01/30/2020
Richard J. Colangelo, Jr., Appointed Chief State's Attorney
The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair of the Criminal Justice Commission, announced today that the Commission has appointed Richard J. Colangelo, Jr., as Chief State’s Attorney.
Attorney Colangelo, who has served as State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk since July 2015 was appointed Chief State’s Attorney by a unanimous vote of the Commission at a public meeting held Thursday at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
“I congratulate Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo on his appointment and wish him the very best in this very challenging and critical position,” Justice McDonald said. “I also wish to thank all of the candidates who applied and offered to take on this important job and I wish to thank Deputy Chief State’s Attorney John Russotto for serving as acting Chief State’s Attorney in the interim.”
Attorney Colangelo is the eighth person to hold the title of Chief State’s Attorney since the position was established in 1973. As Chief State’s Attorney, he is the chief law enforcement officer for the State of Connecticut and administrative head of the Division of Criminal Justice, which includes the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and the State’s Attorneys’ offices for the 13 Judicial Districts.
Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo will serve the remainder of the 5-year term to which Kevin T. Kane was appointed as Chief State’s Attorney in 2016. Mr. Kane retired December 1, 2019, after 47 years as a prosecutor, the last 13 as Chief State’s Attorney. John J. Russotto, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration, has serve as acting Chief State’s Attorney in the interim.
Established pursuant to Article XXIII of the Connecticut Constitution, the Criminal Justice Commission is responsible for the appointment of all state prosecutors in Connecticut. In addition to Justice McDonald, Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, its membership includes Superior Court Judge Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Robert M. Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott J. Murphy and Moy N. Ogilvie.
Attorney Russotto in his capacity as acting Chief State’s Attorney is also a member of the Commission, however, the Chief State’s Attorney by law does not participate in the appointment of the Chief State’s Attorney or Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys.