a statement on the suit and its status. State v. Santiago (2015) In State v. Santiago, 318 Conn. 1, the Connecticut Supreme Court held that, after the state legislature had abolished capital punishment for prospective cases in 2012, imposition of the death penalty for already convicted and sentenced prisoners was unconstitutional under the Constitution of Connecticut as "excessive and disproportionate punishment". Justice Palmer authored the 4-3 majority opinion holding the death penalty as violating the state constitution's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment while the dissenters (Chief Justice Rogers and Justices Zarella and Espinosa) charged the majority with substituting its own judgment for that of the legislature, which in 2012 had declined retrospective effect of Public Act 12-5 (P.A. 12-5), An Act Revising the Penalty for Capital Felonies. Chief Justice Sullivan controversy The court became embroiled in a lengthy ethics scandal in 2006 when the Hartford Courant revealed that retiring Chief Justice William J. Sullivan postponed the publication of a controversial decision opposing Freedom of Information Act requests for documents that track the status and history of legal cases in the Connecticut legal system until hearings for his successor Justice Peter T. Zarella were completed. Legislators speculated Sullivan delayed the publication of the court's opinion because he feared it might damage Zarella's chances of becoming Chief Justice. Both justices ruled in favor of the restrictions. Governor M. Jodi Rell rescinded Zarella's nomination to be Chief Justice after the Courant's revelation. After the Hartford Courant'' reported Sullivan's actions, it was revealed that fellow justice David M. Borden was the person who came forward with the information. The incident caused a firestorm in the legislature and judiciary. Sullivan was referred to the Judicial Review Council, which suspended him for violating judicial ethics rules. Angry legislators led by Senator Andrew McDonald grilled Sullivan at an investigative hearing, where he repeatedly apologized for his actions. Gov. Rell nominated Chase T. Rogers to the position of Chief Justice. Rogers had experience as an Appellate and Superior Court judge. After receiving a unanimous vote for confirmation from the General Assembly, she was sworn in as Chief Justice on April 25, 2007. See also Courts of Connecticut List of justices of the Connecticut Supreme Court References Sources https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&doctype=cite&docid=32+Conn.+L.+Rev.+1577&key=e16636ae8250feb4c45e5dd96ba37fab CONNECTICUT'S DISSENTING JUSTICE Outspoken Judge Enlivens Quiet Court (Published 1993) LONE JUSTICE PROTECTION FOR EVALUATORS OF CHILD ABUSE JUSTICE BERDON'S LEGACY OF COMPASSION External links Official homepage of the