The 2013 Recipient of the Court Improvement Innovations and Leadership Award is the Honorable Francis Foley III. The award was presented to Judge Foley by the Honorable Peter Brown at the Child and Youth Law Forum on May 7, 2013. The award is given in recognition of a person who exemplifies the extraordinary work done to further the goals of the Court Improvement Program by improving the well-being of children involved in child protection cases. The award highlights work done to handle these cases in a fair, timely and efficient manner, ensuring that families are engaged throughout the process.

Judge Foley has served as a Judge in the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters for many years. He is credited with starting the first “Child Protection Session “ in the Middlesex Judicial District. The session handles some of the most complex cases brought before the juvenile court, especially contested removal hearings and termination of parental rights cases. Among his additional accomplishments are the creation of an advisement to parents, which has been adopted in the Juvenile Judge Bench Book, which clearly explains to parents the requirements of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act.

He, along with than Chief Court Administrator, the Honorable Christine M. Keller, successful worked with the Appellate Court Rule Committee to craft Practice Book Rule changes that expedite child protection appeals. Judge Foley was instrumental and encouraging the proposal of a bill to allow the Juvenile Court to handle adoptions of cases where termination of parental rights was granted in the Juvenile Court.

Judge Foley currently presides over the “Child Protection Session” in the Windham Judicial District at Willimantic.

Read Judge Foley’s Remarks after receipt of the Award. - PDF