House Republican Press Release

April 26, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Representative Frey Announces Ridgefield Resident Appointed To Key Judicial Post

HARTFORD—State Representative John H. Frey, R-Ridgefield, announced that the House of Representatives and State Senate have unanimously approved the nomination of Ridgefield resident Judge Susan S. Reynolds, following her nomination by Governor M. Jodi Rell, to be a member of the Judicial Review Council as a full-time judge.

“I have known Susan Reynolds for close to 25 years. She is an extremely kind and caring individual who has served our state with distinction”, said Rep. Frey, “She has worked in both the private sector of law and for the State of Connecticut, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of the many different aspects of the judiciary.”

Judge Reynolds holds a J. D. from Pace University School of Law and a B. S. from the City University of New York. Currently Judge Reynolds is working as a Superior Court judge in the State of Connecticut and is the presiding judge at the Norwalk courthouse. Her past work experience includes family support magistrate, law partner at the firm of Reese, Hirsch & Reynolds, and law clerk at the Danbury Superior Court.

Judge Reynolds is a very active member of the legal community, as she is a member of the Public Defender Committee and director of the Connecticut Judges Association. Judge Reynolds has been an active member of the community for over 20 years. She has worked in both the private sector of law and for the State of Connecticut, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of the many different aspects of the law.

“I have no doubt that Judge Reynolds will be a valuable contributor to the Judicial Review Council,” added Rep. Frey, who addressed his colleagues in the House prior to the vote on her confirmation.

The Judicial Review Council investigates complaints against judges, workers' compensation commissioners, and family support magistrates and makes recommendations regarding their reappointment and, in the case of judges, appointment to a different court. The council can admonish, censure, or suspend any of them for up to one year or recommend to the Supreme Court a longer suspension or removal from office.

Judges, commissioners, and magistrates can be disciplined for, among other things, prejudicial conduct, violation of ethics and financial rules, neglect or incompetence, failure to perform duties, conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or temperament adverse to justice.

The council consists of 12 regular members and 13 alternates appointed by the governor with the General Assembly's approval. The 12 regular members are three judges, three attorneys, and six people who are neither. The alternates consist of judges, attorneys, and other people who serve when a regular council member is disqualified and compensation commission and family support magistrate members to serve when the council is considering complaints against commissioners or magistrates.

The council must investigate complaints and, if it finds probable cause, hold hearings. Its proceedings are, for the most part, confidential unless the subject of the investigation wants them public. But if the council finds probable cause and holds a hearing, it must be public. The accused official has a number of due process rights such as legal representation and the ability to present evidence and confront witnesses.

Judge Reynolds is a long-term Ridgefield resident along with her husband, Tom who serves as a Ridgefield Police Commissioner and is a principal at Reynolds & Rowella.