Chief State’s Attorney Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of October 4, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 12:47 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.
Also present: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Administration, Personnel and Finance John J. Russotto; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Operations Kevin Lawlor; State’s Attorneys Margaret E. Kelley (Ansonia/Milford), David R. Applegate (Danbury), Sharmese L. Walcott (Hartford), David R. Shannon (Litchfield) Michael A. Gailor (Middletown), Christian M. Watson (New Britain), John P. Doyle, Jr. (New Haven), Paul J. Narducci (New London), Paul J. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Anne F. Mahoney (Windham) and Maureen T. Platt (Waterbury).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Kathryn W. Bare, Lisa M. D’Angelo, Gail Hardy and Brett J. Salafia; Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney David Kutzner, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy J. Sugrue, Legislative Liaison Anne Cournoyer, Manager of Research and Planning Kyle Baudoin, Chief Inspector Michael Sullivan and Marisa DePhillips, Executive Secretary to the Chief State’s Attorney.
State’s Attorney Gailor moved to accept the minutes of the September 6, 2023 meeting. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin and Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the Division’s budget, saying that the state’s desire to resolve the backlog of the most serious cases in court could present an opportunity for the Division to request funding for additional resources for operations, particularly for more administrative support.
The State’s Attorneys discussed vacancies in their offices in anticipation of the November meeting of the Criminal Justice Commission. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said there are presently 17 vacant Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney positions. Both Chief State’s Attorney Griffin and Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto discussed the benefits of finding prospective prosecutors through the Division’s Prosecutor Fellowship Program and with the assistance of a new law, passed in the 2023 legislative session, that allows the Division to interview and recommend for hire to the Criminal Justice Commission law students who are within five months of graduating and who are certified legal interns prior to passing the Connecticut Bar Exam.
On the topic of legislative matters, Legislative Liaison Cournoyer said the Legislative Committee will meet soon to discuss possible legislative proposals for the upcoming short session.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney D’Angelo reported on upcoming training sessions both within the Division and with law enforcement officers from throughout the state as well as facilitating the use of training forms to help employees keep track of training hours and requests for training programs.
In other business, the State’s Attorneys discussed the enforcement and implementation of Public Act 23-53, recently enacted gun legislation, and whether there is a need for additional cellphones.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto and seconded by State’s Attorney Shannon. The meeting was adjourned at 2:08 p.m.