---
title: "Melanie L. Cradle | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-l-cradle-ct-supreme-court"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-08"
---

# Melanie L. Cradle

Supreme Court of Connecticut · Justice

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut
- State: Connecticut
- Role: Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Appellate Court (2020–present): Appointed in 2020, she has held the role of Chief Judge since 2025
- Melanie L. Cradle, born in 1970 or 1971, has been Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court since March 2025, appointed by
- Connecticut Appellate Court judge beginning in 2020; chief judge beginning in 2025
- Connecticut Superior Court from 2013 until her elevation to the Appellate Court in 2020 and became chief judge of the Appellate Court in 2025
- The Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court and is nominated to become the first African‐American woman to serve on

### Education

- Adelphi University — B.A.
- Seton Hall University School of Law — J.D.

### Additional information

- Interim service on the Connecticut Supreme Court began August 5, 2026.
- First appointed to the Appellate Court in July 2020 by Governor Ned Lamont, becoming the first African‐American woman on that court.
- Superior Court (2013–2020): Appointed by Governor Dannel Malloy in 2013, she heard criminal cases in Bridgeport before moving to the New Haven Judicial District in 2014.
- In 2015, she became Presiding Judge of GA 23.
- Prosecutorial Background: Before becoming a judge, she was Senior Assistant State’s Attorney for the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District and Assistant State’s.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing platform

Scope: statewide

Connecticut's Judicial Branch publishes statewide remote-proceedings information and Microsoft Teams guidance for attorneys and self-represented parties.

Evidence excerpt: Remote Proceedings Information

[Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing technology

Scope: statewide

Connecticut remote-proceeding materials identify Microsoft Teams as the platform and include video, audio, and screen-sharing functionality, subject to judge and case-specific directions.

Evidence excerpt: Microsoft Teams is a collaborative meeting application with video, audio, and screen-sharing features.

[Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### recording photography

Scope: statewide

Connecticut identifies Practice Book sections governing videotaping, photographing, and audiotaping Superior Court proceedings and separately identifies appellate coverage rules.

Evidence excerpt: Rules regarding videotaping, photographing or audiotaping Superior Court proceedings are in Connecticut Practice Book §§ 1-10A through 1-11C.

[Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### courtroom electronics

Scope: statewide

Connecticut's media FAQ states that personal computers may be used for note taking in a courtroom, subject to applicable rules and judicial control.

Evidence excerpt: Personal computers may be used for note taking in a courtroom.

[Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Connecticut states that, other than the official Judicial Branch recording, recording livestreamed proceedings is strictly prohibited.

Evidence excerpt: Other than the official recording prepared by the Judicial Branch, the recording of livestreamed proceedings is strictly prohibited.

[Public Access to Court Proceedings Disclaimer](https://jud.ct.gov/PublicAccess/Disclamer.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing platform

Scope: statewide

Connecticut's Judicial Branch publishes statewide remote-proceedings information and Microsoft Teams guidance for attorneys and self-represented parties.

Evidence excerpt: Remote Proceedings Information

[Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing technology

Scope: statewide

Connecticut remote-proceeding materials identify Microsoft Teams as the platform and include video, audio, and screen-sharing functionality, subject to judge and case-specific directions.

Evidence excerpt: Microsoft Teams is a collaborative meeting application with video, audio, and screen-sharing features.

[Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### recording photography

Scope: statewide

Connecticut identifies Practice Book sections governing videotaping, photographing, and audiotaping Superior Court proceedings and separately identifies appellate coverage rules.

Evidence excerpt: Rules regarding videotaping, photographing or audiotaping Superior Court proceedings are in Connecticut Practice Book §§ 1-10A through 1-11C.

[Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### courtroom electronics

Scope: statewide

Connecticut's media FAQ states that personal computers may be used for note taking in a courtroom, subject to applicable rules and judicial control.

Evidence excerpt: Personal computers may be used for note taking in a courtroom.

[Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Connecticut states that, other than the official Judicial Branch recording, recording livestreamed proceedings is strictly prohibited.

Evidence excerpt: Other than the official recording prepared by the Judicial Branch, the recording of livestreamed proceedings is strictly prohibited.

[Public Access to Court Proceedings Disclaimer](https://jud.ct.gov/PublicAccess/Disclamer.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### appellate recording and media

Scope: statewide

Connecticut appellate oral-argument media protocol requires approved media requests to be submitted at least three business days before the proceeding.

Evidence excerpt: The approved media representative must email the request to the External Affairs Division no later than three business days before the proceeding.

[Protocol Concerning Requests for Audio Recording, Broadcasting, Televising, Videotaping or Photographing of Supreme and Appellate Court Oral Arguments](https://jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/protocol_ap_oral_argu.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://portal.ct.gov/en/sots/register-manual/section-ii/biographies---ct-supreme-and-appellate-courts)
- [Official roster](https://portal.ct.gov/en/sots/register-manual/section-ii/biographies---ct-supreme-and-appellate-courts)
- [State of Connecticut official judicial roster](https://portal.ct.gov/en/sots/register-manual/section-ii/biographies---ct-supreme-and-appellate-courts)
- [Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
- [Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
- [Public Access to Court Proceedings Disclaimer](https://jud.ct.gov/PublicAccess/Disclamer.html)
- [Governor Lamont Nominates Judge Melanie Cradle to the Supreme Court](https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/06-2026/governor-lamont-nominates-judge-cradle-to-the-supreme-court)
- [Governor Lamont Applauds Judiciary Committee Approval of Melanie Cradle](https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/08-2026/governor-lamont-applauds-judiciary-committee-approval-of-melanie-cradle)
- [Connecticut Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/appjudge.html)
- [Protocol Concerning Requests for Audio Recording, Broadcasting, Televising, Videotaping or Photographing of Supreme and Appellate Court Oral Arguments](https://jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/protocol_ap_oral_argu.htm)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Public Access to Court Proceedings Disclaimer](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-21bd1bf41ea720ef9ce0bb9f) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://jud.ct.gov/PublicAccess/Disclamer.html). Collected 2026-07-26.
- [Protocol Concerning Requests for Audio Recording, Broadcasting, Televising, Videotaping or Photographing of Supreme and Appellate Court Oral Arguments](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-6544a1e9a4dd654b6bdba042) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/protocol_ap_oral_argu.htm). Collected 2026-07-26.