Criminal Justice Commission

Via Microsoft Teams

The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.

In addition to Justice McDonald, participating in the meeting were: The Honorable Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Scott Murphy and Moy Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.

Attorney Ogilvie moved to accept the minutes of the September 22, 2022 meeting. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed 4-0, with Judge Cradle abstaining.

Justice McDonald said the Commission was to interview candidates for three positions of Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys in the Office of the State’s Attorney, Judicial District of Windham, G.A. No. 11, and one position of Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney, Judicial District of New London, G.A. No. 10 and Juvenile Matters. Anne F. Mahoney, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Windham, and Paul J. Narducci, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New London, were present to participate in the interviews of candidates for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney.

Attorney Murphy moved to enter into executive session to discuss candidates for the positions. Attorney Ogilvie seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The executive session began at 9:12 a.m.

At 11:19 a.m., the Commission adjourned briefly. After a short recess, the Commission resumed its executive session at 11:29 a.m.

The executive session ended at 1:06 p.m. Justice McDonald announced that no motions were made or votes taken during the executive session. Attorney Murphy moved to approve William Davenport, Asheley Pankratz and Maria Da Silva as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney in the Judicial District of Windham, G.A. No. 11. Attorney Ogilvie seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Attorney Ogilvie moved to approve Joane Olawale as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney in the Judicial District of New London, G.A. No. 10. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said he and the 13 State’s Attorneys wished to express their appreciation to members of the Commission for holding additional special meetings in recent months to address vacancies in the Division of Criminal Justice. Since July 1, 2022, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said 18 full-time prosecutors and four part-time Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys have been hired, positions that “plugged gaping holes” within the Division. Commission members at their July 18, 2022 meeting agreed to hold additional monthly Criminal Justice Commission meetings to interview candidates for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys in an effort to address what Justice McDonald called “an inordinate number of vacancies” in the Division.

There being no further business, Judge Cradle moved to adjourn the meeting. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.