Criminal Justice Commission Reappoints State's Attorneys, Deputy Chief State's Attorney

The Criminal Justice Commission today reappointed State's Attorneys for the Judicial Districts of Ansonia-Milford, Danbury, Middlesex and Stamford-Norwalk and the Deputy Chief State's Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration.

Approved for new, eight-year terms as State's Attorneys were:

• David I. Cohen, who began his career as a prosecutor in June 1978. He was appointed State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk effective November 1, 2001, and appointed for a full, eight-year term in 2002. He is based at Stamford Superior Court.
• Kevin D. Lawlor, who was appointed State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Ansonia-Milford effective July 1, 2006, to complete the term of his predecessor, who retired. He has been a state prosecutor since October 1995 and is based at Milford Superior Court.
• Timothy J. Liston, who was appointed State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Middlesex in July 2001 to complete the term of his predecessor, who retired. Based at the Superior Court in Middletown, State's Attorney Liston was appointed to a full, eight-year term in 2002. He began his career as a prosecutor in August 1977.
• Stephen J. Sedensky III, was initially appointed as State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury in August 2007 to complete the term of his predecessor, who retired. He joined the Division of Criminal Justice as a prosecutor in July 1984.

Additionally,

• John J. Russotto was appointed to another four-year term as Deputy Chief State's Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration. Mr. Russotto was first appointed as Deputy Chief State's Attorney in July 2004 to complete an unexpired term and appointed to a full term in 2006. He joined the Division of Criminal Justice as a Deputy Assistant State's Attorney in 1997.

The State's Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer for the Judicial District where he or she serves. The origins of the office date to colonial times and the office remains one of the relatively few positions in state government specifically established under the Connecticut Constitution.

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 and its more than 50 offices and nearly 500 personnel.

"The Criminal Justice Commission is pleased to approve the reappointments of these outstanding administrators, who serve the State of Connecticut and its people with distinction," said the Honorable Richard N. Palmer, Chair of the Commission.

"We are fortunate indeed to have public servants of this caliber especially at a time when the criminal justice system is being called upon to do more with less in terms of resources," Justice Palmer added.

The Criminal Justice Commission was established by Article XXIII of the Connecticut Constitution and is responsible for the appointment of all state prosecutors in Connecticut with the exception of juvenile prosecutors. It is chaired by Justice Palmer, an Associate Justice of the state Supreme Court.

In addition to Justice Palmer, the Commission members are the Honorable Thomas A. Bishop, Judge of the Appellate Court, and attorneys Maura H. Horan, Garrett M. Moore, Ann G. Taylor and Alfred A. Turco. The Chief State’s Attorney is also a member of the Commission but does not participate in the appointment of the Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys.