Deputy chief state’s attorney wins reappointment

John J. Russotto, Connecticut’s deputy chief state’s attorney, has been reappointed to another four-year term, the Criminal Justice Commission announced Monday.

Russotto was first appointed to the role in 2004, after joining the state’s division of criminal justice in

1997. He worked on cases that included public corruption and homicide cold cases after becoming a prosecutor, the commission said in a news release.

“Attorney Russotto has served the Division of Criminal Justice very well as both a prosecutor, and for years, as an administrator,” Justice Andrew McDonald said in a statement. “The division counts on his knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system as well as his years of experience in handling the division’s administration.”

The commission also announced the appointments of Christian Watson, who will serve as state’s attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain, and John P. Doyle Jr. as state’s attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven.

Watson succeeds Brian Preleski, who was appointed a state judge earlier this year. Watson will serve a full eight-year-term, since

Preleski’s term was set to expire at the end of June, the commission said. Doyle fills a seat left vacant by former

State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin, who was appointed the new chief state’s attorney. Doyle will serve the remainder of Griffin’s term, which expires in 2025, the commission said.

Watson previously worked for the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in New York and served as a prosecutor in Connecticut for six years before a stint in private practice. He joined the New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office in 2010, the commission said.

Doyle worked as a prosecutor in the New Haven judicial district for 22 years. He also served in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.

“The commission congratulates attorneys Doyle and Watson on their appointments as state’s attorneys,” McDonald said in a statement. “We are confident they will serve in the great tradition of the former state’s attorneys in the New Haven and New Britain judicial districts. On behalf of the commission, I wish them the very best as the division moves forward to address important issues facing the criminal justice system today.”