Flemming L. Norcott Jr. facts for kids

Flemming L. Norcott Jr. was a very important judge in Connecticut. He was born on October 11, 1943, in New Haven, Connecticut. He worked his way up through different courts in the state.

He became a judge on the Connecticut Superior Court in 1979. Later, in 1987, he moved to the Connecticut Appellate Court. Finally, in 1992, he was appointed to the highest court in the state, the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Justice Norcott studied at Columbia University, where he earned his first degree in 1965. He then went to Columbia Law School and became a lawyer in 1968. He also teaches at Yale University.

Important Court Cases

Justice Norcott was part of many important decisions during his time on the Connecticut Supreme Court. These cases helped shape laws and rights in Connecticut.

Schools and Equal Opportunity

One major case was Sheff v. O'Neill in 1996. This case was about whether all children in Connecticut had the right to an equal education. The court decided that the state had to make sure all students had a fair chance at a good education. This meant schools should not be separated by race or background. Justice Norcott was one of the judges who agreed with this important decision.

Government and Private Land

In 2004, Justice Norcott wrote the main opinion in a well-known case called Kelo v. New London. This case was about something called eminent domain. This is when the government can take private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell it. The court decided that the city of New London could take private property to help with economic development. This decision was later supported by the highest court in the country, the United States Supreme Court.

Marriage Rights

On October 10, 2008, the Connecticut Supreme Court made a big decision in the case of Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health. The court ruled that gay and lesbian couples could not be stopped from getting married. This was because of the state's Equal Protection Clause, which says everyone should be treated fairly. This decision made Connecticut one of the first states to allow same-sex marriage through a court ruling. Justice Norcott was part of the judges who agreed with this ruling.

Rules for Public Office

More recently, Justice Norcott wrote the court's opinion in a case called Bysiewicz v. DiNardo. This case was about whether a person running for Attorney General met all the requirements for the job. The court decided that the Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz, did not have enough years of experience as a lawyer to run for Attorney General.