Ethics Case Against Former Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Paused

A high-profile ethics dispute in Connecticut now involves former Chief Justice Richard Robinson and his new law firm, Day Pitney. The case has hit pause for now as both sides try to hammer out a settlement.

Everything centers on Robinson’s role in preparing an appeal in a long-running contract fight among partners winding down CCP Equity Partners. The litigation has bounced between the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Superior Court.

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As settlements loom, the legal stakes touch several Connecticut cities. The outcome could shape how judges and firms handle ethics rules down the road.

Dispute pauses as settlement talks take center stage

The dispute started when opponents moved to disqualify Robinson and Day Pitney. The rules say a lawyer can’t represent a matter they “participated personally and substantially as a judge” on, unless every party waives that protection in writing.

Challengers argue Robinson’s earlier role might give Day Pitney an unfair advantage by exposing how justices viewed contract law during the appeal. Day Pitney admits the rules got broken, but insists Robinson’s work was “minimal and immaterial.” They say that doesn’t justify kicking the whole firm off the case. Robinson hasn’t worked on the matter since August 2025 and Day Pitney says he’s out for good, no matter what happens with the disqualification ruling.

A Superior Court order has put a stop to briefing on disqualification until at least May 1. Both sides want to focus on settlement talks for now. Public access to many filings has been tough due to the Judicial Branch’s digital docketing system, which has made it harder for people to follow the dispute as it moves through Connecticut’s courts from Hartford to New Haven and beyond.

What this means for Connecticut’s legal landscape

Robinson retired from the Connecticut Supreme Court in 2024 and then joined Day Pitney. He quickly became a focal point in a case tied to CCP Equity Partners, a private equity firm whose partners are winding down.

The underlying contract dispute, filed by CCP founder John Clinton, has already gone before the Connecticut Supreme Court twice. Now, it’s back in the Superior Court for a new trial this spring.

This saga has implications for how high-profile ethics questions get handled in major Connecticut markets, from Stamford and Bridgeport to New Haven and Hartford. Smaller hubs like Danbury and Norwich are also touched, along with coastal towns like New London and Groton.

Observers say the dispute highlights the tension between a former chief justice’s post-judicial work and the edge a private firm might get from insider perspectives. In Greenwich and West Hartford, lawyers are watching to see how ethics rules will play out in future cases involving judges-turned-lawyers.

They’re especially curious about how far consent can go in neutralizing concerns about disclosure. The case’s path could influence how similar matters move through courts in places like Waterbury and Norwalk, where commercial litigation and public ethics often collide.

The dispute involves Day Pitney and its handling of an appeal connected to CCP Equity Partners’ contract dispute.
Robinson billed 15.7 hours on the matter at a rate of $1,110 per hour, according to billing records.
The main legal issue is whether prior judicial participation requires disqualification unless all parties consent in writing.
The Supreme Court has gotten involved twice, and now the case is back in Superior Court for a new trial this spring.
Right now, settlement discussions are the focus, and briefing on disqualification is paused through May 1.
Public access to filings is limited by the state’s digital docketing system, which affects transparency in East Hartford and other communities.
Connecticut communities—from Milford and Bridgeport to Hartford and New Haven—are watching for broader implications on ethics and professional responsibility.
Whether Robinson’s involvement is a disqualifying factor without full consent is still unresolved as settlement talks go on.

The outcome could ripple through Connecticut law offices in Stamford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury. Lawyers are weighing the boundaries between meaningful prior experience and possible conflicts of interest in post-retirement roles.

Cities like Norwalk, Danbury, and New London might also feel the impact as firms rethink internal policies to keep up with changing ethical standards.

In Norwich and coastal towns, folks may notice more scrutiny of public-facing filings while the Judicial Branch tries to balance transparency with ongoing settlement negotiations.

Here is the source article for this story: Why an ethics dispute involving ex-CT Supreme Court chief justice is on hold

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