Connecticut Divorce and Family Law attorney Matthew A. Crockett is a former Judge and former state prosecutor with extensive trial experience. Matthew is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and veteran of the Iraq war. As a criminal prosecutor, military legal assistance attorney, military defense attorney, and military judge, Matthew has experienced and excelled in diverse roles all in the pursuit of justice. Since joining the McConnell Family Law Group he has limited his practice to matrimonial and family law.
Upon graduating law school, Matthew was commissioned as a Marine Officer and spent three years as a prosecutor at Camp Lejeune, NC and Camp Pendleton, CA. During this time, he litigated numerous contested criminal cases to verdict before judges and juries. Additionally, as a legal assistance attorney, he assisted Marines and their dependents in preparation of wills, powers of attorney, and family law pleadings.
In 2004, after being honorably discharged from active duty, Matthew was appointed by the Connecticut Criminal Justice Commission to serve as an Assistant State’s Attorney to prosecute in the Windham State’s Attorney’s Office. After a few years prosecuting family violence cases, Matthew was promoted to prosecute major felony cases. For over a decade, Matthew handled hundreds of cases involving homicide, child sexual abuse and exploitation, child abuse, serious assault, robbery, and narcotics trafficking. He litigated dozens of contested major felony cases to verdict before judges and juries. In addition to prosecuting cases Matthew frequently lectured on law enforcement best practices in domestic violence investigations, investigation of strangulation offenses, and technology facilitated crimes against children. He was also a member of the National District Attorney’s DNA working group and helped propose and draft Connecticut’s current criminal strangulation statute.
In the Marine Corps reserves, Lieutenant Colonel Crockett has served as a platoon commander, executive officer, defense attorney, trial advocacy trainer (NITA), adjunct professor, and military judge. In 2006-2007, Matthew deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq to serve as a Civil Affairs Team Leader in support of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Regiment in Al Q’aim.
Since joining the McConnell Family Law Group, Matthew has shifted his focus towards handling complex cases including divorce, custody, paternity, child support, alimony, modification, contempt and post judgment litigation. Matthew also handles complex financial and property litigation matters including retirement, pension, investment accounts, inheritance, source of funds and tracing for non-marital property, business valuation, stock and stock options, monetary award, real estate issues and the like. Matthew’s ability to analyze complex cases, utilize necessary experts and prepare comprehensive trial strategies allows him to advise clients on the best options for litigation or a negotiated settlement to maximize a successful outcome.
Like all attorneys at the McConnell Family Law Group, Matthew believes that the best way to assure a fair settlement is to first develop all the facts, then be prepared for the worst with the ultimate goal being to achieve “peace through strength” with the most cost effective methodology.
Matthew is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association (family law section) and Maine Bar Association. He was raised in the Mystic, Connecticut area and is the proud father of two boys and one daughter.
