John Albert Speziale (November 21, 1922 – January 3, 2005) was an American lawyer who served as Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1977 to 1984, serving as its first Italian-American chief justice from 1981 to 1984.
John A. Speziale | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court | |
| In office 1981–1984 | |
| Governor | William A. O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Joseph Bogdanski |
| Succeeded by | Ellen Ash Peters[1] |
| Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court | |
| In office 1977–1981 | |
| Governor | Ella Grasso William A. O'Neill |
| 70th Treasurer of Connecticut | |
| In office 1959 – November 15, 1961 | |
| Governor | John N. Dempsey |
| Preceded by | John Attaviano Jr.[2] |
| Succeeded by | Donald J. Irwin[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1922 Winsted, Connecticut, United States of America |
| Died | January 3, 2005 (age 82) Torrington, Connecticut, United States of America |
| Political party | Democratic[2] |
| Education | Duke University (BA) Duke University School of Law (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | US Navy |
| Years of service | 1942-1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Early life
editSpeziale was born in Winsted, Connecticut on November 21, 1922, to Mary and Louis Speziale, who were Sicilian immigrants. His father, Louis Speziale, was a former member of the Torrington City Council.[3][4] He graduated from Torrington High School in 1940 and received a B.A. in economics from Duke University in 1943, followed by a J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1947. From 1942 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy on a destroyer in the Pacific Theater of World War II as a lieutenant.[5][6]
Career
editIn 1948, he was admitted to the Connecticut Bar Association,[6] and became the Torrington Municipal Court judge in 1949.[4] In 1958, Speziale was elected as the Connecticut State Treasurer.[3] He served while continuing his private practice[6] until he was promoted in 1961 to the Connecticut Court of Common Pleas,[2] and was promoted again in 1965 to the Connecticut Superior Court, becoming its chief judge from 1975 to 1977.[5] While on the Connecticut Superior Court, Speziale was noted for his decision in the Peter Reilly murder case[5] where he declared Reilly innocent non obstante verdicto after reviewing further evidence not presented during the case.[3][7]
In 1977, Governor Ella Grasso nominated Speziale to the Connecticut Supreme Court.[3] On April 15, 1978, Speziale became a chief court administrator, and was known for implementing the merging of the Connecticut Court of Common Pleas and Connecticut Juvenile Court with the Connecticut Superior Court.[4][8]
In 1981, Governor William A. O'Neill appointed Speziale to the position of Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, succeeding Justice Joseph Bogdanski. Speziale served from 1981 to 1984.[5][7]
Later life and death
editOn November 21, 1984, Speziale retired from the Connecticut Supreme Court and returned to private law practice.[5][9]
Speziale died of cancer on January 3, 2005, in Torrington, Connecticut, at the age of 82.[3][4]
References
edit- ^ Madden, Richard L. (November 14, 1984). "NOMINEE FOR CHIEF JUDGE". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Treasurers". Connecticut Secretary of the State. June 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Mahoney, Edmund (January 4, 2005). "EX-CHIEF JUSTICE SPEZIALE DIES". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Olmstead, Jamie Preston (January 4, 2005). "Former State Chief Justice Speziale dies". The Middletown Press. Hearst Media Services Connecticut. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Saxon, Wolfgang (January 7, 2005). "John Speziale, 82, Connecticut Chief Justice, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Connecticut Reports (2005), volume 272, p. 925-931.
- ^ a b Wenograd, Fran (November 8, 1981). "ACCESSIBILITY A GOAL OF NEW CHIEF JUDGE". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "History of the Courts". jud.ct.gov. Connecticut Judicial Branch. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ Connecticut Reports (1984), volume 194, p. iii.