Connecticut's Governor Dannel P. Malloy (D), has nominated Associate Supreme Court Justice, Richard Robinson, for chief justice. If confirmed, Robinson, 60, would become the first African American man to hold the highest job in the state's judicial branch, according to the Associated Press. 

“During his esteemed career in public and judicial service, Justice Robinson has demonstrated a keen legal acumen and incisive insight,” Malloy said. “I am confident that as chief justice, his tenure will be marked with distinction and his leadership will prove to be invaluable, should he be confirmed.”

Robinson has a long career serving in the political system. First appointed a judge in 2000, he has also served as president of the Stamford Branch of the NAACP. In 2017, the NAACP named him one of the top 100 most influential black men in Connecticut. 

“If I am confirmed, I will do all that is humanly possible to live up to the high standards of this office,” Robinson said. 

Connecticut's Senate rejected Malloy’s first chief justice nominee, Andrew McDonald. McDonald is openly gay, and Democrats claimed Republicans voted against him because of an anti-gay bias. The GOP has denied these claims. 

On Thursday, Malloy made five other nominations. He said he is looking forward to a diverse court. 

“I think it’s great that we have a diverse court. The trial court, Appellate Court, Supreme Court is a lot more diverse today than it was seven years ago, and quite frankly I am very proud of that,” Malloy said, according to the Connecticut Mirror. “I’ve always said the court should look like the people who appear before it, and I think we’ve made great strides in that direction.”