Staff File Photos
Judicial nominees John Cirello, Gladys Nieves, Will Clark (above), Gordon Hall (below).
Familiar faces from New Haven’s civic life appear headed to the bench, thanks to a batch of new nominations by Gov. Ned Lamont.
Lamont’s office Wednesday morning released a list of 15 names of people he has nominated as Superior Court judges. The list includes four New Haveners: children’s advocate and family-support magistrate Gladys Nieves, former New Haven Board of Ed official Will Clark, local attorney and East Shore neighborhood volunteer John Cirello, and federal prosecutor Gordon Hall.
The Superior Court nominations — Lamont’s first since taking office — now come before the legislature for review. (Click here to read the full list of names.)
State Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney of New Haven told the Independent he is “confident” the appointees will be confirmed.
“They have the range of experience. There’s diversity in the list of appointees. They’re a very strong group,” Looney said.
Clark is following in the footsteps of his father, the late Superior Court Judge Joseph B. Clark. He said he feels “humbled by the nomination of Governor Lamont and to be included in this incredible group of colleagues” and “blessed to have had a career rooted in public service working in a wide range of legal arenas. I appreciate all of the mentors, family and friends that have supported me in this journey.”
Clark has served as chief operating officer of the New Haven and, currently, Waterbury public schools. He oversaw all the non-curricular aspects of New Haven’s day-to-day school operations, from food services to transportation to construction to athletics. He previously specialized in labor and education law in private practice. He has a long resume of volunteer community activities, including coaching youth basketball and baseball and hockey.
Since graduating from Yale and then NYU Law School, Gladys Idelis Nieves built a career in family and children’s law. She started as a senior staff attorney with the Center for Children’s Advocacy and the Juvenile Rights Division of the New York Legal Aid Society. She opened a practice here in 2007 specializing in family and child welfare litigation. She assumed her current position as a family support magistrate for the Connecticut Judicial Division in 2014.
In 2019, the local group Puerto Ricans United honored Nieves with an award for her to for families.
“As a Latina, to be able to put a face to the judicial system that a lot of officials don’t see … I take great pride,” Nieves said at an awards ceremony, “but I know that it’s a duty, a responsibility.” Her proudest accomplishment as a magistrate has been “being able to look my parents in the face and tell them their hard work has paid off,” she said.
Gordon Hall has been a federal prosecutor since 1989. He started his career in New Haven City Hall, as an assistant corporation counsel to then-Mayor Biagio DiLieto
In Morris Cove, John Cirello is known for organizing Halloween kids’ parades and soap box derbies. He has run for state representative and held volunteer posts with business groups like the Chamber of Commerce. He has served on city commissions moderated city elections. He handles a wide range of housing, business, and probate issues in his private practice in New Haven.
Cirello, too, declared himself “humbled by the honor” of being nominated for a judgeship. “It’s a huge amount of responsibility. I’m very happy about it now. I know there’s a lot of work ahead,” he said.
He was asked if he will allow people to wear hats in his courtroom should he be confirmed for the bench.
“For religious purposes,” he responded.
Great choices, Governor!