FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) – The Division of Criminal Justice will have the ability to aggressively recruit law school students to serve as prosecutors for the State of Connecticut now that Gov. Ned Lamont has signed Public Act No. 23-55, “An Act Concerning the Recruitment of Law School Students for Apprentice Prosecutor Positions” into law.
The bill was signed by the governor on June 26, 2023.
This new law allows the Criminal Justice Commission, within available appropriations, to interview and appoint as an “apprentice prosecutor” any student from an accredited law school who is within five months of graduation and is a certified legal intern. A student the commission appoints advances to the position of deputy assistant state’s attorney once admitted to the Connecticut bar within one year after graduating law school.
Under previous law, persons interested in becoming prosecutors could not apply and be considered for vacant positions with the Division of Criminal Justice until after they were admitted to the bar. Unable to extend offers prior to graduation, the Division maintained it was at a distinct recruiting disadvantage when competing against private firms which operate under no such restriction.
“The people of the State of Connecticut rightly expect the prosecutors who stand in their name to be the best and the brightest,” Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said. “This legislation provides law students with an opportunity to receive hands-on training, instruction and mentorship in Connecticut’s 13 judicial districts while demonstrating to young lawyers the value of public service and what it means to represent the citizens in their communities.”
On behalf of the Division of Criminal Justice, particularly Connecticut’s 13 State’s Attorneys, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin wishes to express his gratitude to Rep. Steven J. Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, and Sen. Gary A. Winfield, D-New Haven, the co-chairs of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, and the entire Judiciary Committee, for their work on passage of the bill in the legislature.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin also extends his sincere appreciation to Justice Andrew J. McDonald, chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission, for testifying before the Judiciary Committee in support of the legislation.
To learn more about Public Act No. 23-55, click here.