Division of Criminal Justice Advisory Board
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
300 Corporate Place
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Minutes of the Meeting of March 8, 2023
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 12:34 p.m.
Present were: Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney John Russotto; Inspector General Robert Devlin; State’s Attorneys David Applegate (Danbury); Joseph Corradino (Fairfield), John Doyle (New Haven), Paul Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Matthew Gedansky (Tolland), Margaret Kelly (Ansonia/Milford), Anne Mahoney (Windham), Paul Narducci (New London), Maureen Platt (Waterbury) David Shannon (Litchfield), Sharmese Walcott (Hartford), Christopher Watson (New Britain); Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Lisa D’Angelo, Gail Hardy and Brett Salafia; Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Timothy Sugrue, David Kutzner and Kathryn Bare; Chief Inspector Frederick Haddad; Legislative Liaison Anne Cournoyer, Communications Director Alaine Griffin; and Kyle Baudoin, Director of Research and Planning.
MINUTES
A motion to accept the minutes from the February 1, 2023 meeting was made by State's Attorney Corradino, and seconded by State's Attorney Narducci. It passed unanimously.
MANAGEMENT
Deputy Chief State's Attorney Russotto discussed agenda topics for the upcoming retreat to be held March 20-21, 2023. Deputy Chief State's Attorney Russotto also indicated that management and supervisors training session will be scheduled for the last week in April. State’s Attorneys will be invited to attend. Progressive discipline protocols will be discussed at the training. DCJ lawyers from Shipman and Goodwin will be one of the presenters at the training.
OPERATIONS
State's Attorney Platt indicated that committee members met recently to discuss a uniform response by DCJ when out-of-state internet service providers fail to honor Connecticut search-and-seizure warrants. State's Attorney Platt specifically referred to Assistant State's Attorney Jonathan Sousa’s erudite memorandum on this issue. Per State's Attorney Platt, at the meeting, the committee approved the discovery policy formulated by the ad hoc Discovery Working Group. The policy will soon be presented to the State’s Attorneys for discussion and vote.
PEER REVIEW UPDATE
Deputy Chief State's Attorney Russotto announced that the 2022 peer reviews of the state’s attorneys are being completed. Interviews in 2023 and 2024 are in the process of being scheduled. Chief State's Attorney Griffin indicated that in order to ensure the independence of the Inspector General’s Office, Inspector General Devlin will not be reviewed by him. Deputy Chief State's Attorney Russotto indicated he is up for review, and will be reviewed by Chief State's Attorney Griffin, and State's Attorneys Platt and Gailor.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
State's Attorney Narducci raised the question of whether there is a Lenarz issue when a self-represented criminal defendant, previously represented by counsel, attaches to a court pleading a letter between himself and prior counsel. Issue discussed.
OTHER BUSINESS
State's Attorney Applegate indicated that in his jurisdiction he has been alerted by judicial staff regarding delay in serving respondents of civil restraining orders. Issue discussed. Consensus of the group was that DCJ has no jurisdiction over the processing of civil restraining orders.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made at 12:47 p.m. by State's Attorney Walcott. It was seconded by State's Attorney Corradino.