Supreme Court Orders Investigation of Judge Bruno. Inspector General Given Wide Powers.

The State Supreme Court issued a decision Tuesday afternoon in the matter of Judge Alice Bruno. The court reached a unanimous conclusion that it will proceed with an investigation to determine if Bruno should be suspended or removed as a judge of the Superior Court.

The state’s new Inspector General, retired judge Robert Devlin, will have broad authority to investigate Bruno’s conduct.

Bruno left her chambers in Waterbury in November 2019 and has not returned. The high court met a week ago to give Bruno an opportunity to demonstrate why it should not proceed with an investigation of her long absence and the conduct that accompanied it.

Bruno’s absence, first reported last fall, has become the subject of considerable public interest. Bruno claims she sought an accommodation of a supportive courthouse environment and the assistance of a mentor to allow her to return to work. She has been paid more than $$400,000 in salary since leaving her assignment.

Published April 12, 2022.