonald's Lost It". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  10. ^ "Connecticut goes after the mackerel snappers | For What It's Worth". Christopherfountain.wordpress.com. 2009-03-08. Archived from the original on 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  11. ^ "Proposed Bill Would Change the Governance of Catholic Parishes in Connecticut". Archived from the original on March 11, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  12. ^ "State Legislature sets sights on Roman Catholic Church - Update". Radio Vice Online. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  13. ^ "Gov. Dannel P. Malloy nominates Andrew McDonald to Serve on State Supreme Court". Courant.com. 2012-12-27. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  14. ^ [2][dead link]
  15. ^ Dixon, Ken (2013-01-23). "McDonald approved for state Supreme Court - Connecticut Post". Ctpost.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  16. ^ Pazniokas, Mark; Thomas, Jacqueline Rabe (November 2, 2017). "Chase T. Rogers to resign as chief justice". The Connecticut Mirror. Hartford, CT. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Mahoney, Edmund (January 8, 2018). "Malloy Nominates Andrew McDonald To Be Nation's First Openly Gay Chief Justice". Hartford Courant. Hartford, CT. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  18. ^ Dixon, Ken (March 27, 2018). "Republicans reject McDonald for Supreme Court chief". Connecticut Post. Bridgeport, CT. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  19. ^ Pazniokas, Mark (April 5, 2018). "Malloy nominates Richard A. Robinson as chief justice". The Connecticut Mirror. Hartford, CT. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  20. ^ "County Fair: The Queering of Connecticut". Fairfield County Weekly. 28 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
Connecticut State Senate
Preceded by Member of the Connecticut Senate
from the 27th district
2003–2011 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
2013–present 		Incumbent
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