Senate president pro tempore John Campbell has taken a job as a part-time deputy prosecutor in Windsor County.
Campbell, D-Windsor, who just finished his second term as pro tem, said his new job opened his eyes to the world of criminal justice in a way that he – and very few other legislators — understand.
“In three weeks what I have observed is how little we in the Legislature know about the criminal system,” he said.
Campbell is working 20 hours a week and handling primarily juvenile cases where the Department for Children and Families is involved.
The tedious process of waiting for hearings wastes DCF workers’ time, he said. He and two case workers recently waited two hours for a hearing, time the workers should be out visiting children, he said.
Caseworkers are definitely overworked and the emotional toll is huge, he said.
Campbell, who said he plans to run for a third term as pro tem if re-elected in November, said the job will not be a conflict of interest. He will recuse himself from voting on his salary, he said.
Speaking of salary, Campbell will earn about $30,000 in his part-time gig. He would have made less but did not take benefits, which he said he gets through his wife’s employment.
Campbell, 60, said he took the job not for the money – his civil practice earned him a good living – but because he has always wanted to be a prosecutor.
State’s Attorney Michael Kainen said he and Campbell are old friends. He could have hired an intern from his office, many of whom expressed interest, but he needed to unload cases quickly to someone he could trust and who has experience.
“He doesn’t have any criminal experience but he’s certainly been in the courtroom before,” Kainen said.
Campbell said the two lived down the street from each other and have known each other for 20 years. Campbell has also worked as a police officer in Florida.
“It’s certainly not a high-paying job, but fortunately I’ve had a civil practice that’s been pretty good,” he said.
Kainen said he has been swamped with work lately, especially juvenile cases. There has been a spike in the number of cases filed, from about 80 last year to about 124 this year, following the death of several children who had had contact with the Department for Children and Families, he said.
“Lately, our numbers have gone through the roof,” he said.
Kainen said he gave Campbell cases that he believes should wrap up before the Legislature resumes in January.
Kainen said his office was allowed to hire a half-time position after the Legislature approved three new positions this year. Rutland and Washington counties each got one new attorney and Windsor and Addison split the remaining post.
Kainen agreed there is no conflict of interest, pointing to former Essex County prosecutor Vincent Illuzzi who also served as a state senator, as well as himself, a former legislator, and Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, who has a contract with the Defender General’s Office.
“Legislators naturally bring their knowledge and expertise,” he said.
