CONNECTICUT - STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE

• NCJ Number: 54948
• Author(s): P H STANFORD
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 72 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-DF-99-0052; 76-DF-99-0026
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American Bar Association; National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE SERIES

Annotation

THIS REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN CONNECTICUT.

Abstract

THE CONNECTICUT COURT SYSTEM HAS UNDERGONE SUBSTANTIAL REORGANIZATION AND IS COMPRISED OF A SUPREME COURT, A SUPERIOR COURT, AND PROBATE COURTS. THE APPELLATE SESSION OF THE SUPERIOR COURT, INCLUDING ONE PANEL OF THREE JUDGES, SERVES AS AN INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT WITH LIMITED JURISDICTION. THE SUPREME COURT IS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT. APPELLATE SESSIONS OF THE SUPERIOR COURT GENERALLY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER CIVIL MATTERS INVOLVING LESS THAN $7,500 AND CRIMINAL MATTERS INVOLVING A FINE OF $1,000 OR LESS, A SENTENCE OF 1 YEAR OR LESS, OR BOTH. ELEVEN JUDICIAL DISTRICTS GEOGRAPHICALLY DELINEATE THE STATE, EACH OF WHICH HAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPERIOR COURTS WITHIN DISTRICTS. THE STATE ALSO IS DIVIDED INTO 129 PROBATE DISTRICTS, EACH OF WHICH HAS A PROBATE COURT. PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED: QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERMS OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE; CONTINUING EDUCATION; AND THE USE OF PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS. STATUTES DESIGNATE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT AS THE HEAD OF THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT. BOTH JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND APPELLATE RULEMAKING AUTHORITY ARE VESTED IN THE SUPREME COURT. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ARE EXEMPT FROM THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF THE STATE. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT SESSIONS, TRIAL COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, TRIAL COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, AND COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE CONNECTICUT COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)