JOHN F. CAMPBELL, ESQ.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
110 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-6401
PHONE: (802) 828-2891 FAX: (802) 828-2881
STATE OF VERMONT
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S ATTORNEYS & SHERIFFS
May 2, 2023
VIA E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE
Honorable Speaker Jill Krowinski
Office of the Speaker
Re: State’s Attorney John Lavoie, Franklin County
Dear Madame Speaker:
The Office of the Executive Director of the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, acting on the recommendation and support of the State’s Attorneys’ Executive Committee requests that, pursuant to Vermont’s Constitution, Vt. Const., Ch. II, § 57, the Vermont House of Representatives commence an investigation to determine whether there are grounds to initiate impeachment proceedings against Franklin County State’s Attorney John Lavoie.
Vermont’s Constitution provides:
Every officer of State, whether judicial or executive, shall be liable to be impeached by the House of Representatives, either when in office or after resignation or removal for maladministration. The Senate shall have the sole power of trying and deciding upon all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath, or affirmation, and no person shall be convicted, without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold or enjoy any office of honor, or profit, or trust, under this State. But the person convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law.
Vt. Const., Ch. II, § 58.
Upon credible information derived from a formal and independent professional investigation into allegations of misconduct, the Department believes that the threshold for impeachment – namely for maladministration of office – has been satisfied. Accordingly, we ask that House of Representatives move forward expeditiously with an inquiry and any actions deemed appropriate. Thank you.
Sincerely,
John F. Campbell
Executive Director
cc: Senator Phillip Baruth
Office of the President Pro Tempore
The original PDF copy of this letter can be found here FCSAO-Letter-to-GA.pdf