George Christian Jepsen[1] (born November 23, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 24th attorney general of Connecticut from 2011 to 2019.
Jepsen was a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate district, representing Stamford and part of Darien, and served in the Connecticut Senate from 1991 to 2003.[2] During his time in the Senate, he served as Senate Majority Leader from 1997 to 2003.[2] Prior to that, he served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991, representing part of Stamford in Connecticut's 148th House district.[2] After leaving the State Senate, he became Chairman of the Connecticut State Democratic Party from 2003 to 2005.[3][4][5]
Jepsen was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.[6] A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, he earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School with honors and also earned a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government.[2] To help pay for his education, he worked as a teaching fellow in constitutional law for former Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox.[2]
Following graduation, Jepsen worked as staff counsel for Carpenters Local Union 210 for Western Connecticut.[2][7] For nearly ten years, Jepsen negotiated contracts for wages and benefits, represented injured workers, ensured job safety, and advocated for different bidding practices.[2]
In private practice, Jepsen worked at some of Connecticut's top law firms.[2] His legal experience included work with the probate court, estate planning, representing small business in contract negotiations, government compliance, and real estate transactions.[2] He also defended individuals in the criminal courts and served as counsel to clients in the civil courts.[2] Jepsen successfully worked on complex legal issues as part of a successful appellate team in a number of cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court.[2]
Jepsen served 16 years in the Connecticut General Assembly, first as State Representative from the 148th House District, and then as a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate District, the last six as Majority Leader.[2] As a legislator, Jepsen worked in a variety of areas including clean energy, gun safety, and civil rights.[2] Jepsen assisted in the development of laws that reformed HMO and insurance practices.[2] As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen worked to develop bills that protect Connecticut's natural assets.[2]
Jepsen co-authored the Open Space Trust Fund, an initiative that sets aside $10 million in funding for the purchase of open space.[2]
Jepsen worked to pass legislation to revitalize blighted areas in brownfields, including efforts to expand state financial assistance to re-developers.[2] This was incentivized by tax credits to businesses that invested in redevelopment of contaminated properties in the state.[2]
Jepsen helped the passage of legislation to replace Connecticut's "Sooty Six" power plants with cleaner plants that have lower emissions.[2] These six old coal-burning plants were contributing to Connecticut's unique air pollution problem and rise in asthma rates.[2] This initiative also involved new funding to upgrade sewage treatment plants for cleaner rivers.[2]
As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen became a national leader against the National Rifle Association.[2] He helped pass landmark legislation prohibiting the sale or possession of assault weapons, mandating trigger locks, and necessitating tougher background checks.[2] This work was nationally recognized by the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March.[2]
As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen worked to ban sexual orientation discrimination, to strengthen hate crime laws, and to expand Connecticut's living will laws.[2]
Jepsen supported health insurance reform to improve covered services for mental illness and emergency room conditions.[2] He helped mandate that health insurers cover the costs of mammograms and birth control and helped pass legislation to outlaw “drive-through” mastectomies and childbirth deliveries, so insurers cover at least a 48-hour hospital stay.[2]
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Jepsen announced on January 6, 2010, that he would form an exploratory committee for Attorney General,[8] receiving the Democratic Party's endorsement on May 22.[9]
On July 12 Jepsen announced he had qualified for public financing in the Citizens Election Program.[10]
On November 2, 2010, he was elected as attorney general of Connecticut[11]
Jepsen was reelected in 2014, defeating Republican opponent Kie Westby.[12]
*Jepsen was also listed on the A Connecticut Party line.
*Jepsen was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Fournier was also listed on the Independent Party line.
*Jepsen was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Westby was also listed on the Independent Party line.