Criminal Justice Commission
Minutes of the Special Meeting
December 9, 2019
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The Criminal Justice Commission met for a special meeting on Monday, December 9, 2019, at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
Also in attendance was The Honorable Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Robert Berke, Scott Murphy and Moy Ogilvie and acting Chief State’s Attorney John J. Russotto.
There was no public comment.
Judge Cradle moved to accept the minutes of the December 4, 2019, meeting. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Bruce Lockwood gave an overview of the Appellate Bureau and its personnel needs. The bureau has 24 attorneys, including four Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys, or ten fewer than five years ago. At the same time its workload has increased as it is now responsible for all appeals statewide.
Attorney Berke moved to enter executive session to interview candidates for four Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney positions in the Appellate Bureau and to discuss the untimely completion of reports pursuant to Sec. 51-277a of the General Statutes concerning investigations of the use of deadly force in the Hartford Judicial District. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed on a voice vote. The executive session began at 9:45 a.m. Also present for the interviews and discussion of the appointment of the four Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys were Attorney Lockwood, Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist Janice duFrend and Kevin D. Lawlor, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Operations.
The Commission reconvened in public session at 2:52 p.m. Justice McDonald announced that no motions were made or votes taken during the executive session.
Attorney Murphy moved to appoint Brett Aiello, Laurie Feldman, Samantha Oden and Jonathan Sousa as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys for the Appellate Bureau. Attorney Ogilvie seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Acting Chief State’s Attorney Russotto moved to amend the agenda to consider meeting dates. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed on a voice vote. The Commission agreed to the following dates: January 30, 2020; February 11, 2020; March 19, 2020; April 23, 2020; May 21, 2020; June 18, 2020; and July 14, 2020. Meetings will be canceled if there is no business and additional meetings may be scheduled.
Attorney Murphy moved to adjourn. Attorney Ogilvie seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 3:02 p.m.