Former Connecticut Chief Justice To Face Discipline
July 19, 2006
JRC Finds Cause For Sullivan Violations The state's Judicial Review Council on Wednesday found probable cause that former state Supreme Court Chief Justice William J. Sullivan violated judicial rules of conduct when he delayed the release of a court opinion to help a fellow justice facing confirmation hearings. Sullivan was charged with five violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and state statutes. A public hearing on the charges will be held Sept. 6. "I just don't think there are many such hearings," said Peter A. Clark, executive director of the Judicial Review Council, which has kept its investigation confidential. Sullivan has acknowledged that he delayed the release of a controversial court decision, hoping to protect Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's one-time chief justice nominee, Supreme Court Justice Peter Zarella. Zarella was facing legislative confirmation hearings and Sullivan feared Zarella's position on the case would anger legislators. In the ruling, Zarella voted with the majority to keep certain judicial records secret from the public. --By The Associated Press