When is the next state’s attorney election?
State's attorneys in Vermont were last elected on November 8, 2022, with a primary on August 9. The next state's attorney election will be in 2026.
Who is my state's attorney?
| County | State's Attorney | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addison County | Eva Vekos | Contact | [email protected] |
| Bennington County | Erica Marthage | Contact | [email protected] |
| Caledonia County | Jessica Zaleski | Contact | [email protected] |
| Chittenden County |
Sarah George |
Contact | [email protected] |
| Essex County |
Vincent Illuzzi |
Contact | |
| Franklin County | (Interim) Bram W. Kranichfeld | Contact | |
| Grand Isle County | Douglas DiSabito | Contact | |
| Lamoille County |
(Interim) Aliena Gerhard |
Contact | |
| Orange County | Colin Seaman | Contact | |
| Orleans County | Farzana Leyva | Contact | |
| Rutland County |
Ian Sullivan |
Contact | |
| Washington County | Michelle Donnelly | Contact | |
| Windham County |
Tracy Kelly Shriver |
Contact | |
| Windsor County | Ward Goodenough | Contact |
What is prosecutorial reform?
Prosecutorial reform is a nationwide movement that asks prosecutors to stop focusing on punishment and start focusing on the collective health and well-being of the communities they represent.
This means looking for alternatives to imprisonment, diverting people to restorative justice and treatment, and considering the cost to families and taxpayers before recommending someone be jailed. It also requires using innovative strategies to promote racial equity so BIPOC individuals are no longer treated more harshly than their white neighbors.
We will accomplish this by educating people about the importance of state’s attorneys, fostering transparency, empowering Vermonters to hold their state’s attorneys accountable, highlighting the good work that some state’s attorneys are doing to reform our legal system, and shining a light on problems within the system.
Why focus on state's attorneys?
State’s attorneys have tremendous power and, traditionally, very little oversight, transparency, or accountability. State’s attorneys impact the lives of thousands of people and entire communities.
If someone is accused of committing a crime, it is not the police but the state’s attorney who has the sole power to decide if criminal charges are filed and how severe those charges will be. State’s attorneys get to decide whether to hold police officers accountable for misconduct, who they will recommend for pretrial detention, who will be routed into a diversion program to help rebuild their life, and who will have charges dismissed. State’s attorneys have the power to reform our legal system — or to keep maintaining the ineffective policies and practices that have contributed to the crisis of mass incarceration.
How do I run for state's attorney?
To run for office, you will need to collect 100 signatures and submit your filing paperwork to your county office. You can read more about the process on the Vermont Secretary of State’s website.
Who is behind this campaign?
This criminal legal reform campaign is led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont (ACLU-VT). The campaign includes raising public awareness about the tremendous power prosecutors wield, research and reporting on prosecutorial activity, legislative lobbying, and voter education.
You can participate by sharing your story about interacting with the criminal legal system, spreading the word about this website, signing up for emails to learn about ACLU-VT’s latest work, or following us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.