(Hartford, CT) - The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair of the Criminal Justice Commission, announced today that the Commission has reappointed the Chief State’s Attorney, the Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration and the State’s Attorneys in the Ansonia/Milford and Middlesex Judicial Districts, all of whom serve within the Division of Criminal Justice. The unanimous reappointments occurred during a meeting today at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Reappointed for a five-year term, effective July 1, 2026, is:
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Patrick J. Griffin, who has served as Chief State’s Attorney for the Division of Criminal Justice since May 2022. He is responsible for the statewide administrative functions of the Division of Criminal Justice. Along with managing budget, personnel, and other core administrative responsibilities, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin oversees the specialized units dedicated to investigating and prosecuting specific types of criminal cases, as well as representing the state in appellate and other legal proceedings. To learn more about Chief State’s Attorney Griffin, click this link.
Reappointed for a four-year term, effective July 1, 2026, is:
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John J. Russotto, who has served as Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration for the Division of Criminal Justice since July 2004. He is responsible for oversight of budgetary and other administrative functions for the Division and currently serves on the Division's Legislative, Ethics, Management, and Training Committees and as a counselor to the Chief State's Attorney and the state's 13 State's Attorneys. For more information about Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto, click this link.
Reappointed for an eight-year term, effective July 1, 2026, is:
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Margaret E. Kelley, who has served as State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford since September 2018. She oversees prosecutions at Superior Court for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford at Milford, Superior Court Geographical Area No. 5 at Derby, Superior Court Geographical Area No. 22 at Milford, and juvenile matters. For more information about State’s Attorney Kelley, click this link.
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Michael A. Gailor, who has served as State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Middlesex since July 2018. He oversees prosecutions at Superior Court for the Judicial District of Middlesex at Middletown, Superior Court Geographical Area No. 9 at Middletown, and juvenile matters. For more information about State’s Attorney Gailor, click this link.
“On behalf of the Division of Criminal Justice, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Chief State’s Attorney Griffin, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto, and State’s Attorneys Gailor and Kelley on their reappointments to these critically important senior management positions within the Division of Criminal Justice,” Justice McDonald said.
“Since his appointment four years ago, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin has exhibited exemplary leadership, demonstrating a clear and forward‑looking vision for the Division. His efforts have resulted in the development of strong organizational policies, significant advancements in training programs for prosecutors and law enforcement personnel, and a more assertive and strategic approach to hiring and recruitment aimed at attracting the highest-caliber candidates to public service,” he said.
“The Commission also extends its deep appreciation to Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto for his steady and principled leadership over the past two decades. The Division relies on his extensive prosecutorial experience and his more than 20 years of overseeing the administration of the Division. In addition, we wish to emphasize the importance of the longstanding management and leadership provided by State’s Attorneys Gailor and Kelley, whose hard work and dedication has been invaluable to the Division’s continued success,” Justice McDonald said.
The Chief State’s Attorney and Connecticut’s 13 State’s Attorneys are constitutional officers vested with the state’s prosecutorial authority under the Connecticut Constitution. The State’s Attorneys are the chief prosecuting attorneys acting on behalf of the state in each of their respective Judicial Districts. Connecticut is one of the few states that do not elect their chief prosecutors. In lieu of such elections, the Criminal Justice Commission is an autonomous body constitutionally charged with appointing all state prosecutors in Connecticut.
In addition to Justice McDonald, Senior Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, the Commission's membership includes Chief Judge of the Appellate Court Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Robert M. Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott J. Murphy and Moy N. Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin. Per state statute, the Chief State’s Attorney as a member of the Commission does not participate in the appointment of the Chief State’s Attorney or Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys.