On March 1, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont named the prestigious group of Quinnipiac alumni among 22 nominees. On March 11, each received approval by the General Assembly Judiciary Committee to be recommended for appointment to the bench. The appointments will be officially enacted through Connecticut’s House and Senate.

All of the Quinnipiac alumni obtained their Juris Doctor degree from the Quinnipiac School of Law.

School of Law Dean Jennifer Brown said they represent a wide range in ages, substantive expertise, and practice settings, all leading to service on the court.

“What unites them is a demonstrated commitment to public service,” Brown said. “The same intelligence, empathy, and concern for the public good that they’ve poured into nonprofits, professional associations, and the boards of legal services providers, they will also bring to their work as judges.”

In his comments regarding the nominees, Lamont said the capable jurists have the qualifications meeting the high standards Connecticut residents deserve, while also supporting his administration’s effort to ensure that those appointed to the bench, “…reflect the diversity, experience, and understanding of the people who live here.”

The five Quinnipiac law alumni nominated as Connecticut Superior Court judges are:

• John Regan, 62, currently a solo practitioner at the Law Office of John Regan, representing a diverse clientele in litigation in civil, criminal, housing, and juvenile matters, including numerous assignments as a special public defender, special needs children and veterans. Regan is also chairman of the St. John Urban Development Corporation, which provides affordable housing in Stamford.

• Adam R. Schibley, 38, currently employed as a permanent law clerk at the Connecticut Supreme Court. Over the last fifteen years, he has also served as the assistant reporter of judicial decisions assigned to the chambers of Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson and as a law clerk to the Complex Litigation Docket of the Superior Court, the Honorable Barry R. Schaller at the Appellate Court, and the Honorable Maria Araújo Kahn on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

• Eric P. Smith, 53, currently a partner and trial lawyer at Faxon Law Group, where he represents catastrophic injury victims and their families in tort claims with a focus on medical malpractice. Prior to this, he was a partner at Lynch, Traub, Keefe and Errante, where he litigated a wide array of civil disputes in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. He currently serves as a director on the board of the New Haven Legal Assistance Association. Smith has been practicing law for more than 28 years.

• Melissa L. Streeto, 51, is currently a senior assistant state’s attorney in the State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. She is employed in the Appellate Bureau, where she has been handling criminal appeals for nearly 23 years. Streeto also currently serves as president of the Connecticut Association of Prosecutors.

• Colleen Zingaro, 57, is currently serving as the supervisor of the Violent Crime Unit of the Bridgeport Judicial District. Zingaro previously worked as a prosecutor in the Danbury Judicial District and Stamford Judicial District.

“We are so very proud of these exemplary lawyers and grateful for their service to the people of Connecticut,” said Brown.