Chief Court Administrator Barbara M. Quinn announced today that Superior Court Judge Lynda B. Munro has been appointed as chief administrative judge of family matters, effective Sept. 1, 2008.

Judge Munro succeeds Judge Julia DiCocco Dewey. Judge Dewey decided to leave the position so that she can spend more time with her children, who recently returned home from overseas duty with the military.

Family Division cases involve dissolution of marriages and civil unions, child custody, support and visitation, appeals from probate, and relief from abuse. During fiscal year 2007-08, 33,253 family cases were disposed of statewide, and 32,810 cases came in. As chief administrative judge, Judge Munro will represent the chief court administrator on matters of policy affecting the Family Division; solicit advice and suggestions from judges and others on matters affecting the division; and advise and assist judges in the implementation of new laws, policies and caseflow programs.

“Family cases are among the most difficult and wrenching that we as judges handle,” Judge Quinn said. “Judge Munro’s breadth of experience in adjudicating family cases will well serve the individuals who come into Family Court every day.”

“I also want to thank Judge Dewey for the tremendous amount of time and energy she devoted to the position,” Judge Quinn added.

“I appreciate the confidence that Judge Quinn has in me in appointing me to this position, and I hope to continue the work of my predecessors in seeing to it that our family courts are child-focused,” Judge Munro said. “Our family courts are where many of the people of Connecticut have their first experience with our court system. During this difficult time in their lives, it is my hope that we can continue the work of making the family court fair for all, easy to navigate and above all, concerned with the well-being of children.”

“I hope that I can help ensure that our decisions continue to encourage the public to have trust and confidence in our work,” she added.

Judge Munro received her B.A. in 1976 from Connecticut College and her juris doctor in 1979 from the Case Western Reserve University Law School, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was in private practice from 1979 until September 1994, when she was sworn in as a Superior Court judge. Since then, she has heard cases in the Meriden, New London, New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Middlesex and Stamford-Norwalk judicial districts. She also has served as presiding judge for family matters in the New Haven and Stamford-Norwalk judicial districts.

Starting Sept. 1, 2008, and in addition to her duties as chief administrative judge, Judge Munro will serve as the presiding judge of the Regional Family Trial Docket in the Middlesex Judicial District. She held that same position from August 1999 to September 2000, and from September 2003 to August 2004.

For further information, please contact the External Affairs Division at 860-757-2270.