Report: Attorney Who Testified at 'Gifting Table' Trials to be Named Superior Court Judge

The New Haven Register is reporting that on Thursday, March 7, a 79-54 House vote pushed though Branford Attorney Shelley Marcus to Superior Court judgeship. Marcus, who was nominated by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for the position, recently testified in the 'gifting table' trials, which found two Guilford women guilty for their involvement.

In a split vote, mostly along party lines, Sen. Edward Meyer lead the opposition of Marcus's approval, reports the Register. The House voting ended with 79-54 in favor, and the Senate came to a 31-4 vote in favor. 

According to The Register, Senator Ed Meyer, who represents Guilford, lead the opposing vote. Meyer had shared his point of view with Guilford Patch earlier this week. 

"I did vote no on this, in opposition to the recommendation," Sen. Meyer told Guilford Patch Thursday afternoon. "I don't feel that she meets the standards of our Superior Court, which is a a huge responsibility."

"Superior Court cases include criminal content, family matters involving custody, and various other important rulings," continued Meyer. "When I compare Marcus to other nominees, I feel she did not stack up against them. She is not a partner in a firm and the firm she does work for is being sued by the town of Branford. I also thought her recent involvement with the 'gifting table' trials was very controversial."

"State Sen. Leonard Fasano, R-North Haven, defended Marcus, saying she was not part of the federal case, but only represented the women in the civil action involving negotiating a fine with the attorney general’s office," reports The Register. "The decision to give a deposition was a 'strategy call,' he said."