MONTPELIER – Governor Phil Scott has announced the appointment of Claire Burns as Caledonia County State’s Attorney.
She has served as interim state’s attorney since August 1, following former State’s Attorney Jessica Zaleski’s departure. Vermont governors appoint state’s attorney vacancies based on the recommendations of county political parties. Burns was recommended to the governor by the Caledonia County Republican Committee.
Burns joined the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s office as a deputy state’s attorney in August, 2021, after three years working as a recovery services clinician at the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital. Burns has worked in public defenders’ offices in Colorado and California, representing individuals at all stages of criminal proceedings, including those facing deportation at the Aurora ICE Processing Center, as well as at a juvenile detention center in Colorado, providing group and individual therapy. Burns received a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University.
