Judge John F. Blawie: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. John F. Blawie is the administrative judge for the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District Superior Court in Connecticut. He was appointed to the bench in 2004.

During his judicial tenure, Blawie sat by designation on the Connecticut Supreme Court (2019) and Appellate Court (2018). He has also presided over the Complex Litigation Docket in Stamford (2008 to 2011) and sat as a judge in the Danbury Judicial District.

While presiding in Danbury, Blawie signed the warrants to search the home, car, and computer of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter, Adam Lanza. He was also credited with issuing a historic ruling that allowed Charla Nash, who was mauled by Travis the chimpanzee, to sue the animal's owner. The ruling was the first in the state that allowed the owner of a wild animal to be held responsible for personal injury even if reasonable attempts were taken to protect the public from harm.

Prior to joining the bench, Blawie worked for six years as chief of the Economic Crime Unit with Connecticut’s Division of Criminal Justice in Rocky Hill, where he handled criminal prosecutions including white collar crime and computer-based crime. Before his position there, he was a prosecutor for ten years in the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office.

Blawie received an A.B. from the College of the Holy Cross in 1979. He went on to complete a J.D. at University of Connecticut School of Law in 1983. He is admitted to practice in Connecticut, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

After graduating from law school, Blawie began his legal career as an attorney with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in New York (1983 to 1985). Then, after returning to Connecticut, he later worked as in-house legal counsel for two Fairfield County-based companies.

Blawie has served as a lecturer on economic crime and computer-based crime and was the former state representative to the National White Collar Crime Center, teaching prosecutors and police officers about white collar crime issues.

He is also credited with founding the policy board for the Connecticut Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and co-authoring the Connecticut Law Enforcement Guidelines for Computer Systems and Data Search and Seizure.

His memberships have included the Booth Library Board of Trustees, the Newtown Legislative Council, and the Newtown Committee to Improve Educational Diversity.

Blawie was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the seventh of twelve children. His father worked for over forty years as a lawyer in Bridgeport. Blawie is a graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School. He and his wife, Karen, have three children.

He is registered as a Republican.