Anne C. Dranginis

Anne C. Dranginis, Connecticut Appellate Court Judge (Ret.), focuses on litigation matters involving matrimonial law, corporate compliance and governance, trial strategy, arbitration and mediation, with a particular focus in appellate mediation.  She is a member of the firm's Family Law Practice.  Judge Dranginis retired in January 2006 as an Associate Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court after serving for more than 21 years on the Superior and Appellate Court bench to become a principal at a Hartford law firm.

Judge Dranginis served in all capacities as a trial judge, including serving as Presiding Criminal Judge in Waterbury and Litchfield.  From 1990-1994, she was the Administrative Judge in Litchfield where she heard and decided the declaratory judgment action testing the constitutionality of the assault weapon ban, and the challenge to the state's "hunter harassment" statute. She was specially assigned to preside over Connecticut's so-called "Right to Die" case, McConnell v. Beverly Enterprises-Connecticut. In 1994, she was appointed the Chief Administrative Judge for Family Matters for the Connecticut Superior Court, and led the changes in family practice that provided for automatic orders upon the filing of dissolution or custody complaints and allowed the family dockets statewide to adhere to the American Bar Association guidelines. During her tenure on the Appellate Court, she sat by designation on the Connecticut Superior Court, including the death penalty phase of State v. Michael Ross.

Throughout her career, Judge Dranginis has lectured and provided training sessions to professional associations and community organizations on a host of topics including domestic violence, complex issues in law and medicine, legal services for Connecticut's poor, forensic science, and family law and the rights of children and youth.  She is recognized as a leader in the legal community, and has earned numerous professional awards for her accomplishments, most recently receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Bar Foundation's James W. Cooper Fellows.  She serves in leadership positions of many prestigious organizations and in 2016 was elected to serve as the president of the Hartford County Bar Association.

Office

Professional Affiliations

Connecticut Bar Association - secretary, 2009-2010

Connecticut Bar Examining Committee, chair, 2012-present

Fairfield County Bar Association

Federal Judiciary Advisory Panel

Governor's Commission on Custody, Divorce and Children -  co-chair, 2012-present; co-chaired with Thomas Foley, 2001-2002

Hartford County Bar Association - past president, 2016-2017; officer, 2012-2015

Litchfield Bancorp - Advisory Board

Litchfield County Bar Association

Community Involvement

Town of Litchfield - Board of Selectmen

Children's Charities of America - Board of Directors, 2004; chair, Audit Committee of the Combined Federal Campaign

Community Partners in Action - Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2016-2019

Connecticut Women's Educational and Legal Fund - former board member

Northwest Center for Performing Arts (Warner Theatre), Torrington, CT - Board of Directors

Prime Time House, Torrington, CT - Advisory Board

Susan B. Anthony Project, Torrington, CT - Advisory Board

Waterbury Symphony - Board of Directors

Honors & Recognitions

Named a Moffly Media Top Lawyer in Fairfield County, 2021 - Family Law

Recipient of The Best Lawyers of America's "Lawyer of the Year" award,  Appellate Practice, 2021 and 2023

Recipient of the Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows Distinguished Service Award, 2019

Recipient of the Connecticut Bar Association's John Eldred Shields Distinguished Professional Service Award, 2019

Recipient of the Connecticut Law Tribune's Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016

Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list since 2010 in the area of Family Law.  Also selected in the areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Appellate for multiple years since 2010

Named a Best Lawyers of New England in Family Law, 2016

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Appellate Practice and Family Law since 2013

Recipient of the Connecticut Law Tribune's Women in the Law - High Achiever Award, 2010

Woman of the Year Award, Litchfield County Business and Professional Women, 2006

Women in the Law Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, 2005

100th Anniversary Award, Women's College Club of Litchfield County, 2004

Distinguished Service Award, American Academy of Matrimonial Layers Connecticut Chapter, 2002

"One Woman Makes a Difference," Connecticut Women's Education of Legal Fund, 2000

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Press Releases