Court Opinion

ID: 9532376
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:20:48.053032+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:45.109506
License: Public Domain

Cotter, C. J.
(dissenting). I disagree in the result and would suggest that the state’s attorney invoke the jurisdictional provision in General Statutes § 51-281 to permit another state’s attorney to proceed with the prosecution of this matter. It is evident that another state’s attorney would he available to conduct the prosecution and there would be no reason to invoke the alternative course provided in § 51-277. The resolution of this matter involves a policy judgment and another state’s attorney should continue with the prosecution without any suggestion, intimation or insinuation of impropriety.
I would reaffirm the oft iterated principles enunciated in Low v. Madison, 135 Conn. 1, 5-10, 60 A.2d *458774, and apply the standards articulated therein to the situation where a public official acts in a prosecutorial capacity in which the functional interests or relationship may affect the office and create an appearance of possible conflict.
Although there has been no showing to the present of conduct evincing improper motives, bad faith, clear abuse of power or plain disregard of duty, since the potentiality of an aura or an appearance of divided loyalty which would create a disqualifying factor under the strict and scrupulous standards of Low is certainly possible, the more appropriate course to take would be to act under General Statutes § 51-281. Such a course would avoid any possible charge of impropriety under Low. I do not indulge in an assumption that public officials have acted dishonorably, but I would follow required standards involving a philosophy of conduct in which patent fairness and impartiality are fundamental. Daly v. Town Plan & Zoning Commission, 150 Conn. 495, 499, 191 A.2d 250.
Anything which tends to weaken public confidence is against public policy. Kovalik v. Planning & Zoning Commission, 155 Conn. 497, 498-99, 234 A.2d 838. The policy we have adopted heretofore is directed against the evil inherent in the creation of a situation which weakens public confidence. Schwartz v. Hamden, 168 Conn. 8, 18, 357 A.2d 488. No room should be given for suspicion or cavil; therefore I am constrained to dissent.
In this opinion Peters, J., concurred.