Roraback’s next step

The nomination of former Republican state Sen. Andrew Roraback to Connecticut’s Superior Court by Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is a natural. Who in this state has given more in public service time and effort than Roraback? During his tenure in public office, from representing the 64th District in the state House to the 30th in the state Senate, Roraback was as dedicated an elected official as there can be. Incredible as it may seem, he never missed a vote in 18 years of holding state office, and was known for his thoughtful consideration of each of those votes. Roraback kept himself ever available to his constituents and the media during that time, so his decision-making process was transparent. He has been active in statewide open information groups, including the education arm of freedom of information, the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government. He often took the time to be a part of the awards ceremonies at schools in his districts, presented honors to students and supported their efforts.Roraback made himself very much a part of the communities he served. Since his loss last November in the race for the 5th District seat in U.S. Congress to Democrat Elizabeth Esty, many in the state have been wondering what the next step would be for this 52-year-old with so much valuable legislative experience. His skills would be of great benefit in a wide range of arenas, but this newspaper believes he would make an excellent judge. For anyone who may need to face courtroom proceedings in Litchfield Superior Court, having Roraback on the bench would be reassuring, offering confidence in the presiding judge at what is usually one of the most difficult times of life for all involved. Roraback has said he will never rule out running for office again (see last week’s article on the front page by Patrick Sullivan), and that is an eventuality that would be welcomed by many of his former constituents. However, serving as a Superior Court judge in the meantime would offer an opportunity for him to utilize the wisdom he has acquired over almost two decades representing Connecticut’s voters in Hartford. His knowledge of this region runs deep, and his ability to care about and understand Connecticut people would stand him in good stead on the bench.Here’s hoping Roraback’s nomination leads to a judgeship for him at the Litchfield Superior Court. He deserves it, and the people of Litchfield County deserve to have him there.