Connecticut General Assembly is set to begin its annual legislative session with two vacancies as Sen. Kevin Kelly and Rep. Christine Conley have decided not to take the oath for new terms, anticipating gubernatorial nominations for judicial positions. Kelly is expected to be nominated as a judge of the Superior Court, while Conley is expected to be nominated as an administrative judge on the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
The Governor’s general counsel, Natalie Braswell, is expected to make a final decision on the nominations before the legislative session begins. If either Kelly or Conley were to take the oath of office before their nominations are confirmed, they would be barred from accepting their appointed positions, leading to special elections to fill their seats.
While Kelly and Conley’s departures will not shift the balance of power in the General Assembly, their vacant seats will need to be filled through special elections. Kelly has represented the 21st Senate District for over a decade, while Conley has represented the 40th House District.
Both legislators have had successful careers in their respective fields, with Kelly specializing in elder law and Conley focusing on workers’ compensation cases. Their departures mark a change in the composition of the General Assembly, but the political impact remains to be seen as the legislative session gets underway.
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Photo credit ctmirror.org
