Malloy Taps Riverside Woman as Judge

Donna Nelson Heller, a lawyer from Riverside who's been named a Connecticut "super lawyer" for her work in commercial litigation, was nominated to a state Superior Court judgeship by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Malloy made the announcement of his nomination of six lawyers from around the state to serve as judges in the Superior Court system, filling a portion of the 23 judicial vacancies on the court on on Thursday afternoon. Malloy selected the candidates based on their diverse experiences in various legal disciplines, according to a statement released by his office.

“In selecting judicial nominees and reviewing the pool of candidates, it is necessary to choose individuals with the experience, temperament and skills to be thoughtful, reasoned and fair jurists,” Malloy said in the statement. “With that in mind, it is also important that these individuals possess the qualities that mirror the residents of our state while also meeting the high principles and integrity our citizens deserve. This group of nominees will serve the Superior Court and the citizens of Connecticut well in their capacities on the bench.”

Also nominated were Leeland J. Cole-Chu of Salem; Anna M. Ficeto of Wolcott; Raheem L. Mullins of Cromwell; Maureen McCabe Murphy of Middletown, and Kenneth B. Povodator of Fairfield. They all will be filling vacancies created by retirements or elevations to higher courts.

Heller is the senior member of the commercial litigation group of the Stamford firm of Finn Dixon & Herling. Heller has extensive commercial litigation experience, particularly in cases involving complex contract disputes, corporate governance issues, business torts, unfair trade practices and financial fraud. She has been named a Connecticut “Super Lawyer” in the area of business litigation each year since 2007, according to her profile on the Finn Dixon & Herling website.

Heller did not return a message seeking comment on her nomination.

Heller is responsible for the firm's employment litigation practice. She has defended employers against claims ranging from employment discrimination to violation of wage and hour laws. She has represented clients in actions seeking injunctive relief to enforce restrictive covenants or to protect trade secrets. She's also handled employment cases in the state and federal courts and before the EEOC and other administrative agencies. She has also represented clients in Department of Labor investigations and conducted state-mandated sexual harassment training sessions.

According to her profile, Heller has served as an attorney trial referee in the Connecticut Superior Court since 1998, and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association's Professional Ethics Committee. She is secretary of the Fairfield County Bar Association, served as the association's treasurer and has been a director since 2008. She is also past president of the Fairfield County Bar Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the Fairfield County Bar Association. 

In the community, Heller was elected president of the Stamford Center for the Arts in 2010, is a long-time member of the Naval Academy Parents Club of Connecticut, serving as Co-President from 2006 to 2007. With a personal interest in the legal needs of veterans, active-duty military and their families, Heller became certified by the Veterans Administration in 2010 to advocate on behalf of veterans in benefits proceedings.