Committee hears support for amendment to reduce pay for state's attorneys not licensed to practice

Chair Mr. Trik convened the Government Operations Committee on April 28 to gather feedback on a budget amendment that would reduce the salary of a state's attorney who is not licensed or authorized to practice law, an amendment the chair said would be offered by Senator Hardy on third reading the following day.

Rutland County State's Attorney Ian Sullivan testified he supports the amendment. "For all those reasons, I I personally support the amendment," Sullivan said, laying out four connected points: the amendment would create pay equity with a prior statute affecting sheriffs; state's attorneys carry caseloads and supervise others while practicing; there is no robust plan to redistribute caseloads if an elected prosecutor cannot practice; and the Vermont rules of…