Hillhouse High School students drove up from New Haven today to watch Appellate Court Judge Lubbie Harper Jr. answer questions from the powerful Judiciary Committee, which is expected to confirm him for a post of associate justice on the state Supreme Court.
Both white and minority members of the committee said that Harper – a 68-year-old African-American whom the Blogster predicted back in December would be the logical choice to replace Joette Katz, now DCF commissioner, on the high bench – will be a powerful role model for inner-city students.
“The position of a jurist is one to interpret issues that come before the court,” Harper said. “The way in which I connect with our young folks is through my chairmanship on the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity… We plan on having discussions with superintendents…We’re in the process of developing a program we hope to hold at Weaver (Hartford) High School, where we talk about ‘from the school house to the jail house’ and begin to involve students and what they have to do to ensure they have a productive future. So I use the commission as the vehicle for reaching out and I am very active with respect to that and I receive a lot of support from a lot of people in terms of trying to be creative in doing things to reach our kids and involving them and helping them to understand that they have potential and they have a future and they don’t have to live a life of crime.”
Sen. Edwin A. Gomes, D-Bridgeport: “…I want to tell you that there’s an immense amount of pride felt by myself in being part of the process and other people joining in the day of celebration for you to be confirmed. I welcome you, thank you very much and we’re very proud to see you here.”
Harper, after his expected approval in the committee and confirmation before the General Assembly, would face the mandatory retirement age of 70 in November of 2012.
Rep. Gerald Fox III, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the committee, praised Harper’s opening remarks as among the best he’s heard.