Joette Katz

Joette Katz is an American attorney. Born on February 3, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University in 1974 and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1977.

Katz began her legal career in private practice before transitioning to public service. From 1978 to 1989, she worked as an assistant public defender, eventually becoming the Chief of Legal Services for the Office of the Chief Public Defender, the first woman to hold this position in Connecticut.

In 1989, Governor William A. O'Neill nominated her to the Superior Court bench. Just three years later, in 1992, Governor Lowell P. Weicker Jr. elevated her to the Connecticut Supreme Court, making her, at 39, the youngest justice ever appointed to the state's highest court at the time. She was also the first public defender and the second woman to serve on the Connecticut Supreme Court. She also served as administrative judge for the state appellate system from 1994-2000 and 2006-2011.

After her judicial career, Katz became the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families in 2011, serving for eight years. In this capacity, she was responsible for children in state custody and oversight of the department's services, working to improve child welfare and address issues within the agency.

Currently, Joette Katz is a partner at the law firm Shipman & Goodwin LLP, where her practice focuses on appellate work, mediation, and investigations. She has also taught at all three of Connecticut's law schools, including Yale Law School.

Source: Shipman & Goodwin LLP. (n.d.). Shipman & Goodwin LLP. Shipman - Joette Katz. https://www.shipmangoodwin.com/people/joette-katz.html