Gov. Ned Lamont’s former top fiscal adviser, Jeffrey Beckham, asked the governor to withdraw his nomination as a judge of the Superior Court on Tuesday, a reflection on legislators’ skepticism about Beckham’s lack of court experience and the inability or unwillingness of Lamont’s staff to a ggressively lobby on his behalf. Beckham’s withdrawal is second in as many days, coming a week after legislators on the Judiciary Committee aggressively questioned Beckham and the other nominee, former Rep. John Shaban, R-Redding, about their qualifications to sit as a judge of the state’s trial court system. “I am very proud of the career I had,” said Beckham, a career state employee who stepped down in December as the governor’s top fiscal manager, the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. “I accept the judgment of history as to how I did my jobs.” Lamont praised Beckham and his qualifications in an emailed statement as he acknowledged withdrawing the nomination. “Jeff Beckham is an exceptionally qualified public servant. As Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, he guided complex legal, fiscal, and policy decisions that impact every resident of our state,” Lamont said. “That work required judgment, integrity and the ability to apply the law in real time under scrutiny. Those are the very qualities we should seek in individuals who serve in positions of public trust.” The feedback from the committee’s leadership after a confirmation hearing Thursday, as well as the results of a closed-door caucus assessing how Beckham and Shaban would fare in a committee vote, was communicated to the governor’s office Thursday night. Unclear was whether the governor and his staff were told that lobbying would be ineffectual.  Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, declined to comment on what impressions were communicated to Lamont and his staff, but he acknowledged there was no strong pushback from the governor. “I haven’t received a push for Beckham,” he said. Rep. Steven Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, the other co-chair of the committee, could not be reached for comment. Shaban’s withdrawal came after it was disclosed at the hearing that his law license in New York had been suspended for more than a year, a consequence of his failure to renew a credential. He acknowledged practicing law during the suspension, saying he was unaware it had occurred. Legislators also expressed concern over a domestic incident in 2019 in which he and his girlfriend were charged with disorderly conduct. The charges were not pursued after they participated in a counseling program. Shaban was nominated at the recommendation of House Republicans. There was no public sign that Beckham’s nomination might not clear the Judiciary Committee, which recommends to the full General Assembly whether a nominee should be confirmed. His lack of courtroom experience was well known and not unprecedented. Lamont had publicly announced in late November his intention to include Beckham in the next round of judicial appointments, which came on March 26. At his last official act as OPM secretary, presenting a report on Dec. 4 to the Appropriations and Finance committees, legislators stood and applauded him. “I’m content with the reputation I leave behind with the people I work with,” Beckham said Tuesday. “It was a privilege to do that work.” Beckham, 62, is a career state employee in the legislative and executive branches, his first position as a lawyer in the legislative commissioner’s office, spending 14 years in the non-partisan office drafting legislation. He last practiced law in a courtroom in 1990, when he was a junior associate in private practice. As OPM secretary for a governor who frequently rejected calls for higher spending, Beckham often was in conflict with legislators. Beckham joined the Lamont administration in April 2019 as OPM’s undersecretary for legislative affairs. His previous state positions included serving as staff counsel and director of communications in the Department of Administrative Services from 2011 through 2019. He also had been a managing attorney at the state Department of Public Works. There is no requirement by statute for a nominee to have trial experience. On Tuesday, Lamont defended his decision to nominate Beckham. “Our state benefits when we recognize that strong leadership and legal acumen are developed across a wide range of professional experiences, including public service at the highest levels,” Lamont said. “Excellence in public service takes many forms, and some of the most capable legal minds in our state are found in roles outside of traditional litigation tracks. “I am grateful to Jeff for his service and leadership, and I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of the people of Connecticut.” ...read more read less