The Gruendel Fund at the Connecticut Bar Institute was endowed in 2023 by the Honorable F. Herbert Gruendel, his wife, Janice Gruendel, Ph.D., and their family and friends in honor of Judge Gruendel's outstanding career as an educator and jurist for the state of Connecticut. The Gruendel Fund supports the CBA's commitment to Connecticut schools by providing assistance for necessary expenses such as transportation and registration costs associated with participation in the mock trial program. Judge Gruendel began his career as a public school teacher and principal for 12 years. Being an educator fostered his passion for mock trial competition so that students can experience and learn about the rule of law.
Judge Gruendel graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1984 and began his career as a litigator in New Haven at the law firm of Jacobs, Grudberg, Belt & Dow. In May 1998, Judge Gruendel was appointed to the bench as a superior court judge working in the family court division. Deeply respected as a family court judge, he was then appointed as the chief administrative judge for the Family Division of the Superior Court in 2001. In 2005, Governor M. Jodi Rell nominated Judge Gruendel to the appellate court, where he served with distinction until his retirement from the bench.
The Connecticut Bar Institute (“CTBI”), is a 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of the CTBI is to offer continuing legal education to Connecticut lawyers and the public, to provide scholarly legal publications, and to provide community outreach for civics.