Gail Hardy. Gail Hardy. Photo: Josalee Thrift

Hartford State's Attorney Gail Hardy withdrew her name from consideration for an eight-year term Monday, before the Criminal Justice Commission voted on the matter, according to commission chairman and Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald.

The seven-member commission announced Hardy's decision at about 3:15 p.m. on Monday.

The commission heard public comments via Zoom from numerous stakeholders this morning and afternoon.

The news follows Hardy's June 18 suspension for four days without pay for her involvement in the handling of several police-involved shootings. Hardy was suspended for her role in failing to report the findings of four police-involved shootings in a timely manner.

At the time, the state's NBC affiliate quoted McDonald as saying there was a "serious dereliction in duty for her inexcusable delay in submitting these reports." The shootings, the outlet reported, occurred between 2008 and 2012.

Hardy, who had been in her post for 13 years, was suspended without pay for June 19 and June 22-24. She returned to work on Thursday, and appeared before the commission Friday for four hours.

Hardy, who became the state's first Black state's attorney in 2007, couldn't be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Before Hardy withdrew as one of the state's top prosecutors, the commission heard from her supporters and opponents.

Speaking in support of Hardy was Geraldo Parrilla, a member of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association.

"She is a mentor, leader and advocate," Parrilla said Monday. "Attorney Hardy has opened the doors for black attorneys. Attorney Hardy has done her job with integrity and honorably. We ought to consider her entire body of work. We should not judge her competency on these cases alone."

Also voicing support for Hardy was former Connecticut attorney Corey Brinson.

Brinson said he had interactions with Hardy because he represented a man who Hartford police shot and injured.

"She was thoughtful and fair in the case in dealing with my client, who had mental health issues," Brinson said. "As someone who watched her and worked with her in her years as a prosecutor, she is very fair. I'd like to see Ms. Hardy get a second chance and not have her story end here."

There were also voices against the reappointment.

They included resident Randy Watson, who identified himself as a member of the Black Lives Matter movement. "I strongly oppose the reappointment of Gail Hardy. She has failed miserably. I feel the suspension is not enough, and she should not be reappointed," Watson said.

Another critic was Joe Verrengia, a Democratic member of the state's House of Representatives and co-chairman of the Public Safety Committee.

Verrengia said, in part: "I certainly appreciate the work of all of the State's attorneys in this state. But we must hold people in power accountable. I think if Ms. Hardy is reappointed, it would be a step in the wrong direction."

The board did vote to reappoint Maureen Platt to another term as Waterbury State's Attorney.

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