The Honorable Richard N. Palmer, Chair of the Criminal Justice Commission, announced today that the Commission has appointed Michael Regan as State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New London.

The appointment, effective immediately, is for a term expiring June 30, 2009. Attorney Regan succeeds Kevin T. Kane, who served as State’s Attorney for 11 years until this appointment as Chief State’s Attorney.

Attorney Regan has served as Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New London since August 2001. He joined the joined the Division of Criminal Justice beginning in July 1982 as an intern and Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney and was hired as a Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney in January 1986.

 “We congratulate State’s Attorney Regan on his appointment and wish him the very best as he takes on this important leadership role in the criminal justice system. We are confident that he will serve in the great tradition of the Judicial District of New London,” Justice Palmer said.

“We also wish to thank all who applied for the position, and would like to also thank Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lawrence J. Tytla for serving as acting State’s Attorney in the interim,” Justice Palmer added.

State’s Attorney Regan is the chief law enforcement officer in the Judicial District of New London, which includes the 21 communities that constitute New London County.

The Criminal Justice Commission was established by Article XXIII of the Connecticut Constitution and is responsible for the appointment of all state prosecutors in Connecticut with the exception of juvenile prosecutors. It is chaired by Justice Palmer, an Associate Justice of the state Supreme Court.

In addition to Justice Palmer, the Commission members are the Honorable Thomas A. Bishop, Judge of the Appellate Court, and attorneys Peter M. Holland, Garrett M. Moore, Ann G. Taylor and Alfred A. Turco. The Chief State’s Attorney is also a member of the Commission but does not participate in the appointment of the Chief State’s Attorney or the Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys.