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Connecticut Trial and Appellate Attorney

I am an attorney and also a writer. When I am not advocating for clients, I write legal and political commentary, sports and cultural articles, fiction and law practice guides. I have been published online and in newspapers. 

Christopher Dematteo

Attorney


CHRISTOPHER DEMATTEO


I am a trial and appellate attorney  with much of my experience representing individuals who are accused of crimes, injured physically or financially or involved with DCF. I ran my own practice, DeMatteo Legal Solutions, from 2012 to 2022. In March 2022, I joined the New Haven law firm Pattis and Smith as an Associate Attorney.
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Chris DeMatteo went to law school and passed the bar. He has been representing clients for more than a decade and comments on legal and political issues. He's a lawyer. He's a writer. He's a law talking guy.

Law is the fabric of American society. From the earliest colonial codes and the common law, the United States is built on rules and principles, many of which have evolved over time. The Constitution, its amendments and cases that decided them establish limits for the government and liberties for the people. It was not and still is not perfect--especially in the areas of civil rights and liberties which have been progressing (although not always in a straight line)--but the legal and legislative processes provide us the means to improve. The Fourteenth Amendment and Civil Rights Act of 1964 are in my opinion the most significant developments in law since the Constitution and Bill of Rights were ratified.

I became a lawyer in order to be a player in our nation of laws. I decided to represent individuals to help them navigate what has become a complex system and make sure that their rights--our rights--are protected and their voices heard. I focus strongly, in my representation and in my writing, on the First and Fourth amendments and the rights of the accused.

Most of my practice has focused on representing criminal defendants in prosecutions by the State followings arrests by the police and parents and children in child protection proceedings and investigations initiated by the State through its Department of Children and Families. I have tried dozens of cases and obtained victories and other great results for clients. I have also taken appeals to the Superior and Appellate courts of Connecticut. Additionally, I represent individuals in civil and administrative actions.

I take a liberal view of the Constitution: that it should be construed narrowly in powers of the government and broadly in favor of liberties to the people. I do not see it as a set of statutes in which all rights and liberties are enumerated. Although I would not have used the word "penumbra," I agree that there are themes and principles that are inherent even if not explicit in the Constitution and amendments, such as rights to privacy and family integrity. I also take a skeptical view of court-invented exceptions and balancing tests that are also not anywhere in the text of the Constitution and its amendments.