Editorials

The Red Mass

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Friday, January 4, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

Some aspects of being a judge are left to personal discretion. A prime example is whether to recuse. That plainly involves the exercise of judicial power. But even actions that judges perform outside the courtroom totally at their discretion may still at least indirectly involve their official status.

Gulp! The True Cost of Soda

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Friday, December 28, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

The "Big Gulp" is no longer welcome in the Big Apple. As has been widely reported, Mayor Michael Bloomberg championed a campaign to limit fountain soda sales in New York City to 16 ounces. That's half the size of 7-Eleven's ubiquitous jumbo-sized soda.

Congress Should Clean Up Its Own DOMA Mess

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Friday, December 28, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is controversial for its definition of marriage as between a man and a woman and for the feeling of security it has provided states wishing to avoid any legal recognition of the relationships of same-sex couples and families. Because DOMA restricts marriage thusly, it deprives same-sex couples of numerous federal benefits, including tax, Social Security, health care, and retirement benefits.

The DSS Debacle

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Friday, December 21, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

Advocates, prospective recipients and service providers have complained for years about the length of time the Department of Social Services (DSS) takes to process applications for assistance. Commissioner Roderick Bremby came to the position with a directive to solve this problem.

Now Is The Time For Gun Control

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Friday, December 21, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

The horror of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings will stay with all of us for a long time. Clearly it will stay with the many families who lost family members there for the rest of their lives. Beyond the terrible tragedy of the lives lost there, there is also the damage done to the children who were not hurt physically, but who will be haunted by the terrible events of that day for the rest of their lives.

Judge Lawrence L. Hauser

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Friday, December 14, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

Judge Lawrence L. Hauser died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012 at the age of 69 after a battle with an undisclosed illness. At the time of his death, he was presiding over cases in housing court at Norwalk Superior Court and on the verge of becoming a judge trial referee.

It's About Time

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Friday, December 14, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

In the latest issue of the Connecticut Lawyer, Connecticut Bar Association President Barry Hawkins addressed the group's efforts, which were a long time in coming, to assess the usefulness and the viability of its standing committees and sections and the diversity of section leadership. As a result of this assessment, the CBA has transformed some standing committees into sections, will "reinvigorate" two sections, and probably suspend another that is struggling.

Connecticut And The War Of 1812

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Friday, December 14, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

This being the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and Connecticut having hosted the Hartford Convention, where the possibility of secession was discussed, the citizens of Connecticut have recently given at least modest notice to this less than glorious war. But Connecticut lawyers should give it more notice because it led to the drafting of the Constitution of 1818, on which most of our state constitutional law today rests.

Prosecutors For Sale

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Monday, December 10, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

The district attorneys, especially ones who are elected, make their merchant constituents happy, can devote their resources to serious offenses, and bring in extra revenue.

Governor, Don't Let Them Rebuild

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Monday, December 10, 2012 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

A little over a year ago, on Nov. 14, 2011 to be exact, in an editorial entitled "State Should Build On Lessons From Irene," we urged our state leaders in the strongest way to stop people from rebuilding in high hazard areas.