Connolly was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1978, serving until his retirement in 1990.[citation needed] He was known as a conservative 'black-letter lawyer' during his service in Parliament and on the bench.[citation needed] During his judicial service, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Connolly died on 3 May 2009. As of 2011, he was the most recent judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland to have served in Parliament prior to his judicial service.[citation needed]