Chief Court Administrator Pellegrino Appoints Judge Ford Chief Administrative Judge of Judicial Marshal Services

HARTFORD - Chief Court Administrator Joseph H. Pellegrino announced today that he has appointed the Hon. G. Sarsfield Ford to the office of Chief Administrative Judge for the Judicial Marshal Services, effective immediately.

Judge Ford will oversee the Judicial Branch's operations in regard to security both in the courthouses and the lockups as well as prisoner transport.

Judge Ford, who currently hears criminal and civil matters in the Fairfield Judicial District, has 27 years' experience on the bench, as a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1973-75, a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas from 1975-78 and a Judge of the Superior Court since 1978. He was Administrative Judge in the Fairfield Judicial District from 1986-90.

"The Judicial Branch will greatly benefit from Judge Ford's many years of experience in the Connecticut court system," said Judge Pellegrino. "His perspective and years as an administrative judge give him a heightened awareness of the importance of maintaining secure and professionally run courthouses."

"I can assure the marshals and the public that we intend to create an environment that will attract, train and retain marshals who are in a position to exhibit competency, dignity and responsibility," said Judge Ford.

Judge Ford, 67, is a 1955 graduate of Notre Dame University, where he received a B.A. in political science. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1958 and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in February 1959. He was in private practice from 1959 until his appointment as a Circuit Court Judge in 1973. During that time he was a Petitioner's Representative to the Court of Common Pleas/Fairfield County (1959-61) and an Assistant Public Defender, Superior Court, Fairfield County (1962-67).