Breaking news: “Landside” Dan Schwartz bests WNPR’s John Dankosky in Sad City Hartford’s “Hot In Hartford Competition” proving that lawyers are just slightly more well liked than members of the media.

update: Spelling Mr. Dankosky’s name wrong in the original title of my post – not good (I did get it right in the post itself). My editing staff is roughly the size of the Courant’s staff so there’s no excuse for this (tongue in cheek). I wrote “Dankowsky” in the original title out of habit. My cousins have the last name “Mankowsky”. I guess my subconscious thinks of WWL as family? Maybe Colin can do a show on that?

Dan did not win in a landside (17 votes). I’m an avid listener of “Where We Live” and think it’s the finest local radio show around.  There is nothing nerdier than being a law blogger – nothing.  The idea that a law blogger could win “Hot In Hartford” gives law bloggers everywhere hope.  If law blogger is the new cool, perhaps one day I too can sit with the cool kids.

by Christine Stuart

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is following through on his promise to end the year in the black by cutting nearly $79 million from the current budget.

Malloy’s decision to use his rescissionary authority to keep his first budget in the black will have a “relatively small impact” on state services according to the governor himself, but it’s possible others may disagree.

“Last year we were on the brink of the abyss with the largest per capita deficit in the nation. Today we’re talking about an adjustment of less than one percent,” Malloy said trying to put the proposal into perspective.

The Judicial branch received a $5.76 million cut to its budget.

Click here to read more on Malloy’s budget cuts.

Blawgfather and lawyer extraordinaire, Dan Schwartz, has drawn a tough first round matchup in Sad City Hartford’s “Hot In Hartford” competition in WNPR’s  John Dankosky.

One of the country’s best law blogger v. the host of one of the very best local radio shows in the country?  Hartford is pretty darn awesome.

As much as I enjoy Mr. Dankosky’s work, few contribute more to our legal community in Connecticut than Dan Schwartz.  Vote Dan Schwartz!

by Hugh McQuaid

With a new Democratic governor, 2011 seemed like the year the legislature would repeal Connecticut’s death penalty, until the sole survivor of a triple homicide appealed to lawmakers to wait. On Thursday a state senator said the wait may be over.

Sen. Edward Meyer, D-Guilford, said he will be sponsoring a prospective bill to repeal death penalty this legislative session. Three years ago the legislature passed a similar measure, but former Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed it.

Meyer said he’s confident enough votes exist in the House to pass the bill this year. However, it’s still unclear whether there are enough votes in the Senate. He said the issue will likely to come down to two Democrats—Senators Andrew Maynard and Edith Prague. Click here to read more.

Just read that Judge Robert Satter has died. This is very sad news.