Text Box: John A. Speziale In May 1997, the Connecticut Bar Foundation launched the John A. Speziale Alternative Dispute Resolution Symposium to honor John A. Speziale, the first chair of the Foundation’s James W. Cooper Fellows Program. After his death in January 2005, a memorial fund was established by the Foundation to support the program. Justice Speziale was a pioneer in bringing alternative dispute resolution to Connecticut. As Chief Court Administrator in the mid 1970s, he implemented a massive reorganization of the Connecticut court system merging the Court of Common Pleas with the Superior Court and laying the groundwork for Connecticut’s Appellate Court. He also established an alternative means of resolving disputes outside the court setting. Under his tutelage, Connecticut became a national model on how to expedite cases. Justice Speziale began his career as a successful and accomplished practicing attorney in 1948. During a fifty year career in public service, he worked in the three branches of government. He held a number of judicial positions, was clerk for the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, and was elected State Treasurer. In 1978 he was appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court where he served as Chief Justice from 1981 to 1984. After retiring as Chief Justice, he joined the firm of Cummings & Lockwood where he specialized in alternative dispute resolution. He died at his home in Torrington on January 3, 2005 at the age of 82. Tax deductible contributions to the John A. Speziale Memorial Fund can be mailed to the Connecticut Bar Foundation, 31 Pratt Street, Suite 420, Hartford, CT 06103 Text Box: Sixth John A. Speziale Alternative Dispute Resolution Symposium “Where Have We Come? What Lies Ahead?” was the title of the ADR symposium held at Quinnipiac University School of Law, co-sponsor of the symposium, on Friday, May 16, 2008. Attorney Kenneth R. Feinberg, managing partner and founder of the Feinberg Group was the keynote speaker. Attorney Feinberg is one of the nation’s leading experts in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. Attorney Feinberg served as the Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. The Symposium examined the growth of ADR since the beginning of the current ADR movement more than 30 years ago. Speakers examined the original promise of ADR as well as expanded uses of ADR in many settings. For a link to the program and sponsors click here

Alternative Dispute

Resolution

31 Pratt Street, Suite 420, Hartford, CT 06103

Phone:  860-722-2494

Fax:  860-722-2497

Email:  ctbf@cbf-1.org

Last Updated March 2010

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