State Supreme Court Dismisses Dulos Gag Order Appeal

HARTFORD, CT — The state Supreme Court late Wednesday dismissed a motion to continue a gag order appeal in the Dulos murder case.

The decision, which did not offer an explanation, is a stinging defeat for attorney Norm Pattis, the hard-charging lawyer who represented the late Fotis Dulos against charges that he murdered his estranged wife, Jennifer Farber Dulos.

Superior Court Judge John Blawie issued the gag order in the case last year that prohibited legal counsel on both sides, members of law enforcement, potential witnesses and others from speaking publicly about the case. Pattis argued that the order was unfair, because he believed it impeded a rigorous defense of his client. The gag order remains in effect.

Fotis Dulos committed suicide in late January, prompting state prosecutors to request a dismissal of the gag order appeal. Prosecutors also are seeking a dismissal of the underlying murder charges against Fotis Dulos because he is dead.

Pattis wanted the gag order appeal upheld, and he is seeking a continuation of the murder case, in an effort to posthumously clear his client name.

Patch reached out to Pattis for a comment concerning the state Supreme Court's decision, but did not immediately receive a reply.

Jennifer Dulos vanished on May 24 of last year, and prosecutors believe Fotis Dulos murdered her with the assistance of his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and his friend, attorney Kent Mawhinney. Her body has not been found.

Troconis and Mawhinney are facing conspiracy charges in the case, and are both scheduled to appear in court in March.

State prosecutors will seek to have Fotis Dulos' murder charge dismissed during a hearing on March 3, while Pattis will argue to keep the case going.