Rupal Shah-Palanki becomes the first Indian American judge to be confirmed in Connecticut

NEW YORK: Connecticut Judge Rupal Shah-Palanki was confirmed to the Tolland District Superior Court recently, making her the first-ever Indian-origin Judge in the state of Connecticut to hold a Superior Court seat. Shah-Palanki was initially appointed by Governor Daniel Malloy on March 14, alongside 15 other Superior Court nominees, and her confirmation came just about a month and a half later.

In a statement released at the time of her appointment, Shah-Palanki expressed her gratitude to Governor Malloy for selecting her for such a prestigious position. “I am deeply honored and humbled that Governor Malloy has nominated me to serve as a Superior Court Judge,” Shah-Palanki said. “I want to thank Governor Malloy for his belief in my abilities and character and his commitment to diversity in the judiciary.” “I also thank my family and friends for their constant support and the numerous mentors and colleagues I have been privileged to learn from and work with throughout my career.”

she also said. “If I am confirmed, I promise to carry out this great responsibility with compassion, diligence, respect and fairness.” Shah-Palanki attended Massachusetts College of the Holy Cross for her undergraduate studies, graduating in 1995 with a B.A. in Political Science. She then attended the Georgetown University Law Center from 1996-1999 for her J.D., and was also involved with two prestigious organizations: the Policy International Law Society and the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law.

In taking up her new job, Shah-Palanki will be leaving her most recent position as an Assistant Attorney General with the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, where she had been employed since 2003. Before that, she was an associate with two law firms: Bingham McCutcheon, located in Washington, DC; and Cohn, Birnbaum and Shea, in Hartford, Connecticut. Additionally, Shah-Palanki is an official with the Connecticut Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission.

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