Kane Appointed Top Prosecutor, Chides Morano's Approach
The Hartford Courant is reporting that Kevin Kane has been selected as the next Chief State's Attorney. Kevin Kane is curently the state's attorney in New London and, including himself, he had the backing of twelve of the thirteen state's attorneys.
Since the creation of the post of chief state's attorney there has been a running debate over who controls the state's powers of prosecution. Although the chief state's attorney is chosen by the Criminal Justice Commission, he does not have the power to hire the state's attorneys or to otherwise direct their efforts. Kane made it clear that he believes the state's attorneys are the heart of the system and he took issue with current Chief State's Attorney Chris Morano.
The Connecticut Law Tribune reports: "Kane said the difference between his approach and that of the current chief, Christopher L. Morano, would be that he would work together with the state’s attorneys and would recognize their contributions to the criminal justice system. “They’re the ones who handle the criminal work in the Division. They haven’t been getting the credit and attention they deserve,” he emphasized.....To Kane, the job of the chief “never” includes getting involved with prosecutorial decisions by a state’s attorney, unless in situations of malfeasance."
Even without Kane's comments, the his selection should be viewed as confirmation that the state's attorneys and NOT the chief state's attorney control the system. Banding together, the state's attorneys were effectively able to end the candidacy of the current chief state's attorney as well as select his successor. Thus ends the debate! Of course, the question of whether such a system is ideal -- or intended -- will remain.
Since the creation of the post of chief state's attorney there has been a running debate over who controls the state's powers of prosecution. Although the chief state's attorney is chosen by the Criminal Justice Commission, he does not have the power to hire the state's attorneys or to otherwise direct their efforts. Kane made it clear that he believes the state's attorneys are the heart of the system and he took issue with current Chief State's Attorney Chris Morano.
The Connecticut Law Tribune reports: "Kane said the difference between his approach and that of the current chief, Christopher L. Morano, would be that he would work together with the state’s attorneys and would recognize their contributions to the criminal justice system. “They’re the ones who handle the criminal work in the Division. They haven’t been getting the credit and attention they deserve,” he emphasized.....To Kane, the job of the chief “never” includes getting involved with prosecutorial decisions by a state’s attorney, unless in situations of malfeasance."
Even without Kane's comments, the his selection should be viewed as confirmation that the state's attorneys and NOT the chief state's attorney control the system. Banding together, the state's attorneys were effectively able to end the candidacy of the current chief state's attorney as well as select his successor. Thus ends the debate! Of course, the question of whether such a system is ideal -- or intended -- will remain.
posted by CC | 6:34 PM
2 Comments:
I agree with your concern over the nature of the system. It's particularly relevant to point out that there is currently a challenge to the state death penalty that centers around the fact that the death penalty is prosecuted differently by the different state's attorneys. Kane's selection will do nothing to counter that argument.
John, you still interested in the cooperative venture? Please contact me at ctconservative@gmail.com.
Thanks
Sean
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