2007 Formal Opinions

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• Honorable Robert Farr, Chairman, Board of Pardons and Paroles, Formal Opinion 2007-018, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  This letter responds to your request for a formal opinion on “whether or not the Board of Pardons has the authority to commute a non-parole eligible offense, as defined by CGS § 54-125a(b)(1), to make it a parole eligible offense.”

• Honorable Susan B. Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State, Formal Opinion 2007-009, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  You have asked for a formal opinion as to whether Connecticut's "Voter's Bill of Rights" requires municipalities to provide a voting system accessible to the physically disabled in each polling place in non-federal elections, including elections held this year.

• Honorable Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State, Formal Opinion 2007-016, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  You have asked this Office for an opinion concerning the use of the City of New Haven’s “Elm City Resident Cards" during the electoral process. Specifically, you have asked us to opine whether your Office has the legal authority to issue the following directives with respect to the use of such cards by individuals seeking to vote or register to vote in Connecticut

• Carolyn Signorelli, Chief Child Protection Attorney, Formal Opinion 2007-015, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  This letter is in response to your request for a formal legal opinion as to whether attorneys who serve dually as attorneys and guardians ad litem (“GALs”) in certain Juvenile Matters are entitled to “state employee immunity and liability defense” by the Attorney General

• Honorable Michael P. Starkowski, Commissioner, Department of Social Services, Formal Opinion 2007-021, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  I appreciated your September 25, 2007 letter raising additional questions about the Department's responsibilities under the federal Low Income House Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

• Jeanne Milstein, Child Advocate, Formal Opinion 2007-013, State of Connecticut Attorney General

  This letter responds to your request for a formal opinion as to whether the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is authorized, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-13m, to obtain records in the possession of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

• Martin R. Libbin, Deputy Director, Legal Services, Formal Opinion 2007-023, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  This letter is in response to your request for a formal legal opinion as to whether the Judicial Branch has a legal duty to disclose to the public the master list of prospective jurors compiled pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-222a.

• Mr. Brian S. Sigman, Executive Director, Board of Education and Services for the Blind, Formal Opinion 2007-035, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  You have asked for my opinion on the authority of the Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) to choose the brand name products to be sold in vending machines placed on public property by BESB pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-303

• Peter A. Clark, Executive Director, Judicial Review Council, Formal Opinion 2007-032, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  Thank you for your letter requesting my opinion on two questions: (1) whether the Judicial Review Council (“the Council”) has jurisdiction over misconduct committed by acting workers’ compensation commissioners appointed on a per diem basis pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-280(a)

• Christopher R. Adams, Chairman, State Board f Firearms Permit Examiners, Formal Opinion 2007-026, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  Recently, you requested an opinion regarding whether a conflict of interest exists for a member of the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners (hereinafter the Board) arising from his participation as the named plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety

• Daniel F. Caruso, Chairman, Formal Opinion 2007-010, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  You have asked me to provide “an opinion as to what the rights and responsibilities are of the utility companies relative to their use of existing easements” in connection with the Middletown – Norwalk 345 kV electric transmission line and associated facilities approved by the Council in Docket No. 272.

• Karen Senich, Executive Director, Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Formal Opinion 2007-031, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  You have requested our opinion on whether religious organizations are eligible to accept awards in the Arts Presentation Grant Program (Grant Program) of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism

• Richard F. Banbury, Esq., Executive Director Council on Probate Judicial Conduct, Formal Opinion 2007-030, Attorney State of Connecticut

  Thank you for your letter requesting my opinion on whether the Council on Probate Judicial Conduct (“the Council”) has jurisdiction over a complaint concerning alleged misconduct committed during a Judge of Probate’s term of office, but not filed until after the expiration of the judge’s term

• Honorable Jeanne Milstein, Child Advocate, Formal Opinion 2007-008, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  This letter responds to your request for a formal opinion on whether the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is prohibited by the federal Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2 (the Federal Act) from disclosing to the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) certain substance abuse treatment records that you requested pursuant to your authority under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-13m.

• Honorable Dennis Kerrigan, Chairman, Formal Opinion 2007-002, Attorney General State of Connecticut

  In your letter dated August 15, 2006 you have asked this office to render a formal opinion concerning the service of capias mittimus by state marshals. Your letter raises the following questions