Minutes of the Chief State's Attorney's Meeting
Monday, November 23, 2009
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 12:42 p.m. by Chief State's Attorney Kevin T. Kane.
In attendance were: Chief State's Attorney Kevin T. Kane; John J. Russotto, Deputy Chief State's Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration; Leonard C. Boyle, Deputy Chief State's Attorney for Operations; State's Attorneys David I. Cohen (Stamford/Norwalk), John A. Connelly (Waterbury), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Timothy J. Liston (Middletown), Scott J. Murphy (New Britain); Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Warren C. Murray (Danbury) and Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Crockett (Windham). Also in attendance: Mark A. Dupuis, Communications Officer.
Chief State's Attorney Kane announced that the Division's Communications Officer will be attending the monthly Chief State's Attorney's Meeting.
A motion was made by Mr. Cohen, seconded by Ms. Hardy and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.
Deputy Chief State's Attorney John Russotto reported on the status of the Division's budget. The major areas of concern are the accounts for operating expenses and expert witnesses. All were urged to control expenses wherever possible. Chief State's Attorney Kane noted that expenses related to the ongoing litigation concerning alleged racial disparity in death penalty cases is primarily responsible for an anticipated shortfall in the expert witness account.
Gary Roberge, Assistant Director of Adult Probation and Bail Services in the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch, gave a slideshow presentation on the recently implemented statewide structured method for determining financial bond recommendations. The presentation was originally presented to the Criminal Justice Policy on October 8, 2009.
The meeting entered executive session at approximately 1:15 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the matter of Garcia v. Campos. The executive session ended at 1:30 p.m.
Chief State's Attorney Kane reported on an invitation from the Connecticut Bar Association for a prosecutor to serve on the Corporate Counsel Section Executive Committee. The State's Attorneys were urged to have any prosecutors who are Connecticut Bar Association members and are interested in serving to make known their willingness to serve.
Chief State's Attorney Kane reported that the Appellate Bureau is under severe constraints in meeting deadlines set by the Appellate Court. The Chief State's Attorney asked that all prosecutors considering volunteering to take on one or more appeals. Mr. Kane noted that this would not only help to relieve the pressure on the Appellate Bureau but would advance career development in that the preparation and presentation of an appeal can make for a better trial prosecutor.
In other business, State's Attorney Liston inquired about the requirements for reporting attendance pursuant to the State of Connecticut Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) with regard to the H1N1 flu pandemic.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.