A former prime federal prosecutor who resigned from the investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe has been tapped to fill an open seat on the Connecticut State Supreme Court.
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont introduced Nora Dannehy‘s nomination on Friday, calling his former common counsel “a woman of integrity who pursues justice wherever the evidence may lead.” Besides the Trump-Russia probe, Dannehy is well-known in Connecticut for main the profitable federal corruption prosecutions of former Republican Gov. John G. Rowland in 2004 and different public figures throughout her tenure as the primary girl U.S. Attorney in Connecticut.
“Nora Dannehy is a person who knows what she knows, but you also know that she cares.” mentioned Lamont, paraphrasing a quote from the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. “She cares deeply about justice. She’s going to be an extraordinary associate justice on the Supreme Court.”
She shall be introduced to the Democratic-controlled General Assembly for consideration. Lawmakers are scheduled to satisfy for a particular legislative session later this month.
Dannehy, a 62-year-old Connecticut native, served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut from 2008 to 2010. She later was appointed deputy lawyer common for the state of Connecticut earlier than changing into taking a job with United Technologies Corporation as affiliate common counsel for international ethics and compliance.
She rejoined the federal authorities in early 2019 to assist then-Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham scrutinize how the FBI and different federal businesses got down to examine Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election and whether or not the Trump marketing campaign had coordinated with the Kremlin.
Dannehy has not spoken publicly about her determination to depart the Durham investigation in the course of the closing stretch. On Friday, she didn’t take any questions from reporters. Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, who has recognized Dannehy since highschool, mentioned the administration needed to offer the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee the primary alternative to query Dannehy.
When a reporter steered Dannehy will certainly be requested concerning the Durham investigation throughout her affirmation listening to, Bysiewicz mentioned, “we’ll leave that to the Legislature.”
In temporary remarks, Dannehy thanked Lamont for his confidence in her and famous her want to return to the general public realm.
“Recently, I went into private practice with a small firm in Hartford, where I’ve had the fortune to work with excellent lawyers and upstanding people,” she mentioned. “But my heart is in public service.”
Dannehy is Lamont‘s second nominee to the state’s highest courtroom this yr. In May, Sandra Slack Glover, one other federal prosecutor with no judicial expertise, withdrew her title from consideration after state lawmakers raised questions on a letter she signed in 2017 supporting Amy Coney Barrett for a federal appeals courtroom place.
Glover tried to guarantee Connecticut lawmakers that she wouldn’t have signed the 2017 letter if she knew Barrett would later vote to overturn Roe v. Wade abortion protections as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Some lawmakers on the time voiced concern about her lack of judicial expertise and mentioned that they had many unanswered questions on how she would carry out on the bench.
On Friday, Lamont mentioned he believes legislators are way more acquainted with Dannehy. Also, he mentioned his administration realized from the failed Glover nomination to speak to all of the legislators and “make sure nobody jumps to conclusions” a few nominee’s report. He mentioned he’s assured Dannehy shall be confirmed.
There was some pushback Friday to Dannehy‘s nomination from activists who contend Lamont ought to look past prosecutors for judicial candidates.
“Just like a jury must include a cross part of the neighborhood with completely different factors of view, completely different backgrounds and completely different heritage, the judiciary ought to include a cross part of views throughout the authorized system, mentioned civil rights lawyer Alexander Taubes, a member of the People’s Parity Project.
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