McDonald Tapped for Supreme Court in Conn.

(CN) - Andrew J. McDonald, a former Connecticut state senator who has been chief legal counsel for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for two years, was nominated to the state Supreme Court.

Malloy made the announcement Thursday.

"In my estimation Andrew possesses an exceptional ability to understand, analyze, research and evaluate legal issues," Malloy said in a statement. "I am sure those are the same skills that will allow him to be a great jurist on the state Supreme Court."

According to the Connecticut Post newspaper, if confirmed, the 46-year-old McDonald would become one of the few gays nationally to be named to their state high courts and the first to serve on Connecticut's appellate level.

He married Charles Gray in 2009 and Malloy performed the ceremony as Stamford mayor, the paper said.

McDonald graduated from Cornell University and the University of Connecticut, School of Law. He became involved in politics serving as campaign manager when Malloy ran for mayor in Stamford, and he later was named city attorney.

McDonald also served on the city's Board of Representatives and the Board of Finance, and then was elected to the state senate where he served four terms and co-chaired the Judiciary Committee.

Supreme Court justices are paid $162,250 per year in Connecticut. If confirmed, McDonald would replace Associate Justice Lubbie Harper Jr., who last month reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Another court opening is the result of Justice C. Ian McLachlan who reached retirement age earlier this year and has resigned from the court.

Malloy said a nominee to replace McLachlan, as well as a candidate to replace McDonald as his legal counsel, will be made in the near future.

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