Joette Katz

Joette Katz (born February 3, 1953) is an American attorney who is a partner at the law firm, Shipman & Goodwin LLP . She was an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, where she also served as the administrative judge for the state appellate system, and as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. In various roles during her career she has had an impact on issues of state and national importance, such as: criminal law, capital punishment, civil rights and the right to education, eminent domain,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11983576373624813537&q=kelo+v.+city+of+new+london&hl=en&as_sdt=8006&as_vis=1|title=Kelo v. The city of New London}}</ref> same-sex marriage, LGBTQ rights, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and helping children in state care move from institutions to families. Early life and family Katz was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were Harry and Sayre Katz. She lives in Fairfield, Connecticut and is married to Philip Rubin, CEO emeritus of Haskins Laboratories and a former White House science advisor. They have two children, Jason Rubin and Samantha Katz. Education and legal training Katz went to high school at the Berkeley Institute in Brooklyn (now known as the Berkeley Carroll School). She received a bachelor of arts degree, graduating cum laude, in 1974 from Brandeis University and her J.D. degree, graduating cum laude, from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1977. Early professional career Katz started her professional career in 1977 as an attorney at the law firm of Winnick, Vine and Welch (now Winnick, Vine, Welch & Teodosio ) in Shelton, Connecticut. From 1978 to 1981 she was as an assistant public defender in the appellate unit of the office of the Chief Public Defender in New Haven, Connecticut. From 1981 to 1983 she was an assistant public defender in the trial unit in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She served as Chief of Legal Services for the Office of the Chief Public Defender from 1983 to 1989 and was the first woman to serve in this role in Connecticut.