tag:www.fedclerks.com,2010://1 2010-06-22T18:39:37Z Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.fedclerks.com,2010://1.94 2010-06-22T18:36:17Z 2010-06-22T18:39:37Z

U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill is presiding over a case in which he needs to decide whether cheerleading can be counted as a sport in meeting gender-equity requirements at schools. Five members of the Quinnipiac University volleyball team filed...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com http://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Trial-in-Conn-to-find-if-cheerleading-is-sport-530408.php. ]]> tag:www.fedclerks.com,2010://1.93 2010-05-20T17:54:36Z 2010-05-20T17:58:59Z

Attorney Ross Garber, a former federal law clerk and District of Connecticut Law Clerks Society member, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for state attorney general. Garber, who represented former Governor John G. Rowland's office in an impeachment scandal...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Attorney Ross Garber, a former federal law clerk and District of Connecticut Law Clerks Society member, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for state attorney general. Garber, who represented former Governor John G. Rowland's office in an impeachment scandal and federal investigation, said he is ready for the job because he has been a lawyer representing individuals and businesses. Also seeking the GOP nomination is Avon lawyer Martha Dean, who lost the nomination to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in 2002. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2010://1.92 2010-05-06T14:25:47Z 2010-05-06T14:49:56Z

The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research Initiative invites you to join us for “Behind the Rise and Fall of Philadelphia’s Prison Population,” a panel discussion on the findings of our upcoming study. We will explore why the city’s jail population...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Click here for full details and/or to RSVP)]]> tag:www.fedclerks.com,2010://1.91 2010-05-03T15:32:42Z 2010-05-06T14:39:52Z

Sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter, High Technology Crime Investigation Association May 21st, 2010 - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT Registration Deadline is May 14, 2010 Wireless Internet, Free Parking, Vendor Booths (click...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com click here for details and registration info.)]]> tag:www.fedclerks.com,2010://1.90 2010-02-26T17:06:12Z 2010-05-03T16:56:24Z

President Barack Obama has announced the nomination of Connecticut U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to service on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Chatigny, who sits in Hartford, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, and grew...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com President Barack Obama has announced the nomination of Connecticut U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to service on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Chatigny, who sits in Hartford, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, and grew up in upstate New York. He graduated from Brown University in 1973 and Georgetown University Law Center in 1978. After graduation, he served as a clerk for U.S. District Judge Samuel Conti in the Northern District of California; for Judge Cabranes, then sitting on the U.S. District Court in Connecticut; and for Judge Newman, who was on the 2nd Circuit. Chatigny worked for two years at Williams and Connolly in Washington, D.C., before opening his own practice in Connecticut in 1984. He was nominated as a federal judge for the District of Connecticut in May 1994 by President Bill Clinton and was the district's chief judge from 2003 to 2009. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2010://1.89 2010-01-05T19:06:05Z 2010-01-07T19:07:09Z

Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz urged the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill’s recent ruling that Connecticut's public campaign finance law is unconstitutional because, among other reasons, it discriminates against minor party...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz urged the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill’s recent ruling that Connecticut's public campaign finance law is unconstitutional because, among other reasons, it discriminates against minor party political candidates. Secretary Bysiewwicz’ argument is that it is too late to change the financing rules for candidates with the gubernatorial primary coming up in August. She said that if the public funding is not made available, there won't be enough time for a candidate to raise the private money needed to run a campaign. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.88 2009-12-14T15:00:00Z 2009-12-18T15:09:19Z

U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill ruled portions of Connecticut’s campaign finance reform law unconstitutional and an appeal by state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is being fast-tracked for oral arguments before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in January. Meanwhile,...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, where the Supreme Court addressed the underlying question of whether corporations have a constitutional right to spend unlimited amounts of money on favored candidates. With the 2010 elections nearing, Connecticut needs to have a constitutionally sound law in place to address Judge Underhill’s concerns, as well as to have the ability to withstand the deluge of corporate funds, if the Supreme Court allows direct corporate spending on campaigns. ]]> tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.87 2009-11-23T14:36:39Z 2009-11-24T15:09:56Z

The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has demanded answers on accusations that low-income defendants are routinely denied arraignment and appointment of counsel at the state attorney’s office in Bantam Connecticut. The case arises from the arrest of a man...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has demanded answers on accusations that low-income defendants are routinely denied arraignment and appointment of counsel at the state attorney’s office in Bantam Connecticut. The case arises from the arrest of a man who claims that, while in court, he was denied his right to appear before a judge and enter a plea, and he was not informed that he was entitled to representation by a public defender. On the recommendation of Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez, U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny dismissed the suit against state prosecutors on grounds that they are immunized against such suits as “officers of the court.” The prosecutors were defended by the office of state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. The Second Circuit upheld the dismissal and also concurred that equitable and injunctive relief was unavailable. However, in its Order, the Court expressed concern about what it called Attorney General Blumenthal's failure to address the suit's claims that low-income defendants are routinely denied the right to proper arraignment in court. The Attorney General has until Dec. 12 to provide a detailed report on the measures that have been taken to address the questions and concerns regarding the practices of the state attorney's office in Bantam. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.86 2009-11-09T16:08:45Z 2010-03-18T15:12:33Z

A 2007 lawsuit that alleges ATT violated state and federal wage and hour provisions was granted class action status on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall. The approval of class action status means that as many as 200...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com A 2007 lawsuit that alleges ATT violated state and federal wage and hour provisions was granted class action status on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall. The approval of class action status means that as many as 200 ATT employees could become a party to the lawsuit. Hall’s ruling came one week after hearing arguments by attorneys representing five current and former ATT employees who claim the company gave them manager titles in order to avoid having to pay them overtime. The lawsuit contends that despite being designated as managers, the plaintiffs weren’t given the responsibilities or duties consistent with a managerial position. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.85 2009-10-05T17:48:52Z 2009-10-12T17:55:26Z

Potential changes not seen in a generation could take place among the highly sought-after federal and legal positions in the state. At the top of this list are openings for two Connecticut judges on the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Potential changes not seen in a generation could take place among the highly sought-after federal and legal positions in the state. At the top of this list are openings for two Connecticut judges on the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Two or more District Court seats could open in Connecticut depending on who receives the appellate judgeships and whether a sitting Connecticut district judge assumes senior status. Also open are the offices of U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal which usually occurs when there is a change in political parties occupying the White House. The number of open federal positions has not been this large since President Bill Clinton’s election in 1993 when, during his terms in office, he nominated seven U.S. district judges in Connecticut and filled a Connecticut seat on the appeals court. "There seems to be a confluence of opportunity that will allow the president to make an imprint on the judiciary in the 2nd Circuit and in Connecticut for decades to come," said state Sen. Andrew McDonald, co-chairman of the state legislature's judiciary committee. "In the last generation there has never been such an opportunity for shaping the future of the judiciary in Connecticut. The good news is that there is a stellar lineup of potential candidates." President Barack Obama’s expression of interest in diversifying the federal appeals courts throughout the country has sparked greater interest in predicting nominations among lawyers and political figures following these issues. Sources say that Connecticut's U.S. senators, Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman have written to the White House with regard to the appeals court openings in support of U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny, who conveyed interest in a 2nd Circuit seat. “Several qualified candidates expressed interest in the appellate court and the senators sent their names to the White House for their consideration,” according to a spokesperson for the senators. In July, a 2nd Circuit seat allocated to Connecticut, opened when Guido Calabresi assumed the status of senior judge. A second seat is likely to open this month when Judge Barrington D. Parker assumes senior status. According to a University of Richmond law professor, there will be twenty-one openings on federal appeals courts throughout the United States, of which, eight replacements thus far - two black men, three white women and three white men - have been nominated by President Obama. If Chatigny were appointed to one of the two available appellate openings allocated to Connecticut, Obama could balance the appointment of a white man with that of a woman or minority. Some possible candidates are: Joette Katz, an associate justice of the state Supreme Court; Janet C. Hall, a U.S. district judge sitting in Bridgeport; and Susan Carney, Yale University's deputy general counsel. Another opening could be created if U.S. District Judge Janet B. Arterton, who sits in New Haven, chooses to become senior when she becomes eligible next spring. Judge Arterton has not yet filed notice of any such intentions. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.84 2009-09-29T20:04:17Z 2009-09-29T20:10:18Z

Federal prosecutors said that a Hartford man pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud before U.S. District Judge Janet B. Arterton in New Haven on Monday. The defendant faces up to 30 years in prison for trying to launder...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Federal prosecutors said that a Hartford man pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud before U.S. District Judge Janet B. Arterton in New Haven on Monday. The defendant faces up to 30 years in prison for trying to launder more than $150,000 in stolen money. Judge Arterton is scheduled to deliver defendant’s sentence on December 8. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.83 2009-09-16T19:26:18Z 2009-09-18T19:31:17Z

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is requesting U.S. District Judge Denny Chin of the Southern District of New York to amend a proposed $125 million settlement that would allow Google Inc. to create a huge online library of millions of...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is requesting U.S. District Judge Denny Chin of the Southern District of New York to amend a proposed $125 million settlement that would allow Google Inc. to create a huge online library of millions of books, claiming the agreement clashes with state laws. According to the Association of American Publishers, the proposed settlement would resolve a class-action lawsuit brought by authors and publishers who had concerns, mostly related to copyright issues, about the Internet giant’s plan to launch Google Book Search. Blumenthal is concerned that the settlement may skirt Connecticut laws and misdirect charitable funds and unclaimed property. Under the current proposed settlement, funds that Google Book Search generates from works where the copyright holder cannot be located, will go into a Book Rights Registry. Blumenthal believes the registry would have “unfettered, unlawful discretion” to disburse the money. He stated that those who fail to enroll with the registry, or who the registry fails to notify of funds generated by their works, will lose the opportunity to access money that belongs to them. Any unclaimed funds deemed to be within Connecticut’s jurisdiction should, per state law, become property of the state. “This settlement must be amended to protect creative rights as well as our state charities laws,” Blumenthal said. “When authors bequeath proceeds of their hard work to charity, this settlement fails to ensure that the registry respects their intent.” tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.74 2009-09-15T19:01:54Z 2009-09-15T19:08:41Z

Federal prosecutors from the District of Connecticut have charged three men with trafficking in 50 or more high-tech, optical rifle sights stolen from the U.S. Navy. Five of the sights were eventually purchased in Connecticut by an undercover agent of...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Federal prosecutors from the District of Connecticut have charged three men with trafficking in 50 or more high-tech, optical rifle sights stolen from the U.S. Navy. Five of the sights were eventually purchased in Connecticut by an undercover agent of the federal Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Acting U.S. Attorney Nora Dannehy stated that "Illegal weapons trafficking endangers the lives of our military servicemen and servicewomen overseas, and this office and our federal law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring that sensitive military technology does not wind up in the wrong hands." One of the defendants pleaded guilty Monday at U.S. District Court in Hartford. The other two have yet to enter pleas. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.75 2009-09-14T17:00:00Z 2009-09-17T15:04:02Z

Norwich lawyer Zenas Zelotes has filed hundreds of ethics complaints across the country, claiming that improper referrals being made through Internet sites, such as totaldivorce.com and totaldui.com., breach rules against for-profit lawyer referral services. Connecticut's chief disciplinary counsel, Mark DuBois,...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com Norwich lawyer Zenas Zelotes has filed hundreds of ethics complaints across the country, claiming that improper referrals being made through Internet sites, such as totaldivorce.com and totaldui.com., breach rules against for-profit lawyer referral services. Connecticut's chief disciplinary counsel, Mark DuBois, has found probable cause against several Connecticut attorneys named in the complaint. He stated that the case raises "fascinating issues" about the use of technology in marketing legal services. Wick Chambers, chairman of the Connecticut Bar Association's ethics committee, sees technology clashing with codes of a profession steeped in tradition and said "Internet advertising is a big issue for us." Scott McGowan, a Connecticut attorney named in the case, who advertises on totaldivorce.com, describes the contract he signed as "Google-style, pay-per-click advertising." He stated, "It doesn't make recommendations." "And I'm not getting any kickbacks." A finding of probable cause has not been made against McGowan. tag:www.fedclerks.com,2009://1.76 2009-09-11T17:26:20Z 2009-09-18T18:25:03Z

The number of candidates for the position of U.S. attorney for Connecticut narrowed to four when the state's two U.S. senators gave the names of their preferred finalists to President Barack Obama. The four finalists are: Nora Dannehy, a career...

Jerry C. Pia http://www.rochepia.com The number of candidates for the position of U.S. attorney for Connecticut narrowed to four when the state's two U.S. senators gave the names of their preferred finalists to President Barack Obama. The four finalists are: Nora Dannehy, a career prosecutor who became acting U.S. attorney in 2008. Dannehy is currently dividing her time between New Haven and Washington, where she has been appointed to examine allegations that politically based personnel decisions were made in the Justice Department during the administration of President George W. Bush. David Fein, partner in the law firm Wiggin and Dana and former associate counsel to President Bill Clinton. Fein is a former assistant U.S. attorney in the southern district of New York. Edgardo Ramos, partner in the law firm Day Pitney. Ramos is a former supervisory assistant U.S. attorney in the eastern district of New York. William Tong, an associate with the law firm Finn, Dixon and Herling. Tong is a state representative whose district covers Stamford and Darien and he is a member of the legislature's judiciary committee. The Courant obtained a copy of the Senators' letter to the President. In it, Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman wrote, "All four of these individuals, we believe, are extremely well qualified to be the next U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut." "We strongly recommend them all to you for your consideration." U.S. attorneys, are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The White House traditionally follows the recommendation of the senior elected official of his political party in the respective states. Connecticut's senior elected Democrat, Christopher Dodd, would have recommended a nominee to Obama under this practice. However, for this appointment, Dodd chose to share the selection and recommendation of nominees with Lieberman. The process of interviewing and screening the candidates who expressed an interest in becoming U.S. attorney was done by a seven-member committee appointed by the senators. This is the first time a committee of this sort has been impaneled in Connecticut. The senators intend to use committees in the future for screening of other federal appointees, such as federal judges and U.S. marshals.