Honorable Lubbie Harper, Jr.

Judge Lubbie Harper, Jr.

Honorable Lubbie Harper, Jr.
The Honorable Lubbie Harper, Jr. was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended local public schools and graduated from Wilbur Cross High School in 1961. He went on to graduate from the University of New Haven with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. He was awarded a Masters degree from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in 1967 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1975.

Quick Links

Appellate Court

Appellate Court Judges

History of the Appellate Court PDF

Judge Harper was nominated for a judicial appointment by Governor John G. Rowland on May 22, 1997, and the oath of office as a Superior Court Judge was administered to him on July 7, l997. On January 5, 2005, Governor M. Jodi Rell nominated Judge Harper for elevation to the Appellate Court and the oath of office as an Appellate Court Judge was administered to him on January 26, 2005.

Judge Harper is a member of the bars of the State of Connecticut, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He is currently the Chairman of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Criminal Justice System as well as the Connecticut Judicial Branch's Primary Contact Person for the National Campaign to Ensure the Racial and Ethnic Fairness of America's State Courts. He also was the Chairman of the Edwin Archer Randolph Diversity Award Committee, presented by the Lawyer's Collaborative for Diversity, Inc., for 2007-2008. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Legal Studies Program at the University of New Haven, and the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Judges Association. Judge Harper is a former member of the Rules Committee of the Superior Court, a former participant in the Judicial Branch's Mentor Program and a participant in the Judicial Branch's Speakers Bureau Program.

Judge Harper was president of the Board of Directors of the New Haven Legal Assistance Association for 12 years and a clinical tutor in the trial practice course at Yale University School of Law. He has been a long-time community activist and volunteer who served as a board member of many civic and professional organizations, including the Shirley Frank Foundation, the Children's Museum of Greater New Haven, the Ulysses S. Grant Foundation, the Dixwell Legal Rights Association and the Urban League. Judge Harper is a former member of the Board of Governors of the University of New Haven, the Board of Directors of the University of Connecticut School of Law Alumni Association and the New Haven Civil Service Commission.

Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Harper was engaged in the private practice of law for over 20 years, specializing in litigation, municipal finance, labor law, education and administrative law, arbitration and contract negotiations. He represented the New Haven Board of Education as its principal lawyer in all matters related to labor relations and education law for approximately 20 years.

On November 6, 2009, the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches named Judge Harper one of the "100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut." On May 13, 2008, the New Haven Public School Foundation, Inc., presented Judge Harper with its Annual Alumni Legacy Award. On February 22, 2008, Judge Harper received the Rev. Dr. Edwin R. Edmonds Humanitarian Award presented by the West Haven Black Coalition. In 2007, Judge Harper was the recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award presented by the Delta Phi Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. On May 25, 2006, the Greater New Haven Branch of the NAACP awarded Judge Harper its Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Leadership Award. On February 17, 2006, James Hillhouse High School in New Haven named and awarded an annual leadership award in Judge Harper's honor. Judge Harper was the recipient of the Connecticut Chapter of the Men and Women for Justice, Inc. Achievement Award-October 29, 2005, the Connecticut Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section First Annual Diversity Award-October 19, 2005, and the Bridgeport Bar Association Criminal Law Committee Judicial Integrity Award-June 9, 2005. Judge Harper was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Wilbur Cross High School Hall of Fame-March 30, 2005. Judge Harper was the recipient of the University of New Haven’s Alumni Association 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award-April 12, 2003, and the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellent Achievement in the Study of Criminal Law and Process presented by the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company.

Common Legal Words | Contact Us | Site Map | Website Polices and Disclaimers