John Smriga. Photo: Autumn Driscoll

As a prosecutor for 40 years, including 11 as Fairfield state's attorney, John Smriga was looking forward to retirement, beginning Jan. 31.

The 66-year-old Shelton resident was contemplating what to do in retirement with his wife Kimberly.

But then Bridgeport criminal defense attorney Robert Berke paid Smriga a visit. And Berke had plans for the would-be retiree.

The visitor ran the The Law Office of Robert Berke, a two-person operation where he and wife Robin handled all aspects of criminal law. He invited Smriga aboard.

"I liked the way Rob pitched his offer to me," said Smriga, who joined Berke's firm Feb. 21. "He put it in terms that I would not be required to do things that were not my strength. I'd be using the experience I've gained over the years as a prosecutor and applying that to criminal defense."

Smriga and Berke agreed that the former prosecutor, who had never worked in private practice, would work on cases involving criminal defense and those dealing with police-involved shootings and investigations of civil rights cases.

Smriga, who worked most of his career in Part A, which is the criminal division, said, "I think I can be helpful to people accused of crimes. I have considerable experience investigating police shootings, and I can see myself representing people who were injured in interactions with police."

Smriga will not work out of the law firm every day, but rather "as needed," he said.

"I'm ready to go," Smriga said. "I will have some control on how much work I take on. As with anything else, sometimes you get busy and there is a lot of work to do and other times, not as much,"

Already, Smriga said he is working on several cases, but declined to elaborate on the specific caseload.

Berke, an attorney for 28 years who said his office handles about 80 cases a month, predicted an uptick with Smriga on board.

"I do expect we will get more cases with John here," Berke said. "It will be an increase in business for us. John has a phenomenal reputation and is well-known in the community as state's attorney, where he spent a lot of time working with community organizations."

Berke said he was always impressed with how Smriga went about his job.

"We've had, literally, hundreds of cases as adversaries," Berke said. "He was always tough, but fair. He brings experience, but also prestige and the ability to look at cases from a perspective I've never had as being the head law enforcement officer for the Fairfield district."

Smriga will go from being the boss, where he oversaw 45 people, to working for someone else. It's a change to which he looks forward.

"Not being the boss is actually a relief," Smriga said. "It's a relief because I trust Rob, and it's nice that someone else will be making the decisions for a change."

Smriga received his law degree from St. John's University in Queens, New York, in 1980.

Read more:

John Smriga's Swan Song: Fairfield State's Attorney Is Retiring