Eligibility Court Hearing Scheduled

BYSIEWICZ’S QUALIFICATIONS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BE DECIDED

by Sharon Rondeau

(Mar. 7, 2010) — On Friday, March 12, 2010, the question of whether or not Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz is eligible to run – and serve – as Connecticut’s attorney general will be raised in Hartford Superior Court.

However, despite the expedited schedule established to hear the case, Judge Michael Sheldon said that all interested parties should have a chance to intervene if they so choose,  setting that deadline for Tuesday, March 9.

The 2:00 p.m. meeting on Friday is expected to be the first of several during which the merits of the case are not expected to be heard.  The Connecticut Republicans have filed as an interested party, although state Democrats also have reservations about Bysiewicz’s eligibility.  The question was originally raised by a fellow Democrat who is also seeking the office.

According to Connecticutplus.com, Bysiewicz “has practiced corporate, international, banking, health care, and pension law at several area firms.”  However, doubts about her eligibility arose because of the 1897 Connecticut statute which mandates “ten years of active practice of law” in Connecticut to qualify for the position of attorney general.  Bysiewicz has six years of law practice in Connecticut but contends that her service as Secretary of the State should qualify her to be on the ballot.

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