William H. Bright Jr.
William H. Bright Jr. is an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He previously served as the chief judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court.
Education
Bright earned his Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College in 1984 and his J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1987.
Career
He was the managing partner of McCarter & English's Hartford law office and co-chair of the firm's Business Litigation practice group. He also was a shareholder in Cummings & Lockwood, a member of the firm's Board of Directors, and chair of the firm's Litigation practice group.
Bright was appointed to the Tolland District Superior Court by Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell in 2008.
On October 4, 2017, Governor Dan Malloy appointed him to the Connecticut Appellate Court. He was confirmed on November 1, 2017. On April 24, 2020, Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson announced the appointment of Bright to be the next Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court, effective August 1, 2020.
On January 27, 2025, Governor Lamont nominated Bright to serve as an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He was nominated to fill the vacancy left by the elevation of Raheem L. Mullins to serve as chief justice. On February 26, 2025, his nomination was reported out of committee. On March 5, his nomination was confirmed by the Connecticut General Assembly and he was sworn in later that day.