Federal Judge Mark Kravitz dies in Conn.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — U.S. District Judge Mark Kravitz, a prominent New Haven appellate lawyer known for his work on freedom of information cases before ascending in 2003 to the federal bench and overseeing a variety of high-profile cases in Connecticut, has died after battling Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 62.

Federal Judge Alvin Thompson said Tuesday that Kravitz died at his Guilford home Sunday night. Kravitz was assigned to the New Haven courthouse and recently had been working at home.

His work this year included the August sentencing of a butler who tried to extort millions of dollars from philanthropist Anne Bass at her Kent estate, and ruling in April that New Haven officials could remove Occupy New Haven protesters from the city Green.

Funeral and memorial service arrangements are pending.