Civil & Family Appellate Practice | Rome McGuigan, P.C.

CIVIL AND FAMILY APPEALS

The Appellate Unit of our Litigation Department is dedicated to providing high-level legal analysis and innovative arguments in both prosecuting and defending appeals. We understand that successful appellate advocacy requires keen, analytical minds, persuasive writing, and effective oratory. Our attorneys focus all of these skills and their extensive appellate experience in developing individual appellate strategies that meet the particular demands of each unique case.

Appellate advocacy is a specialized skill. It requires an effective union of strategy, efficient research, persuasive writing, and decisive oratory. Long known for its trial advocacy, Rome McGuigan, P.C. has carefully grown its Appellate Unit to effectively complement its trial advocacy capabilities.

Arguing an appeal requires more than a command of legal precedents. The advocate must have an in-depth understanding of procedural, philosophical and policy concerns of our state appellate courts, all of which are crucial to judicial decision-making. The attorneys in our Appellate Unit bring varied perspective to their understanding of those concerns. The practice group is chaired by Anne C. Dranginis, a former Judge of the Connecticut Appellate and Superior Courts, and includes experienced appellate advocates, former appellate prosecutors, and former clerks of both the Supreme and Appellate Courts. This group understands what is required to present effectively a client's position and formulate a compelling argument to appellate jurists.

The Chair of our Appellate Practice Group, Anne C. Dranginis, joined the firm in February of 2006 with twenty-one years of experience as a judge of the Appellate and Superior Courts of the State of Connecticut. During her six years as a judge of the Appellate Court, Dranginis authored 198 opinions on virtually every type of case that could be litigated on appeal, including both civil and criminal matters and sat by designation on the Connecticut Supreme Court on three occasions. As a trial court judge, she presided over cases presenting some highly complicated legal questions, including the state's assault weapon ban in 1995 and the "right to die" laws in 1989. In addition, she was a key figure in the implementation of the family case management Practice Book rules that took effect in 1997. Her vast experience affords the Rome McGuigan Appellate Unit members with an incisive and unique perspective in approaching appeals in Connecticut.

Appellate team members also apply their skills at the trial level and help further enhance the quality of the firm's trial advocacy. Our trial litigation team often consults with our Appellate Unit in shaping the scope of litigation from the outset, developing effective trial strategy, producing outcome-determinative motions, and preserving issues for post-trial remedies.

Our Appellate Unit takes appeals from unfavorable results, and defends favorable judgments against potential reversal. Our attorneys can also assist you in preparing your case for trial, including moot trials, and help preserve important issues for a potential appeal. We find that it can be advantageous for trial lawyers to consult with our appellate experts when drafting or responding to summary judgment motions, motions to dismiss, motions in limine, and jury instructions, all of which frequently contain issues that are later subject to appellate review. It is never too early to call on our Appellate Unit, whether before the filing of a complaint or upon the release of an Appellate Court decision.

Whether at the trial or appellate level, Rome McGuigan, P.C. litigation team members are dedicated to providing our clients with representation of the highest caliber in all phases of their cases.

Anne C. Dranginis, Chair, former Appellate Court Judge and Assistant State's Attorney

Proloy K. Das, Chair, Criminal Appellate Practice Group, former Assistant State's Attorney in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney's Appellate Bureau

Joseph B. Burns, former chair of firm's Appellate Practice Group, arguments before the state appellate courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Austin J. McGuigan, former Chief State's Attorney and clerk to Chief Justice John P. Cotter

Glenn E. Coe, former Chief Trial Attorney, Office of the Chief State's Attorney, arguments before the CT Supreme Court and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Bradford S. Booth, former clerk to Senior Justice William J. Sullivan

Robbie Gerrick, Former law clerk for the Hartford Superior Court judgesand former clerk for the Honorable Anne Dranginis at the Appellate Court

Our firm's lawyers have litigated appeals in the following areas:

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Our family law attorneys are available to listen to your concerns and act on your behalf. We have offices in Hartford and New London, and represent clients throughout Connecticut.