CT Senate Debate Begins; Vote Expected Tuesday on Andrew McDonald as Chief Justice
Source: Hartford Courant
The state Senate began debating Tuesday in the first step toward an expected historic rejection of Justice Andrew McDonald as the state’s next chief justice in a bitter and emotional battle over controversial issues like the death penalty and homophobia.
Senate Republican leader Len Fasano of North Haven says all 18 of his caucus members will oppose McDonald, who would be defeated in an 18-17 vote. A key Democratic swing voter, Sen. Gayle Slossberg, is not voting due to a conflict of interest related to bitter private clashes with McDonald that spilled into the public last month during McDonald’s confirmation hearing.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a close friend and political ally of McDonald’s for the past 25 years, says that part of the reason that Republicans are opposed to McDonald is that he is gay. But Republicans have repeatedly and heatedly denied that allegation, saying they have never mentioned McDonald’s sexuality during the weeks that his nomination has become highly controversial.
Republicans view McDonald as a deeply partisan, liberal Democratic judicial activist who inserts his personal opinions into his judicial rulings, including eliminating the death penalty. Democrats reject that notion, saying McDonald is a brilliant jurist with a lifetime of experience in all three branches of government.
Read more: http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-chief-justice-senate-vote-20180327-story.html
Unbelievable that this would be such an issue in the progressive, all-blue state of Connecticut.
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