Local Woman Starts Work As Superior Court Judge

By Andrew Gorosko

A Newtown woman, who has been a lawyer for more than 20 years, has started work as a judge at Danbury Superior Court, presiding on criminal cases submitted to her for adjudication.

In late January, Governor M. Jodi Rell nominated Sheila A. Ozalis, 46, to the bench. Ms Ozalis gained confirmation as a judge from the state legislature in early February. She was sworn into office on February 26, and began work as a judge on March 17.

Ms Ozalis received state training in adjudication and has been presiding over criminal matters since becoming a judge.

Before her judgeship, Ms Ozalis worked since 1997 as a partner in the firm Smith & Ozalis, LLP, with whom she practiced law with her husband, attorney Mark Smith. The firm has offices in Newtown and Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

Besides working in that small law firm, Ms Ozalis previously was employed as an attorney in large law firms.

Judge Ozalis’s legal background in Smith & Ozalis includes handling state and federal cases in the areas of the environment, corporate, employment, foreclosure, contract, tort, personal injury, intellectual property, unfair competition, trade secrets, and real estate.

Reflecting on her 20 years of work a lawyer, Ms Ozalis said in an interview that she sought to become a judge with the goal of public service.

“I have a variety of experiences in my life,” Judge Ozalis said.

A graduate of Drew University in Madison, N.J., she holds a chemistry degree and formerly worked a research chemist for large industrial firms. She received her law degree from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, N.Y.

Her technical background, she said, has been “very helpful in cases where I wouldn’t expect it.” That technical background aided her as a lawyer while handling cases involving insurance coverage, environmental spills, and trade secrets, she explained.

Of becoming a judge, she said, “It’s a very humbling experience. You have responsibility for the lives of the people who come before you.”

In reviewing criminal cases, Judge Ozalis said that she considers on a person-by-person basis the effects that her decisions will have on those people who are before her in court.

“The decisions you make can change people’s lives,” Judge Ozalis said. She said she reminds herself “not to underestimate the importance of any decision,” because a judge’s actions in court will have significant effects on people’s lives.

“It has exceeded my expectations,” she said. “Particularly in the criminal courts, you have greater ability to positively impact people’s lives than I had anticipated.”

At the Danbury courthouse, she said, “There’s great staff and a great group of judges.” The state’s attorney’s staff and public defender’s staff are very dedicated public servants, she added. “I’ve been impressed by all of them.”

“I’m enjoying what I’m doing right now,” she said of her new position, adding that it remains unclear what her future assignments as a judge will be.

“I wanted to become a judge to serve,” she said, adding that “having a sense of empathy” with people is a worthwhile trait for the judiciary.

“I think it’s very important to have a sense of compassion, particularly in the criminal [justice] area,” she said.

Judge Ozalis said that she had not anticipated the significant number of criminal cases in which substance abuse is an underlying factor.

Judge Ozalis said she had liked working in a small law firm more than working in a large firm, but added that her initial work in large firms gave her a good grounding in the subjects which she would handle while working in the smaller firm.

A Newtown resident for the past five years, she previously lived in Easton for a decade. Before that she lived in Westchester County, N.Y.

Judge Ozalis said she enjoys living in Newtown. “We like the town services, the town center. We like what the town has to offer.” Her pastimes include softball, golfing, and sailing.

Judge Ozalis said she is fond of the study American history, as well as screenwriting. Among authors, she enjoys the works of JRR Tolkien, James Michener, and Jane Austen.