State's Attorney Named For Manchester, Enfield, Hartford Courts

HARTFORD COUNTY, CT — The Hon. Andrew J. McDonald, chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission, announced Friday that the commission has appointed Sharmese L. Walcott as state's attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford.

Walcott was appointed to a term that will expire on July 1, 2028 and is succeeding Gail P. Hardy, who had been serving as Hartford state's attorney since 2007.

In June of this year, Hardy was appointed as executive assistant state's attorney for diversity and inclusion in the Division of Criminal Justice. She began her work in that position Friday.

At the Commission's virtual meeting Thursday, the appointment of Walcott was approved by a vote of 6-1, with commission member Robert M. Berke voting in the negative.

"I congratulate State’s Attorney Walcott on her appointment to this important position. In addition to managing one of the largest jurisdictions in the state, she will also be an integral part of the senior management in the Division of Criminal Justice," Justice McDonald said. "On behalf of the Commission, I wish her the very best as the Division moves forward to address the critical issues facing the Judicial District of Hartford and the entire criminal justice system."

Walcott will be the chief law enforcement officer in the Judicial District of Hartford, which includes the capital city and 18 surrounding communities. The state's attorney oversees employees at the Judicial District courthouse in Hartford, Geographical Area courts in Enfield, Hartford and Manchester and the Juvenile Court and Community Court in Hartford.

State’s Attorney Walcott joined the Division of Criminal Justice in 2007 in the Danbury Judicial District after working in private practice at her own law firm from 2004-2007. She moved to the Hartford Judicial District in 2018 where she served until her appointment as Executive Assistant State’s Attorney in 2020.

State’s Attorney Walcott earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and a Juris Doctor Degree from the George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C.

Established under Article XXIII of the Connecticut Constitution, the Criminal Justice Commission is responsible for the appointment of all state prosecutors in Connecticut.

In addition to Justice McDonald, Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, its membership includes Superior Court Judge Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott J. Murphy and Moy N. Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Richard J. Colangelo, Jr.