Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Friday he intends to nominate Rep. Auden Grogins, D-Bridgeport, as a Superior Court judge, creating a second vacancy in the city’s legislative delegation. Sen. Andres Ayala Jr. is becoming the governor’s new motor vehicles commissioner.
Malloy has five days to decide if he wants to nominate other lawmakers to a post in the administration or judiciary. Once they take the oath on Wednesday, they are barred from taking a job in the executive or judicial branches for the entirety of their new two-year term.
Grogins, 52, a lawyer in private practice who has acted as a special public defender, said she will not be taking the oath of office with the rest of the General Assembly.
“I am both thrilled and deeply honored that Gov. Malloy intends to nominate me for a judicial appointment. I want to thank the governor for his confidence in me to serve such an important public position,” Grogins said. “If approved, I vow to be an independent, fair and impartial judge. I will do my utmost to ensure that we continue building a brighter future for Connecticut.”
Grogins’ nomination is subject to a confirmation hearing by the legislature’s Judiciary Committee and approval by the House and Senate. Grogins, who has been a lawyer for 24 years, was elected to the House in 2008. She previously served on the City Council and Board of Education.
“Auden is a dedicated public servant who cares deeply about her community,” Malloy said. “In both private and public capacities, she’s spent a career serving those who need representation. Her breadth of legal knowledge is exceptional, and I know she will do an outstanding job.”
There are 13 vacancies on the Superior Court, the state’s system of trial courts. It is unclear how many Malloy intends to fill in the near future.
His previous group of judicial appointments was made in October, when he made four nominations. If confirmed, Grogins would be the 43rd judge Malloy has named to the Superior Court in his first term.
Grogins has a law degree from Quinnipiac University and bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
As of Dec. 31, women held 59 of the 170 filled Superior Court judgeships.
Below are the governor’s additions to the trial bench.
SUPERIOR COURT
Sybil Richards
Leeland J. Cole-Chu
Anna M. Ficeto
Donna Nelson Heller
Raheem L. Mullins
Maureen McCabe Murphy
Kenneth B. Povodator
Michael A. Albis
Thomas D. Colin
Melanie L. Cradle
Karen A. Goodrow
Sheila A. Huddleston
Michael P. Kamp
Charles T. Lee
Jason M. Lobo
Shelley A. Marcus
Maurice B. Mosley
Thomas G. Moukawsher
Andrew Roraback
Hope Colleen Seeley
Robyn Stewart Johnson
Anthony D. Truglia Jr.
Anthony Avallone
Timothy D. Bates
Leo V. Diana
Steven D. Ecker
Tammy D. Geathers
Jane K. Grossman
Irene Prosky Jacobs
Ingrid L. Moll
John D. Moore
Kevin J. Murphy
Robert Nastri Jr.
Cesar A. Noble
Rupal Shah Palanki
Kevin S. Russo
Steven Spellman
Erika M. Tindill
Kevin Doyle
Alex V. Hernandez
Sheila M. Prats
Omar A. Williams