Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of November 18, 2013
Rome Commons
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut

(Note: The following minutes were amended by vote of the meeting of December 16, 2013).

The meeting was called to order at 11:23 a.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

In attendance were: State’s Attorneys Michael Dearington (New Haven), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John Smriga (Fairfield); Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys James Bernardi (Stamford-Norwalk) and Warren Murray (Danbury).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor and Division of Criminal Justice Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.

The meeting was held at the Rome Commons building at the University of Connecticut in Storrs in conjunction with Division of Criminal Justice management training.

State’s Attorney Froehlich made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2013, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Lawlor and passed unanimously.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division has submitted the customary budget reduction and expansion options to the Office of Policy and Management. Expansion requests include additional Information Technology positions for the implementation of case management/information sharing systems, additional prosecutor positions to reduce the reliance on per diem prosecutors and additional prosecutors for domestic violence matters. The State’s Attorneys may be asked to provide additional information throughout the budget process.

There was a discussion of the proposed policy on matters raised in the U.S. Supreme Court Brady and Giglio decisions. State’s Attorney Preleski made a motion to adopt the proposed general policy. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Smriga and passed unanimously. The discussion of specific notification procedures will be continued at the next meeting, and additional supporting materials will be circulated to the State’s Attorneys

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division policy on Prosecutorial Impropriety, approved previously by the State’s Attorneys, will be formally distributed.

State’s Attorney Lawlor made a motion to approve the proposed Restitution Policy. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney McShane and passed unanimously.

There was discussion of the dispositions of significant larceny/embezzlement cases throughout the state, particularly with regard to disposition of cases where restitution is made.

There was discussion of proposed revisions to the Division’s Ethics Policy. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto will distribute additional information, including provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct, and the matter will be considered again at the December meeting.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Board of Pardons and Paroles has taken the position that pardon applications and supporting materials are not public records available to the State’s Attorneys for their response to requested pardons. The Division plans further discussions with the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Office of the Attorney General.

State’s Attorney Smriga made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Froehlich and passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.