About Our Section

The Criminal Justice Section aims to provide a forum for judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys to exchange ideas regarding criminal law on a monthly basis, present speakers to the section on topics that impact the practice of criminal law, and provide input to the state and federal legislatures regarding proposed bills affecting criminal law.


Section Executive Committee

Chair
Christopher DeMatteo
Pattis & Paz, LLC
383 Orange St. 1st Floor
New Haven, CT 06511
(203)393-3017
cdematteo@pattispazlaw.com

Vice Chair
John DelBarba
Office of the Chief Public Defender
55 Farmington Ave, 8th Floor
Hartford, CT 06105
john.delbarba@pds.ct.gov

Treasurer
Alexandra Arroyo

Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice
101 Lafayette Street
Hartford, CT 06101
alexandraarroyo140@gmail.com

 

Interested in Joining the Section?

You can join the Criminal Justice Section at anytime throughout the bar year.

Join the Section Today

Already a Member of the Section?

If you are already a member of the section you must log in to access the section documents.

Log In

Upcoming Events

  • May 19
    Inside Connecticut Corrections: Healthcare, Oversight, and the Path to Systemic Reform (ECR260519)
    CBA Law Center and Virtual- CLE Pass Eligible
    538 Preston Ave., 3rd Fl.
    Meriden
    United States
    2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

    This program provides an in-depth look at the Connecticut Department of Correction through the work of the Office of the Correction Ombuds. Panelists will examine the statutory authority and investigative role of the Ombuds Office, current conditions of confinement—with a particular focus on access to medical care—and the systemic challenges facing correctional institutions, including staffing shortages and operational strain. The discussion will integrate legal standards, oversight findings, and lived experience to provide practical guidance for attorneys and families navigating the system, while also offering a candid assessment of what meaningful institutional reform requires. The program will address both prevailing concerns and common misconceptions about incarceration, grounding the discussion in constitutional obligations and real-world outcomes.

Latest Related News

Section Annual Reports