Celebrity Friday: Andrew McDonald, openly gay CT High Court justice

Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy has named his state's first openly gay State Supreme Court justice: Andrew J. McDonald. McDonald, 46,  currently serves as general counsel to the Office of the Governor and has been a longtime aide and confidant of Malloy.

The Darien Times reported:

“Having had the opportunity to work alongside Andrew McDonald in several capacities over the years, including both as a lawyer and as a public servant, I am convinced that he will be an excellent addition to our state’s highest court and will serve the people of Connecticut well when he is confirmed to the bench,” Governor Malloy said. “In each of the roles he has served, Andrew has proven to have an exceptional ability to understand, analyze, research and evaluate legal issues.  He has undertaken his legal work with a focus on giving back extensively to his community and a commitment to the equal rights of all residents.  He will be an exceptional justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court.”

“I’m immensely grateful to the governor for the honor he has shown me through this nomination,” McDonald said.  “Honoring the law and serving the people of this state have been the focus of my professional life, and I will be humbled by the opportunity to continue to do both on the Supreme Court if confirmed by the General Assembly.”

Malloy was elected to the Connecticut legislature as an openly gay candidate in 2002 and is a graduate of Cornell University and University of Connecticut Law School.

Malloy will join a small number of other openly LGBT state supreme court justices around the country. Hawaii (Sabrina McKenna), Colorado (Monica Marquez), Massachusetts (Barbara Lenk), and Oregon (Virgina Linder and Rives Kustler) are the states with open;y LGBT justices.