Malloy To Nominate Grogins State Judge–Special Election For State House Seat

Auden Grogins, the blonde banshee from Black Rock, will not receive the oath of office for a fourth term in the State House. Governor Dan Malloy announced Friday he will nominate her to the Connecticut Superior Court. This will set in motion another special election presumably in late February. Malloy’s nomination requires approval of the Connecticut Legislature. That process will play out in the legislative session that starts next week.

Grogins, a ferocious campaigner with an independent-minded streak (full disclosure: I served as a campaign strategist), was a key Malloy supporter who put in long hours in her district to further his reelection. After serving more than 10 years on the City Council she won a seat on the Board of Education in 2003. She was defeated in a primary in 2007 during the hotly contested primary race for mayor between Bill Finch and Chris Caruso. One year later she defeated Bob Keeley, the longest serving legislator in city history, in a Democratic primary, despite being told by many political insiders she could not win. Grogins knocked on just about every door in the district.

As a campaigner, Grogins takes nothing for granted and as a public servant is responsive to constituent concerns irrespective of party label.

Grogins’ State House seat covers Black Rock, the West Side and portions of the North End and West End. She was an effective legislator who pushed quality of life, animal rights and government reform issues including passage of a state law that cracked down on unlicensed massage parlors as well as providing prosecutors the authority to shut down a business or evict a tenant that has been arrested or cited three or more times for illegal activity on the premises for crimes such as drug dealing, firearm offenses or excessive noise on commercial properties.

She secured $500,000 in state funds for facade and streetscape upgrades along Fairfield Avenue scheduled to start this spring. She also pushed funding for renovations to Black Rock School, Central High School and building of a new Longfellow School in her district.

Grogins has long been interested in a Superior Court appointment. Her dad served in that capacity.

“I am both thrilled and deeply honored that Governor Malloy intends to nominate me for a judicial appointment,” she says in a news release issued by the governor’s office. “I want to thank the Governor for his confidence in me to serve such an important public position. If approved, I vow to be an independent, fair and impartial judge. I will do my utmost to ensure that we continue building a brighter future for Connecticut.”

From Malloy:

Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he intends to nominate Representative Auden Grogins to the State Superior Court. With nearly a quarter century of experience in civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts, Grogins currently serves Bridgeport’s 129th District in the General Assembly.

During her 24 years of practice, Grogins has served over 400 clients on a wide array of issues, ranging from criminal law and appeals, to personal injury law, to family law, to real estate, to contract and employment cases. She has represented numerous defendants in post-conviction cases for those involving claims of innocence or ineffective legal representation. Grogins owns her own practice.

First elected to the General Assembly in 2008, Grogins has previously served on the Bridgeport City Council, starting in 1991. She was elected to the Bridgeport Board of Education in 2003 and elected President of the Board in 2005. She is a currently the Deputy Majority Leader serving as a member of the legislature’s Education, Judiciary, Legislative Management, and Planning and Development Committees.

“Auden is a dedicated public servant who cares deeply about her community. In both private and public capacities, she’s spent a career serving those who need representation. Her breadth of legal knowledge is exceptional, and I know she will do an outstanding job,” Governor Malloy said. “Auden has earned the respect of her colleagues not only in the legal community, but also in the General Assembly. I’m proud to nominate her to the Superior Court.”

“I am both thrilled and deeply honored that Governor Malloy intends to nominate me for a judicial appointment. I want to thank the Governor for his confidence in me to serve such an important public position,” Auden Grogins said. “If approved, I vow to be an independent, fair and impartial judge. I will do my utmost to ensure that we continue building a brighter future for Connecticut.”

Grogins holds a law degree from Quinnipiac University and a B.S. from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She will not be taking the oath of office for her General Assembly seat on January 7th.