Adele V. Patterson

Of Counsel

Direct: (860) 419-3350
Email: adele@kgb-law.com

Adele V. Patterson joins Koch, Garg & Brown as Counsel, practicing in the areas of appeals, criminal defense, and post-conviction matters. Adele returns to private practice after a 25-year career with the Connecticut Office of the Chief Public Defender. Adele is recognized as one of Connecticut’s top appellate practitioners in the areas of criminal defense and habeas corpus. Adele has achieved favorable results for clients in cases with landmark legal rulings and, more commonly, by obtaining rulings that uphold the established rights of people subjected to the criminal prosecutorial system.

Throughout her public defender career focusing on post-conviction representation, Adele also provided legal and tactical support in cases headed to trial. Adele approaches clients and their legal problems with respect, compassion, and a deep knowledge of how the law and facts may best be wielded to achieve their best results. She has handled all manner of criminal cases in the course of her career.

Adele co-taught the University of Connecticut School of Law Criminal Defense Appellate Clinic from 2016-2021; and, she taught the Quinnipiac University School of Law Criminal Defense Appellate Clinic in the 2004-05 and 2014-15 academic years. Adele has given many legal education presentations on a variety of habeas corpus and criminal defense topics. Prior to serving as a public defender, Adele was a litigation associate at a Bridgeport law firm, where she handled both civil and criminal matters in federal and state trial and appellate courts.

Adele graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in History and earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association (Appellate Practice Section) as well as the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

In her spare time, Adele enjoys travel, gardening, and eating well.

Published Decisions:

SELECTED CRIMINAL APPEALS:

  • State v. Lyons, 203 Conn. App. 551 (2021) (dismissal affirmed; proper to suppress all evidence obtained in search of address not listed on warrant)
  • State v. Ashby, 336 Conn. 452 (2020) (former capital conviction reversed where State’s reliance on jailhouse informant violated defendant’s sixth amendment right to counsel—Massiah violation proved after extensive litigation by appellate counsel team)
  • State v. Riley, 315 Conn. 637 (2015), cert. denied, 577 U.S. 1202 (2016) (juvenile sentencing procedure of Miller v. Alabama applies to de facto life sentence imposed in court’s discretion)
  • State v. Kalphat, 134 Conn. App. 232 (2012) (evidence insufficient to prove possession of marijuana with intent to sell within 1500 ft. of school under correct statutory interpretation)
  • State v. DeJesus, 92 Conn. App. 92 (2005) (court improperly submitted uncharged offense to jury; jury could have convicted on uncharged crime), appeal dismissed, 282 Conn. 783 (2007) (certification improvidently granted)
  • State v. Cortes, 84 Conn. App. 70, aff’d., 276 Conn. 241 (2005) (trial court may not refer to a complainant as the victim in front of the jury when commission of a crime is in dispute)

SELECTED HABEAS CORPUS APPEALS:

  • Gilchrist v. Commissioner, 334 Conn. 548 (2020) (first interpretation of habeas corpus procedural statute) (reversing Appellate Court decision at 180 Conn. App. 56)
  • Hinds v. Commissioner, 151 Conn. App. 837 (2014), aff’d, 321 Conn. 56 (2016) (procedural default no defense to habeas claim under later-narrowed definition of kidnapping)
  • H.P.T. v. Commissioner, 127 Conn. App. 480 (2011) (counsel ineffective in advising defendant as to plea bargaining), rev’d in part, 310 Conn. 606 (2013) (trial court, not habeas court to accept and effectuate terms of original plea offer)
  • Luurtsema v. Commissioner, 299 Conn. 740 (2011) (adopting rule that a judicial decision narrowing criminal liability will apply retroactively, in collateral proceedings)
  • James L. v. Commissioner, 245 Conn. 132 (1998) (right to effective assistance of counsel in connection with access to sentence review procedure cognizable in habeas case)

OTHER REPORTED APPEALS:

  • State v. Jose A. B., 342 Conn. 489 (2022) (amicus brief for Chief Public Defender)
  • Wright v. Commissioner, 209 Conn. App. 50, cert. denied, 341 Conn. 903 (2021)
  • State v. Arnold, 205 Conn. App. 863, cert. denied, 339 Conn. 904 (2021)
  • State v. Hall-George, 203 Conn. App. 219 (2021)
  • State v. Smith, 338 Conn. 54 (2021)
  • State v. Ingala, 199 Conn. App. 240, cert. denied, 335 Conn. 954 (2020)
  • State v. McCleese, 333 Conn. 378 (2019)
  • Kelsey v. Commissioner, 329 Conn. 711 (2018)
  • State v. Roszkowski, 329 Conn. 554 (2018)
  • Epps v. Commissioner, 153 Conn. App. 729 (2014), aff’d., 327 Conn. 482 (2018)
  • State v. Jackson, 159 Conn. App. 670 (2015), cert. granted, 325 Conn. 917 (2017), on remand at 178 Conn. App. 16 (2017), cert. denied, 327 Conn. 998 (2018)
  • State v. Erick L., 168 Conn. App. 386 (2016)
  • State v. Boyd, 323 Conn. 816 (2016) (mentoring another attorney)
  • State v. Apt, 146 Conn. App. 641 (2013), aff’d & rev’d in part, 319 Conn. 494 (2015)
  • State v. Fuller, 158 Conn. App. 378 (2015)
  • State v. Shenkman, 315 Conn. 921 (2015)
  • State v. Wilson, 142 Conn. App. 793, cert. denied, 309 Conn. 917 (2013)
  • State v. Mercado, 139 Conn. App. 99, cert. denied, 307 Conn. 943 (2012)
  • State v. Pascual, 305 Conn. 82 (2012)
  • State v. Otto, 305 Conn. 51 (2012)
  • Thompson v. Commissioner, 131 Conn. App. 671, cert. denied, 303 Conn. 902 (2011)
  • State v. Bharrat, 129 Conn. App. 1, cert. denied, 302 Conn. 905 (2011)
  • State v. Silver, 126 Conn. App. 522 (2010), cert. denied, 300 Conn. 931 (2011)
  • State v. Taylor, 101 Conn. App. 160 (2007) (as clinical supervisor)
  • State v. Pearson, 97 Conn. App. 414, cert. denied, 280 Conn. 934 (2006)
  • State v. Hamlin, 90 Conn. App. 445, cert. denied, 276 Conn. 914 (2005)
  • State v. Latour, 276 Conn. 399 (2005)
  • In Re Application For Petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus By The Office Of The Chief Public Defender As Next Friend On Behalf Of Michael B. Ross, 272 Conn. 676 (2005)
  • State v. Ouellette, 271 Conn. 740 (2004)
  • State v. Jenkins, 73 Conn. App. 150, rev’d, 271 Conn. 165 (2004), on remand, 88 Conn. App. 762, cert. denied, 275 Conn. 901 (2005)
  • State v. Benjamin, 86 Conn. App. 344 (2004)
  • State v. Crocker, 83 Conn. App. 615, cert. denied, 271 Conn. 910 (2004)
  • Hastings v. Commissioner, 82 Conn. App. 600, cert. granted, 271 Conn. 901 (2004), and dismissed, 274 Conn. 555 (2005)
  • Andrades v. Commissioner, 81 Conn. App. 538 (2004)
  • State v. D’Antonio, 79 Conn. App. 683, cert. granted, 266 Conn. 930 (2003), rev’d, 274 Conn. 658 (2005)
  • State v. D’Antonio, 79 Conn. App. 696, cert. granted, 266 Conn. 930 (2003), rev’d, 274 Conn. 658 (2005)
  • State v. Bjorklund, 79 Conn. App. 535 (2003), cert. denied, 268 Conn. 920 (2004)
  • State v. Ramos, 261 Conn. 156 (2002)
  • Pinto v. Warden, 62 Conn. App. 24, cert. denied, 256 Conn. 906 (2001)
  • Luis Rivera v. Warden, 61 Conn. App. 825, cert. denied, 256 Conn. 903 (2001)
  • Ronald Johnson v. Warden, 60 Conn. App. 1, cert. denied, 255 Conn. 902 (2000)
  • Daniel v. Warden, 57 Conn. App. 651, cert. denied, 254 Conn. 918 (2000)
  • Torrice v. Commissioner, 55 Conn. App. 1 (1999)
  • State v. Brannen, 47 Conn. App. 910 (1997), cert. denied, 243 Conn. 961 (1998)
  • United States v. Sisti, 91 F.3d 305 (2d Cir. 1996) (on briefs)
  • Jaser v. Jaser, 37 Conn. App. 194 (1994)
  • United States v. Leonard, 37 F.3d 32 (2d Cir. 1994) (on briefs)
  • State v. Chapman, 16 Conn. App. 38, cert. denied, 209 Conn. 827 (1988)

Licensed to practice in:
Connecticut
District of Connecticut
Second Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court