The Criminal Justice Commission is seeking public comment as its begins the process of selecting Connecticut's next chief state's attorney.

Members of the public will be allowed to speak for three minutes each at a forum from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Chief State's Attorney Kevin T. Kane, 76, of Killingworth announced in August that he will be retiring on Nov. 1, ending a 47-year career as a prosecutor. Kane is three years into his third five-year term as the state's top prosecutor.

The chief state's attorney heads up the Division of Criminal Justice, an independent agency of the state's executive branch of government, which includes the main office in Rocky Hill and state's attorney's offices in each of the state's 13 judicial districts.

The Criminal Justice Commission will be conducting the appointment hearing for a new chief state's attorney at the Capitol for the first time, at a date yet to be announced, as required by a newly passed law, Public Act 19-59. The appointment hearings have always been conducted publicly, but previously took place at the Division of Criminal Justice building in Rocky Hill.

"The retirement of Chief State's Attorney Kane not only marks the end of a remarkable career, but the end of an era for the Division of Criminal Justice, the criminal justice system and Connecticut law enforcement," Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, chair of the commission, said in a news release. "This is the single-most important appointment the Criminal Justice Commission makes and we certainly want to proceed with transparency and input from the public and those who work in or with the criminal justice system in various capacities," he said.

In addition to Justice McDonald, the commission's membership includes Superior Court Judge Melanie L. Cradle and attorneys Robert M. Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott J. Murphy and Moy N. Ogilvie.

Members of the public are welcome to submit written comments at the Oct. 11 hearing. Anyone submitting written comments is requested to bring eight copies of their remarks.