Press Releases
06/20/2022
John J. Russotto Reappointed as Deputy Chief State’s Attorney
The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair of the Criminal Justice Commission, announced today that the Commission has reappointed John J. Russotto as Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration.
The appointment, approved unanimously at the Commission’s public meeting today at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, is for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2022.
“Attorney Russotto has served the Division of Criminal Justice very well as both a prosecutor and for years, as an administrator,” Justice McDonald said. “The Division counts on his knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system as well as his years of experience in handling the Division’s administration.”
Attorney Russotto was first appointed as Deputy Chief State’s Attorney in July 2004. He joined the Division of Criminal Justice in 1997 as a Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney and prosecuted public corruption, white collar crimes and cold case homicides in addition to conducting complex grand jury investigations.
Attorney Russotto worked in private practice from 1990 until 1997, litigating complex commercial and environmental civil matters in both state and federal courts.
The Deputy Chief State's Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration serves at the Rocky Hill headquarters of the Division of Criminal Justice and is responsible for oversight of budgetary and other administrative functions for the agency.
Attorney Russotto serves on the Division of Criminal Justice’s Legislative, Ethics, Management, Operations and Training Committees. He is also a member of the Connecticut Criminal Justice Information System Governing Board, the Connecticut Judicial Branch Access to Justice Commission and the Governor’s Task Force on Contracting Reform, and is a lecturer for the State of Connecticut Fire Marshal’s Certification Program and State of Connecticut Judicial Marshal’s Certification Program.
Attorney Russotto earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fairfield University and his Juris Doctor Degree from the Boston University School of Law.
Established under Article XXIII of the Connecticut Constitution, the Criminal Justice Commission is responsible for the appointment of all state prosecutors in Connecticut. In addition to Justice McDonald, Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, its membership includes Appellate Court Judge Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Reginald Dwayne Betts, Robert M. Berke, Scott J. Murphy, Moy N. Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.
Per state statute, the Chief State’s Attorney as a member of the commission does not participate in the appointment of the Chief State’s Attorney or Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys.