Out-of-state judges to help in Connecticut federal courts
From Ballotpedia
September 29, 2012
Hartford, Connecticut: Chief U.S. District Judge Alvin Thompson has reached out to ask help from out-of-state judges in presiding over the backlog of civil cases resulting from a shortage of U.S. District judges and dozens of criminal cases, which take precedence over civil lawsuits in federal court.[1]
The shortage of U.S. District judges was created when Judge Peter Dorsey passed away in January, another judge became ill, Judge Christopher Droney was promoted to the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, in addition to a senior judge who is no longer taking on criminal cases or conducting civil trials.[1]
Hartford attorney Michael P. Shea has been nominated by President Barack Obama to take the vacant federal district judgeship. This nomination could be long in the making, as it is up to the United States Senate to confirm this nomination.[1]
In response to the calls for help, nine judges have responded, coming from Kentucky, Montana, New York City, Ohio and South Dakota.[1]
This is not the first time a chief federal judge had to reach out for help outside the state. Late Chief U.S. District Judge T.F. Gilroy Daly had to summon for help in 1983. On a court full of vacancies and filled with asbestos-related injury cases, judges came for nearly two years, each sitting for a month in the state of Connecticut. The help these judges brought disposed of more than 300 civil cases.[1]
Chief U.S. District Judge Alvin Thompson is dealing with the same issue today, the docket being filled with criminal cases that consist of large drug persecutions and financial fraud. A narcotics investigation resulted in 105 defendants from New Haven alone being brought into the criminal justice system, and in a recent interview with The Connecticut Post, Judge Thompson commented, "We needed help to keep things at a manageable level."[1]
41 cases have been selected for the visiting judges, with trials expected to average around 5 days. Juries will be chosen by local judges before the arrival of the visiting judges.[1]