District judges assigned for new session
The judges assigned to sit in the New London Court District during the next judicial session have been announced and will be seated Sept. 6, 2021, through Sept. 4, 2022.
Judge Harry E. Calmar will take over as the district's new administrative judge, taking over for Judge Hillary B. Strackbein, who currently oversees the district and all criminal matters.
"It's been five years now for me and Judge Calmar is more than willing to take the reins as (administrative judge)," Strackbein said. "And I'll be here to help him with anything he needs."
Calmar will continue to oversee all civil cases, while Strackbein will remain in her role as presiding judge for criminal cases.
The same number of judges will remain in New London's Part A court, where major crimes are heard, and at the GA10 courthouse. But there will be a few changes in the district.
Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed, who has heard trials of major crimes in the New London district for more than a decade, will leave to sit on the civil court in New Haven. Judge Kimberly A. Knox will leave Norwich Superior Court and head to civil court in New Britain.
Judge Nuala E. Droney will move from Norwich to the Hartford court district; Judge John Newson, seated in family court in Norwich, will be leaving to be seated in Windham.
"We're sorry to see these judges go, they've been really great and I think that they enjoyed their time here," Strackbein said. "But really we wish them well in their new assignments."
Judges Robert E. Young — currently seated in New Haven — and James Field Spallone — currently seated in Milford — will join the New London district to hear civil cases. Judge Kevin J. Murphy — seated in Middletown — will come to New London's GA10 courthouse, Strackbein said. Judge Karen Goodrow, seated in New Haven, also will come to New London as assistant administrative judge.
Strackbein said she sent them all a welcome email on Wednesday and is looking forward to the start of the new session.
"We're welcoming the new and returning judges for the new session starting in September. I think the new judges will be happy to be here, because New London is such a great place. I think they'll really like it here," she said.
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