William H. Bright Jr.

William H. Bright Jr. (born August 15, 1962) is the chief judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court.

Education
Bright earned his Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College in 1984 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School in 1987.

Career
He was the managing partner of McCarter & English's Hartford law office and co-chair of the firm's Business Litigation practice group. He also was a shareholder in Cummings & Lockwood, a member of the firm's Board of Directors, and chair of the firm's Litigation practice group.

State court service
Bright was appointed to the Tolland District Superior Court by Governor Jodi Rell in 2008.

Appointment to state appellate court
On October 4, 2017, Governor Dan Malloy appointed him to the Connecticut Appellate Court. He was confirmed on November 1, 2017. On April 24, 2020, Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson announced the appointment of Bright to be the next Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court, effective August 1, 2020.