Case Name: STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. TERRY D. JOHNSON
Court: Connecticut Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 2000-05-31
Citations: 254 Conn. 909
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. TERRY D. JOHNSON
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 254
Pages: 909–910

Head Matter:
STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. TERRY D. JOHNSON

Opinion:
MCDONALD, C. J.,
with whom FOTI and SCHALLER, Js., join, dissenting. I dissent from the majority's order denying reargument. The historic fact is that armed law enforcement officers are murdered in the same manner as was Trooper Russell Bagshaw, quickly and suddenly. See, e.g., State v. Castonguay, 218 Conn. 486, 590 A.2d 901 (1991) (Plainville Police Officer Robert M. Holcomb fatally shot in chest four times while interrrapting burglary); State v. Donahue, 141 Conn. 656, 659, 109 A.2d 364 (1954), appeal dismissed, cert. denied, 349 U.S. 926, 75 S. Ct. 775, 99 L. Ed. 1257 (1955) (State Police Officer Ernest J. Morse fatally shot during routine traffic stop); State v. Chapman, 103 Conn. 453, 130 A. 899 (1925) (New Britain Police Officer James Skelly fatally shot while intercepting burglary). The majority's refusal to reconsider its decision leaves Connecticut's officers, in particular, bereft of the death penalty's protection.
Decided May 31, 2000
We ask our police to enter dangerous places for our protection. I believe we owe them, at the least, a careful reconsideration of this decision.