COUNTY JUDGES AND OFFICERS

About the Assistant Judges

Jean Coloutti was born in Hackensack, NJ and became a resident of Rutland City in 1968. Her education includes Lasell College and the College of St. Joseph in Rutland where she received a B.S. in Business Administration. Prior to being elected Assistant Judge, she was employed as an Administrative Assistant and served as the Clerk and President of the Rutland City School Board; Vice President and Secretary of the Vermont Association of County Judges from 1992 to 2015; President of the Rutland League of Women Voters; Chairperson of the Rutland State Aid to Education Committee and was a member of the Rutland City Committee for Federal Revenue Sharing.

Jean has served as Assistant Judge since February of 1991 and presides in Small Claims Court and at Traffic Hearings for the Judicial Bureau. She also has presided on uncontested divorces in Family Court and sits as an Assistant Judge in Family and Civil Court. Jean is a graduate of the Special Court Jurisdiction Program at the National Judicial College of the University of Nevada in Reno.

She is married to Joseph Coloutti and they have two sons and three granddaughters.

Stephen Bernard
Judge Benard began his law enforcement career as a Deputy Sheriff at Rutland County Sheriff’s Department in June of 1979.

He continued as a Patrolman for the Town of Ludlow, VT, working thru the ranks of Sergeant and Acting Chief, returning to Rutland County Sheriff’s Department in 1990.

He again advanced thru the ranks, eventually being appointed by Governor James Douglas as Sheriff in 2004. He served as Rutland County Sheriff for 16 years, retiring in March of 2020. As Sheriff he served on the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council for 15 years and as its chair for five years. He has served on many statewide boards and grant review committees.

Judge Benard has received continuing education at the College of Saint Joseph, majoring in business administration, the FBI National Academy, majoring in law enforcement administration and leadership, the National Sheriff’s Institute, majoring in the history of sheriffs, politics and media relations.

Judge Benard is a member and past president of the Wallingford Memorial Rotary Club, and past member of the Rutland City Rotary. A fifth-gereration Vermonter, he resides in Clarendon.

Rutland County Notaries

Rutland County Notaries by town:
Benson
Brandon
Forestdale Post Office
Castleton
Bomoseen Post Office
Hydeville Post Office
Chittenden
Clarendon
North Clarendon Post Office
Danby
Fair Haven
Hubbardton
Ira
Killington
Mendon
Middletown Springs
Mount Holly
Belmont Post Office
East Wallingford Post Office
Mount Tabor
Pawlet
West Pawlet Post Office
Pittsfield
Pittsford
Florence Post Office
Poultney
Proctor
Rutland City
Rutland Town
Center Rutland Post Office
Shrewsbury
Cuttingsville Post Office
Sudbury
Tinmouth
Wallingford
Wells
West Haven
West Rutland