Chief Justice William J. Sullivan has appointed Superior Court Judge Salvatore C. Agati as co-chair of the Judicial Branch's Office of Victims Services' Advisory Council.

"I look forward to serving as co-chairperson on the OVS Advisory Council," Judge Agati said. "I anticipate becoming aware of and working on victims issues as they arise in the context of judicial proceedings. My hope is that my exposure on the Advisory Council will prove valuable to the Council, as well as to my colleagues on the bench."

Judge Agati was appointed to the bench in November 2000, and he currently serves at the Geographical Area 2 Courthouse in Bridgeport. Before that, he served at the Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse and the Geographical Area Courthouse 18 in Bantam.

Attorney Michelle M. Duprey will serve as co-chair with Judge Agati on the 15-member Advisory Council. Attorney Duprey's office is in New Haven.

Under state law, the Council makes recommendations to OVS on programs, legislation, and other matters that would improve services to crime victims. Council members also make recommendations to develop and coordinate needs assessments for both court-based and community-based victim services. Not later than Dec. 15 of each year, the Council must report the results of its findings and activities to the Chief Court Administrator.

The Office of Victim Services is charged with providing staff services to the Advisory Council. The 2002-2006 Council term began on Sept. 1, 2002, and Council members met on Sept. 17. Annually, the Council must meet at least six times.

By statute, the Chief Justice appoints members of the Advisory Council. Other members on the Council are: Attorney Joseph W. Bibisi, Chief Victim Compensation Commissioner; Robert J. Bosco, Director of the Judicial Branch's Strategic Management Unit; Larry Bostrom of the Connecticut Alliance For Victims of Violence and Their Families; Chester Brodnicki, Executive Director of Clifford Beers Clinic; Gail Burns-Smith, Executive Director of the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services; John Duffey, Victim Services Unit, State Department of Correction; Steve Eppler-Epstein, Deputy Director of Connecticut Legal Services; Carol Fenton of Family Services Woodfield; Waterbury Police Chief Edward Flaherty of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association; Mary Galvin, State's Attorney for the Ansonia-Milford Judicial District; Lisa Holden, Executive Director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Janice Heggie Margolis of Mothers Against Drunk Driving; and Le Lien Smith, Project Coordinator for the Connecticut Coalition of Mutual Assistance Associations.

For further information, please contact Rhonda Stearley-Hebert, Manager of Communications, at (860) 757-2270.