Thomas D. Ritter

Early life and education Ritter attended Amherst College and later the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Family Ritter's wife, Christine Keller, is an appellate court judge. Both his father and his brother are former lawmakers.

Political career Ritter served on the Hartford Democratic Town Committee from 1975 to 1980 and was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1980 to 1998. He was the speaker from 1993 to 1998.

Ritter and Moira K. Lyons are the only three-term Speakers in the history of the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Ritter sits on the UCONN board of directors. In 2019, he became the acting chair of the board when chairman Kruger stepped down. Kruger has named West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor as his preferred permanent successor over Ritter, writing that "it's time for the University board to be led by a woman." Some have cited emoluments as a potential risk of his chairmanship.

Legal career Ritter is currently a partner at the law firm of Brown Rudnick. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as an attorney for the Hartford Corporation Counsel and was in private practice for many years.