Lamont chooses Bridgeport judge for general counsel
Governor-elect Ned Lamont has chosen a Bridgeport Superior Court judge as his general counsel.
Robert W. Clark has only been a judge since May and currently presides in juvenile court. But he has extensive experience in state policy in the Connecticut Attorney General’s office, where he served for nearly 14 years.
Clark, most recently as special counsel to Attorney General George Jepsen, has been involved in most major cases handled by Jepsen’s office and has been a regular visitor to lawmakers in the General Assembly.
Lamont on Monday also announced Monday that Colleen Flanagan Johnson will be his senior adviser. These appointments are Lamont’s third and fourth, as the governor-elect prepares to be sworn into office on Jan. 9.
Johnson, 36, is the executive communications leader for Cigna’s chief marketing officer. Johnson, a West Hartford resident and Democrat, was Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's first communications director, and held the same position for U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and U.S Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina.
She will “oversee the Governor’s communications operation, and provide strategic counsel to the Governor and other senior officials on communications, policy, and political matters,” Lamont’s staff said.
“Robert and Colleen are experienced public servants who are deeply committed to helping Connecticut become more inclusive and prosperous for all,” said Lamont in a written statement. “They are eager to get to work, and I welcome them wholeheartedly into my administration.”
Clark, 47, has already been influential in shaping the state’s response to many issues.
“Clark was involved in many cases, including cases involving same-sex marriage, election law, and tobacco,” said Jaclyn Severance, communications director for the Attorney General’s office. “As the AG's Special Counsel, he worked on issues involving the tribes, the tribal compacts and gaming; the investigation of for-profit colleges; regulations for the state's medical marijuana program; health-care issues, including litigation to defend the federal Affordable Care Act; the state's spending cap; and issues involving the transportation lock box, among many others.”
Before joining the attorney general’s office, Clark, worked for Day, Berry & Howard LLP in Hartford and at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP in New York City in the commercial litigation and creditors’ rights and bankruptcy departments. He now lives in Durham.
“I look forward to serving the new administration at this critical juncture for the State of Connecticut,” said Clark in a written statement.
Clark’s departure will leave the Judicial Branch with 24 vacancies for justices, said Rhonda Stearley-Hebert, communications manager for the Judicial Branch.
Clark is one of only two judges now serving Bridgeport’s juvenile court, which is the third busiest juvenile court in the state based on the number of child protection, delinquency and other cases it handles. He is one of 19 total judges working in Bridgeport’s Superior Court.
Clark declined to discuss his departure Monday afternoon.
Last week, Lamont announced his choices for chief of staff and Office of Policy and Management secretary. Like Clark and Johnson, his picks for those offices come with a mix of public and private sector experience.