Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of August 31, 2015
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:42 p.m. by Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Leonard C. Boyle.

In attendance were: Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane, Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; State’s Attorneys Richard J. Colangelo, Jr. (Stamford-Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Judith R. Dicine, legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis and guests Karen K. Buffkin, General Counsel to the Governor, and Mike Lawlor, Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, Office of Policy and Management.

State’s Attorney Sedensky made a motion to accept the minutes of the July 20, 2015, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Platt and passed unanimously.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced guests Mike Lawlor and Karen Buffkin for a presentation and discussion of criminal justice issues, including the Governor’s "Second Chance Society" initiative and concerns related to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Judith R. Dicine for a presentation on the State Health Improvement Program and its relationship to the criminal justice system. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto will work with attorney Dicine to develop a proposal for possible inclusion in the Division’s Mid-Term Budget Adjustments requests. Legal Training on Housing Matters will be held October 27, 2015, at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division is continuing the process of filling vacant positions now that the budget is adopted.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that he will be scheduling those State’s Attorneys who volunteered to participate in the monthly training sessions for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys. Training for Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys will be held September 24, 2015; State’s Attorneys are welcomed to attend.

Wilfred Blanchette reported that discussions are continuing on possible legislation regarding ex parte orders for certain telecommunications data.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy Sugrue will be invited to next month’s meeting to speak on the 2015 legislative revisions to the Freedom of Information Act.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that discussions are continuing concerning possible responses to the Supreme Court ruling in State v. Santiago.

There was discussion concerning 2015 legislative revisions to Connecticut General Statutes Section 21a-279 and their implementation. The Division may be required to submit corrective legislation in the 2016 session.

State’s Attorney Preleski reported on his case pending before the Freedom of Information Commission concerning information sought from the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on discussions with the Connecticut Association of Prosecutors concerning Division policies on court findings of prosecutorial impropriety. The topic will be added to the agenda for the Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys’ training program.

State’s Attorney Shepack reported that the Operations Committee met to discuss the initial response by the Division to incidents involving the use of deadly force by peace officers. The committee review is continuing.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.