John A. Speziale

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John A. Speziale
Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
In office
1981–1984
GovernorWilliam A. O'Neill
Preceded byJoseph Bogdanski
Succeeded byEllen Ash Peters[1]
Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
In office
1977–1981
GovernorElla Grasso
William A. O'Neill
70th Treasurer of Connecticut
In office
1959 – November 15, 1961
GovernorJohn N. Dempsey
Preceded byJohn Attaviano Jr.[2]
Succeeded byDonald J. Irwin[2]
Personal details
BornNovember 21, 1922
Winsted, Connecticut, United States of America
DiedJanuary 3, 2005 (age 82)
Torrington, Connecticut, United States of America
Political partyDemocratic[2]
EducationDuke University (BA)
Duke University School of Law (JD)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceUS Navy
Years of service1942-1946
RankLieutenant

John Albert Speziale (November 21, 1922 – January 3, 2005) was an American lawyer who served as Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1977 to 1984, serving as its first Italian-American chief justice from 1981 to 1984.

Early life[edit]

Speziale was born in Winsted, Connecticut on November 21, 1922, to Mary and Louis Speziale, who were Sicilian immigrants. His father, Louis Speziale, was a former member of the Torrington City Council.[3][4] He graduated from Torrington High School in 1940 and received a B.A. in economics from Duke University in 1943, followed by a J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1947. From 1942 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy on a destroyer in the Pacific Theater of World War II as a lieutenant.[5][6]

Career[edit]

In 1948, he was admitted to the Connecticut Bar Association,[6] and became the Torrington Municipal Court judge in 1949.[4] In 1958, Speziale was elected as the Connecticut State Treasurer.[3] He served while continuing his private practice[6] until he was promoted in 1961 to the Connecticut Court of Common Pleas,[2] and was promoted again in 1965 to the Connecticut Superior Court, becoming its chief judge from 1975 to 1977.[5] While on the Connecticut Superior Court, Speziale was noted for his decision in the Peter Reilly murder case[5] where he declared Reilly innocent non obstante verdicto after reviewing further evidence not presented during the case.[3][7]

In 1977, Governor Ella Grasso nominated Speziale to the Connecticut Supreme Court.[3] On April 15, 1978, Speziale became a chief court administrator, and was known for implementing the merging of the Connecticut Court of Common Pleas and Connecticut Juvenile Court with the Connecticut Superior Court.[4][8]

In 1981, Governor William A. O'Neill appointed Speziale to the position of Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, succeeding Justice Joseph Bogdanski. Speziale served from 1981 to 1984.[5][7]

Later life and death[edit]

On November 21, 1984, Speziale retired from the Connecticut Supreme Court and returned to private law practice.[5][9]

Speziale died of cancer on January 3, 2005, in Torrington, Connecticut, at the age of 82.[3][4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Madden, Richard L. (November 14, 1984). "NOMINEE FOR CHIEF JUDGE". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Treasurers". Connecticut Secretary of the State. June 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Mahoney, Edmund (January 4, 2005). "EX-CHIEF JUSTICE SPEZIALE DIES". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Olmstead, Jamie Preston (January 4, 2005). "Former State Chief Justice Speziale dies". The Middletown Press. Hearst Media Services Connecticut. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Saxon, Wolfgang (January 7, 2005). "John Speziale, 82, Connecticut Chief Justice, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Connecticut Reports (2005), volume 272, p. 925-931.
  7. ^ a b Wenograd, Fran (November 8, 1981). "ACCESSIBILITY A GOAL OF NEW CHIEF JUDGE". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "History of the Courts". jud.ct.gov. Connecticut Judicial Branch. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Connecticut Reports (1984), volume 194, p. iii.
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
1981–1984 		Succeeded by
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