The Connecticut Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously rejected an appeal from former Mayor Joe Ganim to reinstate his law license that was stripped following his conviction on federal corruption charges in 2003.
Ganim had appealed a decision by a panel of three judges that ruled Ganim’s lack of remorse precludes him from law license reinstatement.
Chief Justice Chase Rogers wrote for the court:
“We acknowledge that a criminal conviction is not an absolute bar to regaining a license to practice law and that, in Connecticut, no statute or court rule directly answers the question of what period of time constitutes an adequate period of rehabilitation for an individual with a record of misconduct comparable to the defendants.
“We are confident, however, that in the present case, the defendant has not demonstrated a period of exemplary behavior persisting for a sufficient period of time to offset his transgressions and, accordingly, to provide the necessary assurance that he may once again be entrusted with the practice of law. Consequently, we hold that the trial court properly concluded that the standing committee abused its discretion when it determined that the defendant was presently fit to practice law and recommended his reinstatement.”
To Joe Ganim,
I write to you this evening with a concrete suggestion as to efforts you might publicly expend for your ‘beloved City’ and its underdog people. You have been Mayor, lawyer, and popular at one time. You have also served time for multiple choices you made that put the people of Bridgeport at a greater disadvantage.
Some of those who have followed you have made and continue to make bad choices. They have engaged in Charter violations. They ignore the language of Ordinances. They spend money in ways that are not legal. The taxpayers can use some of your life experience and legal savvy to help reform the “bad practices” that plague current governance.
Please consider saddling up your white horse after calling me at 203-259-9642 to discuss pragmatic and effective alternatives to reform the behavior of the elected or allow them to spend some time cooling their heels, away from home and public office, perhaps. The time we can use in this pursuit might count double for those who sit in decision on recovering your right to practice law. The activity I suggest can use the unique bundle of talents and experience you can bring to bear. This type of heroism uses the law, the courts and the tide of public opinion.
My phone number, again, is 203-259-9642. Look forward to a call. Time will tell.
Please let us know if you receive that call!
John Marshall Lee, why should former Mayor Joe Ganim have to call you before he considers saddling up his white horse? Are you the savior persons have to call in order to be accepted?
Ron,
I am making an offer. It is an offer that provides something for Joe Ganim, as you read his ‘comeback story’ each time he has appealed to higher powers. The something they are looking for is acknowledgement of wrongdoing and remorse, I think. He is not providing it to their satisfaction. He may have done some wonderful and charitable public service in recent time, but that is not cutting any ice with them either.
What might change their minds? We have serious problems here in B’port with governance so little people and underdog taxpayers are reasonably heard. Former Mayor Ganim knows the cranks and levers of City governance and where pressure might be best placed so the public is served. Were he seen to be a major part of such an effort, public credit can be earned I would think.
Joe does not have to call me, as you know. Just as you have chosen not to call me after multiple offers, it is only an invitation to work in concert to extend a climate of check and balance integrity that has been removed from the City. He can continue to saddle up and ride solo or with anyone he chooses, certainly. But in common parlance, it does not appear to be working.
An invitation to a marginalized individual. His choices wounded the public. The system of justice to which he made an oath found him guilty of bad choices. Working to correct some “current bad choices” made against the public would be a healthy way of remediating what ails the City. Nothing more than doing good … no money … no clothing or wine … only the possibility of removing the burden he carries in the minds of many by getting better choices for the public.
Do you see anything wrong with my offer now, Ron? Time will tell.
JML is not a savior but he is a person who gives a shit. He spends hours doing research and collecting documentation for the articles he writes. Ron, you take offense with what he asks Joe Ganim, tough shit. Your armchair quarterbacking is fast becoming a pain in the ass, all talk and no work.
Asking Joe Ganim for his input was and is a good idea.
If we had more people doing what JML does this city would be on the road to recovery.
I notice you did not comment on taxpayer waste, you expressed no interest in the council person with 51 charges to their stipend account for Stop & Shop. Just so you know, it was one of your council people.
Hey Ron, get off your ass and get involved.
Andrew C Fardy, just as you I don’t reply back to everything, I pick and choose. Yes, asking Joe Ganim for his input was and is a good idea. It’s good JML and you are involved but if people want to give JML a call that’s okay but if they choose not to call him and do things their way that’s okay. So does it mean if Joe Ganim does not call JML that Joe doesn’t care? There are many ways people can help and get involved without making a phone call to JML or to tell him what they are doing.
Ron, here is the comment that made me blog in reply to you, “Are you the savior persons have to call in order to be accepted?”
You see Ron, most of the residents of this city are busy trying to survive and there are a few people with time trying against all odds to make this a better place to live. I note you had no comment on your council person charging 51 visits to Stop & Shop to the stipend account. I have never known you to hold back, why now?
I guess that also puts him out of the Mayoral game. Oh well!
I would not assume that. The decision may give him more reason to run for mayor.
LENNIE, ARE YOU serious? And people would replace Finch with a thief because? Joe really just needs to disappear. He is an embarrassment to his family. Maybe if they reinstated his license he may be viewed as trustworthy. The did not. He still hasn’t begged for forgiveness. Only a fool would give him a second chance at controlling the largest city. Maybe if Joe were running he would feel exonerated. Maybe he’d hire you again. Funny, Lennie. There is nothing new under the sun. A leopard never changes its spots and Joe’s ship had sailed many years ago. Bridgeport moves forward.
Lennie, let me rephrase that as it was not my intention to insult you or be too mean-spirited to Ganim. Does anyone believe Mayor Finch has failed so miserably that voters would give Ganim another opportunity to FUCK the City? I do not think so. I do not think Finch has any worries from the Ganim supporters, however, only in Bridgeport, on the verge of a renaissance would Joe Ganim get a second chance.
Steve, if you take off your rose-colored glasses you would see Finch has been fucking the city for five years and continues to do so.
If the race came down to Finch and Ganim I would with reluctance vote for Ganim over Finch.
Really, Andy? Really? Honestly? Sour grapes, Andy? I am disappointed in you. If you think Mayor Finch has abused his office and you’d be willing to actually vote for Ganim then you have lost your senses. But your being a poster boy for Ganim actually puts a smile on Mayor Finch’s face. Well as they say, politics makes strange bedfellows. If I had money I’d bet on any candidate you were working against. My rose-colored glasses are off. I really do see things as they are. I thank G-d on my darkest days my glass is always half full and I will continue running as fast as I can from negativity. I would suggest you compile a list of all of Ganim’s shortcomings. Mayor Finch will appear as the second coming of Christ.
Sadly both Joe Ganim and Ernie Newton would have a good chance at election if they were to run. They both have their peeps. Take a poll of average Bridgeport voters and ask them and I bet results would be in both’s favor.
Ah yes, Joe Ganim and Ernie Newton, the STDs and herpes of Bridgeport. The gifts that keep giving and won’t just go away.