The Connecticut Constitution, Article 15, section 3, says, “Every elector who has attained the age of 18 years shall be eligible to any office in the state.” But a Connecticut statute, sec. 3-124, says, “The Attorney General shall be an attorney of law of at least ten years’ active practice at the bar of this state.”
To the extent that these two conflict, the Constitution takes precedence. This apparent discrepancy has received publicity because Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz is a candidate this year for Attorney General. She became an attorney in Connecticut in 1986, but she served in the legislature between 1992 and 1998, and then in 1998 she became Secretary of State. Some believe that since she wasn’t “actively” practicing law during those years, she doesn’t meet the statutory definition. But, even if she doesn’t, the statute appears to violate the State Constitution. In any event, staff in both the Secretary of State’s office, and the Attorney General’s office, say that “active practice at the bar of this state” is fulfilled for anyone who was a member of the bar, whether that attorney was actually participating as an attorney or not.
One more attempt by the party hacks to stop opponents from getting on the ballots — especially using vague adjectives and adverbs.
One more reason to have ALL qualifications for elected officers to be in a constitution.
I can see how the AG needs to be an attorney,
And in CT that’s admitted to the bar, and if she is, and renewed her license, or will..
It’s Academic..
She has for at least three years applied for and received an exemption that reduces her bar fees because she does not practice law in the performance of her job according to a signed statement by her. In my opinion she is guilty of fraud.