Criminal Justice Commission

Minutes of the Meeting of January 30, 2020
Legislative Office Building
Hartford, Connecticut

The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.

Also in attendance was The Honorable Melanie L. Cradle and attorneys Robert Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott Murphy and Moy Ogilvie. Pursuant to Section 51-278 (b)(1)(A) of the General Statutes, acting Chief State’s Attorney John J. Russotto did not attend the meeting or participate in the appointment of the Chief State’s Attorney.

Judge Cradle moved to accept the minutes of the December 9, 2019, meeting. Attorney Ogilvie seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Justice McDonald explained the process for interviewing candidates for Chief State’s Attorney. The candidates will be sequestered and not allowed to view the proceedings prior to their interview. The Commission interviewed Richard J. Colangelo, Jr. and Kevin D. Lawlor before recessing for lunch at 12:46 p.m. The meeting resumed at 1:33 p.m. and the Commission interviewed Eric T. Lohr and Maureen T. Platt.

The interviews ended at 4:53 p.m. Justice McDonald extended the Commission’s best wishes to Mark A. Dupuis, Division of Criminal Justice Communications and Legislative Specialist, who will retire February 1, 2020, and has provided staff support to the Commission.

The Commission opened the meeting for public comment at 5:05 p.m. Twelve individuals spoke during the public comment period, which ended at 5:57 p.m.: Gus Marks-Hamilton, ACLU Smart Justice; Joe DaBrow, Center for Rational Justice Studies; LaResse Harvey, Once Incarcerated … Once In; Alyssa Peterson; Cindy Prizio, One Standard Justice; Aigne Goldsby, George W. Crawford Black Bar Association; Robert Goodrich, RACCE; Jay Diaz; Jazmarie Melendez; Jeannia Fir; and Kerry Ellington.

Attorney Berke moved to enter executive session to discuss the appointment of the Chief State’s Attorney and the appointment of the acting State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Fairfield. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote. The executive session began at 5:59 p.m.

Justice McDonald called the regular session back to order at 6:49 p.m. and announced that no motions were made and no votes were taken during the executive session.

Attorney Betts moved to appoint Richard J. Colangelo, Jr., as Chief State’s Attorney, for the term ending June 30, 2021. Attorney Berke seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Attorney Ogilvie moved to appoint Cornelius Kelly as acting State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Fairfield effective upon the retirement February 1, 2020, of State’s Attorney John C. Smriga. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Attorney Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.