Christine E. Keller
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Christine E. Keller is a senior member of the Connecticut Supreme Court. She assumed senior status on March 31, 2022. Prior to becoming a senior member, Keller served as a member of the court from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022.[1]
Keller became a member of the court by appointment. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) appointed her on July 20, 2020, to fill the vacancy created when justice Richard Palmer reached mandatory retirement age in May 2020. Click here to learn more about the supreme court vacancy and appointment process.
The Judiciary Committee approved Keller's nomination and she began serving in her position following their vote. The Connecticut State Senate gave full confirmation on October 1, 2020.[2][3][4] Keller assumed senior status on March 31, 2022.[5]
Keller was a judge on the Connecticut Appellate Court until she was appointed to the state supreme court. Gov. Dan Malloy (D) appointed her on January 24, 2013, and she was soon after confirmed by the legislature.[6][7]
Biography
Keller received her undergraduate degree from Smith College in 1974 and her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1977.[6][8]
Out of law school, Keller worked as a staff attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services, then as assistant corporation counsel for the City of Hartford. She was an attorney in private practice before being appointed family support magistrate by Gov. William O’Neill (D) in 1989. Gov. Lowell Weicker (I) appointed Keller to the Connecticut Superior Court in 1993. She held a number of positions on the superior court, including statewide chief administrative judge for juvenile matters from 1997 to 2002 and again from 2007 to 2012. In 2013, Gov. Malloy (D) appointed Keller to the Connecticut Appellate Court, where she served until Gov. Lamont (D) appointed her to the state supreme court in 2020.[8]
Her other experience includes chairing the Committee on Judicial Ethics and a task force on juvenile rules of practice. She was on the faculty of the Connecticut Judges’ Institute, where she conducted seminars on juvenile law and judicial ethics.[8]
Appointments
2020
Gov. Ned Lamont (D) appointed Keller to the Connecticut Supreme Court on July 20, 2020.[2]
2013
Gov. Dan Malloy (D) appointed Keller to the Connecticut Appellate Court on January 24, 2013.[6]
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
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Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut Mirror, "Justice Keller takes senior status, allowing Lamont to choose successor," March 31, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Office of Governor Ned Lamont, "Governor Lamont Makes Supreme and Appellate Court Appointments," July 20, 2020
- ↑ Patch, "Governor Lamont Statement On Confirmation Of Judges," August 17, 2020
- ↑ Office of the Governor, "Governor Lamont Applauds Final Confirmation of Judicial Nominations," October 1, 2020
- ↑ State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Senior Justice Christine E. Keller," accessed August 25, 2022
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Governor Dannel P. Malloy, "Gov. Malloy nominates Judge Christine Keller to Appellate Court, Names 15 Others to Superior Court," January 24, 2013
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "House Joint Resolution No. 64," January 2013
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Biographies of Appellate Court Justices, Judge Christine E. Keller," accessed June 23, 2021
- ↑ 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
