Malloy Picks Supreme Court Justice For DCF Commissioner
Joette Katz is Malloy's appointee, still faces confirmation by Legislature
By Lucy Nalpathanchil - WNPR
Published: Nov 30, 2010
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Stephen Dunn, Hartford Courant
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Gov-elect Names State Supreme Court Justice for DCF Role
Governor elect Dan Malloy has appointed a Connecticut Supreme Court Justice to lead the state's troubled child welfare agency, the Department of Children and Families.
Malloy introduced his choice, Justice Joette Katz, to reporters Tuesday morning. Katz is a Fairfield resident and has been on the Supreme Court since 1992, before that she led the legal services department for the Office of the Chief Public Defender for five years. She was an assistant public defender from 1978 to 1983.
Justice Katz says she accepted Malloy's job offer because she's ready to start a new chapter in her life.
"The Justice has been one of the key leaders of the judicial system in the state of Connecticut over a long period of time. And she has, you can look at her full resume, it's on there with respect to the leadership roles and the management of that system."
Malloy was asked about Katz's lack of experience managing a large bureaucracy.
DCF is one of is the state's largest agencies. It employs 36-hundred people and has a budget of almost $850 million this year. It's also been under federal court oversight for years to make sure it meets the needs of children in custody. The governor elect says Katz has an extensive leadership background and that makes her suitable for the Commissioner role.
"I love what I've been doing and I truly meant what I said about being honored and have enjoyed every day of it. Having said that I'm ready for a new challenge. I put a map up on the board and said okay, where can my energy, skills, and dreams be best accomplished? Threw the dot and here I am."
Paul Lavalle, President of AFSCME Local 26-63 which represents about 2000 workers at DCF says Malloy's choice is a good one. Lavallee says Justice Katz will bring a new perspective considering the last 3 DCF commissioners were promoted to the job from within the agency.
Katz's appointment must be confirmed by the State Legislature.
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