Robert I. Berdon

Robert I. Berdon (December 24, 1929 – October 31, 2019)[1] was a justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from September 4, 1991 to 1999.

Robert I. Berdon
Associate Justice of the
Connecticut Supreme Court
In office
September 4, 1991 – December 24, 1999
Appointed byLowell P. Weicker Jr.
Preceded byT. Clark Hull
Succeeded byChristine S. Vertefeuille
Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court
In office
1973–1991
74th Treasurer of Connecticut
In office
1971 – June 28, 1973
GovernorThomas Meskill
Preceded byJohn A. Iorio
Succeeded byAlden A. Ives
Personal details
Born(1929-12-24)December 24, 1929
DiedOctober 31, 2019(2019-10-31) (aged 89)
Political partyRepublican

Education and career

Berdon earned both his undergraduate and an LL.B. degree from the University of Connecticut, graduating from the University of Connecticut law school in 1957.[2] Berdon worked for sixteen years in private practice before entering his political career.[3]

In 1970, Berdon ran for and was elected Connecticut State Treasurer. He received national attention during his tenure, first in 1972 when refused to give up his office space at the Capitol, even when an eviction notice was served. Another significant feat during Berdon's tenure occurred when Connecticut won a seat on the PBW Stock Exchange in Philadelphia, "becoming the first public body to gain membership on a stock exchange."[4][5]

In 1973, he was appointed to the Connecticut Superior Court, and after being passed over for the position by Governor William A. O'Neill following a controversial 1981 ruling requiring the state to pay for abortions for poor women, in 1991 he was elevated to the Connecticut Supreme Court by Governor Lowell Weicker.[6] Berdon stepped down in 1999 after reaching the mandatory retirement age, but continued working as a state trial referee until 2014.[6]

Berdon was married until the death of his wife in 1992. Berdon died in 2019.[6]

References
  1. Storace, Robert (November 4, 2019). "Ex-Justice Robert Berdon Remembered as Uncompromising, Principled". Connecticut Law Tribune.
  2. Ewing, Jack (28 August 1991). "Liberal Judge Named To State's High Court". courant.com.
  3. "LibGuides Home: Judge & Attorney Biographies". libguides.ctstatelibrary.org.
  4. Fellows, Lawrence (December 14, 1972). "Saving of $1‐Million Per Year Seen by State Treasurer". The New York Times.
  5. Tuohy, Lynne; Tofig, Dana (31 October 1999). "Lone Justice". courant.com.
  6. Pazniokas, Mark (November 1, 2019). "Justice Robert I. Berdon, Connecticut's great dissenter, dies at 89". Connecticut Mirror.
  1. "Judge's Star Keeps Rising with Supreme Court Pick". 23 November 1999.
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