BARRE — This year saw a new state’s attorney take over in Washington County, while the former prosecutor was appointed as a judge.
Michelle Donnelly defeated Bridget Grace in last year’s primary election for state’s attorney. Donnelly is a former deputy prosecutor who worked under Tom Kelly. She had been teaching at the Vermont Law & Graduate School and served as lead attorney at the school’s South Royalton Legal Clinic, where she ran the Family Law Project.
The state’s attorney at the time, Rory Thibault, chose not to seek re-election and instead ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general. Grace was a deputy prosecutor who worked under Thibault and had his endorsement.
Donnelly would go on to run unopposed in the general election after defeating Grace in the Democratic primary.
She was sworn in as state’s attorney in February. Donnelly said at that time that she was ready to dive into the job.
She is believed to be the first woman elected as state’s attorney in Washington County. Kristin Gozzi, a veteran deputy prosecutor who has handled the juvenile docket at the courthouse in Barre for many years, is believed to be the first woman to hold the position. Gozzi briefly served as acting state’s attorney after Scott Williams resigned in January 2018.
Thibault, who previously worked under Williams as chief deputy before leaving to work in the state attorney general’s office, was then appointed state’s attorney by Gov. Phil Scott and ran unopposed for the position later in 2018. After his unsuccessful run for attorney general last year, he had worked for the state Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs.
In June, Gov. Scott announced he had appointed Thibault as a superior court judge.
The governor said in his statement announcing Thibault’s appointment, “Rory has a proven track record of public service in Vermont throughout his time as a prosecutor, in the U.S. Army, and as an active member in his community. I’m confident his experience, work ethic and temperament will make him a strong Superior Court judge.”
Thibault previously served as a JAG officer overseas in the U.S. Army and has served as an officer in the Army Reserve. He also had been serving on the Cabot School Board, but resigned from the board following the appointment.
Thibault is on the bench overseeing cases in Caledonia, Orleans and Essex counties.
