HARTFORD — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is set to swear in new Connecticut Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson during a ceremony at the state Supreme Court.

Robinson has been chief justice since the Legislature unanimously confirmed his nomination last month. The formal swearing-in ceremony is on Monday.

Robinson is the state's first African-American chief justice. He succeeded Chase Rogers, who retired in February.

Lawmakers rejected the Democratic governor's first chief justice nominee, Justice Andrew McDonald, who would have been the nation's first openly gay state chief justice. Republicans alleged McDonald was an "activist" judge and too liberal.

Robinson has served on the Supreme Court for more than four years. The 60-year-old Stamford native says his top priorities include making sure the poor, disabled and others have equal access to the justice system.