People
Joette Katz

Joette Katz

Partner

Joette Katz is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group. Her distinguished legal career and service to the State of Connecticut provide her with considerable knowledge and experience that make her a valuable resource to clients and lawyers throughout the state.

Joette focuses her practice on appellate work, mediation and investigations. She advises clients on the appellate process, positioning, and strategy at both the trial and appellate stages of a matter. Joette also serves as a mediator to resolve a wide range of conflicts for clients that do not require litigation. In addition, using skills from her government experience, Joette advises clients across a variety of industries on handling government, internal and other investigations.

During her 18+ years as an Associate Justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court, Joette heard approximately 2,500 cases and authored nearly 500 opinions. In addition, she served as an Administrative Judge for the State of Connecticut Appellate System and as a Judge for the Connecticut Superior Court. While serving as the Chief of Legal Services for the State of Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services, she co-authored Connecticut Criminal Caselaw Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide (published by The Connecticut Law Tribune). Her experience at the Superior Court level in all aspects of the law makes her an invaluable asset to her clients, particularly those navigating the complexities of the appellate process.

Prior to joining the firm, Joette served as Commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Children and Families for eight years, where she was responsible for children in the Department’s custody and under its guardianship, as well as overseeing the Department’s services for children and families throughout the state in need of assistance. In addition, she was involved in all appellate matters related to the Department, including regularly advising on legal strategy. Joette also demonstrates her long-standing commitment to supporting at-risk populations as a significant contributor to the firm’s award-winning pro bono efforts, providing legal services on behalf of the underserved and underprivileged members of the community. For example, Joette successfully had the convictions vacated and the charges dismissed against George Gould, a Connecticut man wrongly imprisoned for nearly three decades. Joette’s pro bono representation was historic, as it was the first case resulting in a dismissal following an investigation by the newly formed Conviction Integrity Unit of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office.

Throughout her career, Joette has been a frequent speaker, both nationally and in Connecticut, at many events sponsored by legal and professional associations as well as symposia hosted by colleges and universities. She has lectured on a wide range of topics, including appellate advocacy and professional responsibility, and has been a presenter at national convenings on child welfare. Joette has also taught at all three of the state’s law schools and is an Associate Fellow of Trumbull College at Yale University.

Credentials

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., with honors
Brandeis University, B.A., with honors

Bar Admissions

Connecticut

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of CT
U.S. Supreme Court

Distinctions

PARTIAL LISTING:

Social Impact Award, New England Legal Awards (2023)
Distinguished Leader Award, Connecticut Law Tribune (2020)
Hartford County Bar Association John M. Bailey Award for Public Service
Community Mediation: The 2012 Honorable Robert C. Zampano Award for Excellence in Mediation
Family Children’s Agency: Family Strengthening Award
Casey Family Programs: Casey Excellence for Children Award
The Lawyers Children for America: Outstanding Leadership Award
Connecticut Voices for Children: State Policy Leadership Award
Governing magazine: A Public Official of the Year
Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame: Notable Women of Influence
Yale University: Associate Fellow of Trumbull College (2009-present)
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Women’s Caucus: Trailblazer Award
Quinnipiac University: Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws
Connecticut Bar Association: Henry J. Naruk Award
University of Connecticut School of Law: Distinguished Graduate Award
National Organization for Women: Harriet Tubman Award

Teaching Positions

Yale University School of Law: Ethics in Litigation; Children and the Law
Quinnipiac University School of Law: Former Adjunct Professor, Criminal Law and Ethics
University of Connecticut School of Law: Former Adjunct Professor, Appellate Advocacy; Criminal Appellate Clinic

Professional Affiliations

State of Connecticut Jury Selection Task Force: Drafted Practice Book Revisions Aimed at Attacking Implicit Bias in the Jury Selection Process
State of Connecticut Evidence Code Drafting Committee: Chair
State of Connecticut Advisory Committee on the Appellate Rules: Chair
State of Connecticut Law Revision Commission: Member
State of Connecticut Public Defender Commission: Member
American Law Institute: Member, Sentencing Advisory Committee
Connecticut Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): Advisory Council
Connecticut Criminal Practice Commission: Member
Connecticut Client Security Fund Committee: Chair
Commission to Revise Connecticut Appellate Rules: Member
Public Service and Trust Commission: Committee Chair
Fairfield County Inns of Court: President

Community Involvement

The Connecticut Law Tribune: Chair, Editorial Board
Connecticut Bar Foundation, Board Member
St. Joseph’s College, Board of Trustees
Trumbull College, Fellow
Justice Education Center, Inc.
Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
Hartford Boys and Girls Club
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation: Board Member

Experience

Business tort/commercial litigation

Awarded Summary Judgment in High Stakes Case for Global Technology Research and Advisory Firm

Awarded summary judgment, affirmed by a unanimous decision of the Connecticut Supreme Court, on behalf of a global technology research firm who was sued for defamation and unfair trade practices. The plaintiff alleged, in substance, that statements made by our client in a research report were defamatory and motivated by a “pay-to-play” business model which rewarded vendors who purchased substantial services from our client and punished those who did not. After the trial court granted our motion for summary judgment dismissing the lawsuit, the plaintiff appealed. The Connecticut Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the trial court’s dismissal, holding that the statements in the report were non-actionable expressions of opinion, and that no credible evidence existed to support the pay-to-play argument made by the plaintiff.

General

Shipman & Goodwin Helps Protect Homeowners From Expansion of Race Track

Secured a victory for our client, the Lime Rock Citizens Council, a neighborhood group of more than 500 residents of the area around Lime Rock Racetrack in Salisbury, Connecticut, a victory in the Connecticut Supreme Court in the case of Lime Rock Park vs Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission et al.. At issue was the right of the Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt revised zoning regulations to control the proposed expansion of the Race Track from a regional, auto-club-based operation into a NASCAR-type national facility capable of hosting multi-day races. Such expansion would require racing on Sundays, which has been banned at Lime Rock since the late 1950’s by a court order in a noise nuisance case brought by neighbors of the Track.

The trial court had ruled in 2018 that a state statute as amended in 1998 prohibited local zoning regulation from banning auto racing on Sundays. This ruling generated enormous pressure to prevail in this appeal, to protect the quality of life and property values of our hundreds of clients. The Supreme Court delivered a victory when it reversed the trial court, holding that the 1998 amendment to the state statute had rendered the law ambiguous as to Sunday racing, but the legislative history showed that the General Assembly could not have intended in 1998 to create a statewide right to conduct racing on Sundays, regardless of local regulations banning it.

December 17, 2024