Courts in Connecticut
| More information on Connecticut's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Connecticut, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Connecticut's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
Selection of the state court judges in Connecticut relies on the assisted appointment method. While all Connecticut's appellate and superior courts employ this method (and share almost every selection-related policy as well), the probate courts select their judges through partisan elections.[1][2]
The judges of the Connecticut Supreme Court, Connecticut Appellate Court, and Connecticut Superior Court all serve eight-year terms. Judges of the Connecticut Probate Courts serve four-year terms.[3]
Across the state's appellate and trial courts, there are seven supreme court justices, nine court of appeals judges, and 185 superior court judges.
To read more about judicial elections in Connecticut, click here.
Federal courts
The federal district court in Connecticut is the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 7, 2012 - |
Amherst College, 1989 |
Yale Law School, 1993 |
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| February 25, 2014 - |
Yale College, 1985 |
Yale Law School, 1989 |
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| November 21, 2014 - |
Columbia University, 1986 |
Harvard Law School, 1989 |
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| September 13, 2018 - |
Cornell University, 1985 |
University of Connecticut School of Law, 1988 |
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| November 2, 2021 - |
Stanford University, 2005 |
University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2008 |
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| November 12, 2021 - |
University of Connecticut |
University of Connecticut |
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| October 18, 2023 - |
University of Connecticut |
University of Connecticut |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 6
- Republican appointed: 1
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
State supreme court
- See also: Connecticut Supreme Court
Founded in 1784, the Connecticut Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court seat is vacant.
As of September 2024, all six judges on the court were appointed by Democratic governors.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Supreme Court | Joan K. Alexander | Nonpartisan | April 30, 2022 |
| Connecticut Supreme Court | Gregory D'Auria | Nonpartisan | 2017 |
| Connecticut Supreme Court | Nora Dannehy | Nonpartisan | September 26, 2023 |
| Connecticut Supreme Court | Steven D. Ecker | Nonpartisan | May 3, 2018 |
| Connecticut Supreme Court | Andrew J. McDonald | Nonpartisan | January 24, 2013 |
| Connecticut Supreme Court | Raheem L. Mullins | Nonpartisan | 2017 |
State court of appeals
- See also: Connecticut Appellate Court
The Connecticut Appellate Court is the intermediate appellate court in Connecticut. The court hears appeals and reviews decisions made on cases heard in the state's superior courts. The parties do not present testimony from witnesses. The court reaches decisions in the same manner as the supreme court.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
April 22, 2009 - Present |
Mary Jodi Rell |
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November 1, 2017 - Present |
Dan Malloy |
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2018 - Present |
Dan Malloy |
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2017 - Present |
Dan Malloy |
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August 12, 2020 - Present |
Ned Lamont |
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2020 - Present |
Ned Lamont |
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May 2, 2022 - Present |
Ned Lamont |
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October 27, 2023 - Present |
Ned Lamont |
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2021 - Present |
Ned Lamont |
Trial courts
Superior court
- See also: Connecticut Superior Court
The Connecticut Superior Court is made up of trial courts in Connecticut. All cases in Connecticut (outside of probate matters) originate in these courts. The superior courts hear cases in four main areas: civil, criminal, family and housing.
There are thirteen judicial districts in the state of Connecticut. The map below shows the superior court districts in the state of Connecticut.
Probate courts
- See also: Connecticut Probate Courts
The Connecticut Probate Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, authorized to handle specific legal matters in the state. They are sometimes called "family courts". These courts have jurisdiction over cases involving estates, wills and trusts, adoption and similar matters. Connecticut has 54 probate districts. An elected judge presides over each court.
Historically, the position of judge in Connecticut's probate courts required no legal background, and the judge need not have a J.D.[4] On September 25, 2009, however, the Connecticut Legislature passed Public Act 09-01, otherwise known as "An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Probate Redistricting Commission", which reorganized the state's probate courts into 54 districts. The act also required probate judges to have a J.D. and be licensed to practice law in the state. The changes became effective on January 5, 2011.[5][6]
History
- April 26, 1636: The first judicial proceedings are held in Connecticut at Hartford.
- 1638: The General Court (later known as the General Assembly created the Particular Court. The court was also called the "Quartet Court" since it was required to meet four times per year.
- 1665: Under a new charter from Charles II, the Particular Court was discontinued and replaced by the Court of Assistants.
- 1666: County courts were created.
- 1686: Justices of the peace were authorized to handle small actions and began to preside over newly created town and borough courts.
- 1698: Probate courts were created to handle matters relating to wills and estates.
- 1711: The Court of Assistants was abolished and replaced with a superior court.
- 1711-1784: During the time period between 1711 and 1784, the General Assembly was responsible for reviewing decisions made in the lower courts.
- 1784: The Supreme Court of Errors, established as Connecticut's highest appellate court, had the power to review lower court decisions after a writ of error was filed.
- 1818: Connecticut's Constitution was adopted and specified three different government branches. A Supreme Court of Errors and superior court were established. The General Assembly was given the power to establish other lower courts.
- 1855: County courts were abolished and their responsibilities were shifted to the superior court. As caseloads increased, the General Assembly began creating courts of common pleas to meet the demand. Justices of the peace presided over these new courts.
- 1939: Connecticut's trial justice system was created. This court had jurisdiction over criminal matters, which was once held by the court of common pleas.
- 1941:
- The General Assembly created a statewide court of common pleas. Judges could also now be reassigned to locations around the state. Previously judges were required to serve only in the county where they were appointed.
- Although juvenile courts were established in some Connecticut towns in 1921, it was not until this year that a statewide juvenile court was created.
- 1960: Connecticut's General Assembly abolished county courts during this year. A statewide circuit court replaced the previous lower courts.
- 1974: The circuit court and court of common pleas were merged into the court of common pleas.
- 1978: The court of common pleas and the juvenile court were consolidated into the superior court on July 1. Judges in the courts of common pleas and juvenile courts were appointed to the superior court. Connecticut became the first state to have a unified court system. The superior court was established as the only trial court in the state.
- 1982: An amendment to the state Constitution established the Appellate Court, which was created to reduce the caseload of the state's supreme court.[7]
- 2011: As discussed above, on September 25, 2009, the Connecticut Legislature passed Public Act 09-01, which reorganized the state's probate courts into 54 districts. The act also required probate judges to be attorneys and members of the state bar. The changes became effective on January 5, 2011.[8][6]
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Judicial Selection in the States: Connecticut," archived January 11, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Connecticut; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," accessed October 2, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Article Fifth. of the Judicial Department - Sec. 2.," accessed April 10, 2023
- ↑ Connecticut's Courts, "Probate Court," accessed April 29, 2014 See page 31.
- ↑ The Probate Courts of Connecticut, "The Probate Court and You," 2010 Scroll to page 3
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Connecticut Judicial Branch website, "Probate Court Redistricting"
- ↑ State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "History of the Courts," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ The Probate Courts of Connecticut, "The Probate Court and You," 2010 Scroll to page 3
Federal courts:
Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Connecticut • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Connecticut
State courts:
Connecticut Supreme Court • Connecticut Appellate Court • Connecticut Superior Court • Connecticut Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Connecticut • Connecticut judicial elections • Judicial selection in Connecticut
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