Table of Contents Sec. 51-39. Disqualification by relationship or interest. Judge or family support magistrate may act with consent of parties. (a) Except as provided in this section,
a judge or family support magistrate is disqualified to act if a relationship between the
judge or family support magistrate and a party in any proceeding in court before him is
as near as the degree of kinship between father and son, brothers, or uncle and nephew,
by nature or marriage, or as near as between landlord and tenant, or if any judge or
family support magistrate may be liable to contribute to the damages, costs or expenses
of any proceeding before him, or if he may receive a direct pecuniary benefit by the
determination of any proceeding before him. Sec. 51-39a. Use of judicial office for financial gain prohibited. No judge of the
Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court or any family support magistrate
shall use his judicial office or any confidential information received through his holding
judicial office to obtain financial gain for himself, his spouse, child, child's spouse,
parent, brother or sister or a business with which he is associated. Sec. 51-40. Practice of law by judges restricted. Section 51-40 is repealed. Sec. 51-41. Transferred to Chapter 882, Sec. 51-183c. Sec. 51-41a. Transferred to Chapter 882, Sec. 51-183h. Secs. 51-42 to 51-44. Transferred to Chapter 882, Secs. 51-183d to 51-183f, inclusive. Sec. 51-44a. Judicial Selection Commission. Members. Duties. Nomination of
judges by Governor. (a) There is established a Judicial Selection Commission comprised of twelve members. Two persons shall be appointed from each congressional
district, one of whom shall be an attorney-at-law and one of whom shall not be an
attorney-at-law. Not more than six of the members shall belong to the same political
party. None of the members shall be an elected or appointed official of the state or hold
state-wide office in a political party. Sec. 51-45. Resignation of judges or family support magistrates. Any judge or
family support magistrate may resign his office by leaving with the Governor a written
communication signifying his intention to resign such office and stating a time when
such resignation is to take effect. Sec. 51-45a. Admonishment of judge or family support magistrate by Chief
Court Administrator. Whenever the Chief Court Administrator has reason to believe
that a judge or family support magistrate has acted in a manner which gives the appearance of impropriety or constitutes an unfavorable judicial or magisterial practice, the
Chief Court Administrator may issue an admonishment to the judge or family support
magistrate recommending a change in such conduct or practice. Such admonishment
shall become a part of any performance evaluation record of such judge or family support
magistrate. Sec. 51-45b. Medical examination of judge or family support magistrate ordered by Chief Court Administrator, when. Matter referred to Judicial Review
Council, when. Whenever the Chief Court Administrator has reason to believe that a
judge or family support magistrate cannot fully perform his or her judicial or magisterial
duties by reason of mental infirmity or illness or because of drug dependency or addiction
to alcohol, the Chief Court Administrator shall direct such judge or family support
magistrate to be examined by such qualified medical expert or experts as the Chief Court
Administrator shall designate, at the expense of the Judicial Department. If the judge
or family support magistrate fails to undergo any such examination or if, upon due
consideration of the report of the expert or experts, the Chief Court Administrator is
satisfied and concludes that the judge or family support magistrate cannot fully perform
his or her judicial or magisterial duties, the Chief Court Administrator shall modify the
assignment of the judge or family support magistrate, or shall remove said judge or
family support magistrate from any assignment, and shall refer the matter together with
the report, if any, of the expert or experts to the Judicial Review Council. Sec. 51-45c. Investigation by Judicial Review Council re mental infirmity or
illness, drug dependency or alcohol addiction of judge or family support magistrate. Findings. Authority. (a) The Judicial Review Council shall investigate every
matter referred to it under section 51-45b. Not later than five days after receipt of such
matter, the council, by registered or certified mail, shall notify the judge or family support
magistrate under investigation of such referral. Any investigation and proceeding held
to determine whether or not a judge or family support magistrate can fully perform
his or her judicial or magisterial duties because of mental infirmity or illness or drug
dependency or addiction to alcohol shall be confidential and any individual called by
the council for the purpose of providing information shall not disclose his knowledge
of such investigation and proceeding to a third party unless the judge or family support
magistrate requests that such investigation and proceeding be open. The council may
request the judge or family support magistrate to submit all medical and other records
pertaining to said physical and mental condition of such judge or family support magistrate. If a judge or family support magistrate declines to submit such record or if further
information is needed, the Judicial Review Council may request the judge or family
support magistrate to submit to independent medical or other examinations at the expense of the Judicial Department. A copy of the results of any independent examination
shall be provided to the judge or family support magistrate. If a judge or family support
magistrate fails or refuses to submit to an independent examination requested by the
council, unless such failure or refusal is due to circumstances beyond the judge's or
family support magistrate's control the judge or family support magistrate shall be precluded from submitting reports of medical examinations done on the judge's or family
support magistrate's behalf. The council may consider such judge's or family support
magistrate's refusal or failure as evidence that the judge or family support magistrate
has a mental infirmity or illness or drug dependency or addiction to alcohol. The judge
or family support magistrate shall have the right to appear and be heard and to offer
any information which may prove that he has no mental infirmity or illness or drug
dependency or addiction to alcohol which prevents him from performing his or her
judicial or magisterial duties. The judge or family support magistrate shall also have
the right to be represented by legal counsel and examine and cross-examine witnesses. Sec. 51-46. Transferred to Chapter 882, Sec. 51-183g. Sec. 51-46a. Statement of financial interests to be reported. (a) Each judge of
the Superior Court, each judge of the Appellate Court, each judge of the Supreme Court
and each family support magistrate shall file under penalty of false statement, a statement
of financial interests for the preceding calendar year with the Office of the Chief Court
Administrator on or before April fifteenth next for any year in which the judge or family
support magistrate holds such position. Sec. 51-47. Salaries of judges. Practice of law prohibited. Membership on
board of directors of bank prohibited. Longevity payments. (a) The judges of the
Superior Court, judges of the Appellate Court and judges of the Supreme Court shall
receive annually salaries as follows: Sec. 51-47a. Appropriations. Section 51-47a is repealed. Sec. 51-47b. Compensation of senior judges and referees. (a) Each senior judge
who has been designated and assigned by the Chief Justice or the Chief Court Administrator to perform judicial duties as a senior judge pursuant to the provisions of this
section, sections 51-50, 51-50c to 51-50e, inclusive, 51-50i to 51-50k, inclusive, 51-
165, 51-198, 52-434a and 52-434b shall receive during the period he shall perform the
judicial duties, in addition to his retirement salary, the compensation provided by law
for a state referee for each day he so performs either judicial duties or duties as a referee
or both. Sec. 51-48. Payment of expenses of judges. Each judge of the Supreme Court,
judge of the Appellate Court and judge of the Superior Court shall be allowed his necessary expenses while engaged in official duty, to be taxed and paid as are other court
expenses. Sec. 51-49. Disability retirement of judges, state's attorneys, public defenders,
family support magistrates and compensation commissioners. (a) When the Chief
Justice or any judge of the Supreme Court, or the Appellate Court, or the Superior Court,
or the Chief State's Attorney, a Deputy Chief State's Attorney, or any state's attorney
who had elected under the provisions of section 51-278 to be included within the provisions of this section, or any public defender, Chief Public Defender or Deputy Chief
Public Defender who had elected under the provisions of section 51-295a to be included
within the provisions of this section, or any family support magistrate who had elected
under the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (i) of section 46b-231, or any
compensation commissioner, has become so permanently incapacitated as to be unable
to fulfill adequately the duties of his office, he may be retired by the Judicial Review
Council as hereinafter provided, upon application by him or upon its own motion. Sec. 51-49a. Vested and nonforfeitable right to retirement salary after ten
years of service. (a) The right to a retirement salary, in accordance with the provisions
of this section, of any judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner
who is not eligible to retire under the provisions of section 51-50a, which judge, family
support magistrate or commissioner has completed ten years of service as such, shall
be vested and nonforfeitable. Sec. 51-49b. Cost of living allowance for retired judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners who commenced service on or after January 1, 1981. On January 1, 1982, and January first of each subsequent year, each judge,
family support magistrate or compensation commissioner who first commenced service
as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner on or after January
1, 1981, and retired on or before the December thirty-first immediately preceding, shall
be entitled, in addition to the retirement salary to which such judge, family support
magistrate or commissioner was entitled under the provisions of section 51-49a, 51-
50 or 51-50a, as of the December thirty-first immediately preceding, to an additional
percentage which reflects the increase, if any, in the National Consumer Price Index
for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the previous twelve-month period,
provided such cost of living allowance shall not exceed three per cent. Such cost of
living allowance shall be computed on the basis of the combined retirement salary and
cost of living allowances, if any, to which such judge, family support magistrate or
commissioner was entitled as of the December thirty-first immediately preceding. Sec. 51-49c. Cost of living allowance for surviving spouses of judges, family
support magistrates and compensation commissioners who commenced service on
or after January 1, 1981. On January 1, 1982, and January first of each subsequent
year, each surviving spouse of a deceased judge, family support magistrate or of a compensation commissioner who first commenced service as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner on or after January 1, 1981, receiving an allowance
under the provisions of section 51-51, shall be entitled to an additional cost of living
allowance equal to the percentage which reflects the increase, if any, in the National
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the previous
twelve-month period, provided such cost of living increase shall not exceed three per
cent. Such cost of living allowance shall be computed on the basis of the combined
retirement allowance and cost of living allowance, if any, to which such surviving spouse
was entitled as of the December thirty-first immediately preceding. Sec. 51-49d. Funding of retirement system for judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners on actuarial reserve basis. State contributions. (a) For the purposes of this section and sections 51-49e and 51-50b: Sec. 51-49e. Judge's Retirement Fund. The Judge's Retirement Fund is hereby
established in the state treasury. All moneys received by the system pursuant to section
51-49d and section 51-50b shall be deposited in the fund, and all retirement benefits
and other obligations and payments payable by the system shall be payable from the
fund. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund, and may invest and reinvest
as much of the fund as is not required for current disbursements in accordance with the
laws covering the investment of savings bank funds, and when deemed prudent, in
accordance with the laws governing the investment of trust funds. All of the provisions
of the general statutes applicable to the administration, investment and custody of the
State Employees Retirement Fund shall apply to the Judge's Retirement Fund, to the
same extent and with the same effect as if such fund were expressly mentioned therein. Sec. 51-49f. Determination of retirement salary of judges and allowance to
surviving spouses. (a) For purposes of determining both the retirement salary of judges
who first commenced service as judges prior to January 1, 1981, and the allowance
payable to their surviving spouses under subsection (a) of section 51-51, "salary for the
office" shall be composed of the total of the following amounts: The annual salary
payable pursuant to subsection (a) of section 51-47, as such salary may change from
time to time; and for judges to whom a longevity payment has been made or is due and
payable, in each instance under subsection (d) of section 51-47, (1) one and one-half
per cent of annual salary, as such salary may change from time to time, for those who
have completed ten or more but less than fifteen years of service as a judge or other
state service or service as an elected official of the state or any combination of such
service, (2) three per cent of annual salary, as such salary may change from time to time,
for those who have completed fifteen or more but less than twenty years of service as
a judge or other state service or service as an elected official of the state or any combination of such service, (3) four and one-half per cent of annual salary, as such salary may
change from time to time, for those who have completed twenty or more but less than
twenty-five years of service as a judge or other state service or service as an elected
official of the state or any combination of such service, and (4) six per cent of annual
salary, as such salary may change from time to time, for those who have completed
twenty-five or more years of service as a judge or other state service or service as an
elected official of the state or any combination of such service. Sec. 51-49g. Determination of retirement salary of compensation commissioners and allowance to surviving spouses. (a) For purposes of determining both the
retirement salary of compensation commissioners who first commenced service as compensation commissioners in a term commencing prior to January 1, 1981, and the allowance payable to their surviving spouses under subsection (a) of section 51-51, "salary"
shall be composed of the total of the following amounts: The annual salary payable
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 31-277, as such salary may change from time to
time; and for compensation commissioners to whom a longevity payment has been made
or is due and payable, in each instance under subsection (b) of section 31-277, (1) one
and one-half per cent of annual salary, as such salary may change from time to time,
for those who have completed ten or more but less than fifteen years of service as a
compensation commissioner, (2) three per cent of annual salary, as such salary may
change from time to time for those who have completed fifteen or more but less than
twenty years of service as a compensation commissioner, (3) four and one-half per cent
of annual salary, as such salary may change from time to time, for those who have
completed twenty or more but less than twenty-five years of service as a compensation
commissioner, and (4) six per cent of annual salary, as such salary may change from
time to time, for those who have completed twenty-five or more years of service as a
compensation commissioner. Sec. 51-49h. Credit for military service. (a) Any judge of the Superior Court, the
Appellate Court or the Supreme Court who first commenced service as a judge prior to
January 1, 1981, may elect to receive the retirement salary provided under subsection
(b) of section 51-50. The surviving spouse of a deceased judge who has made an election
under this section shall receive the allowances provided under subsection (b) of section
51-51. Sec. 51-50. Retirement at age seventy or for disability. (a) Each judge or compensation commissioner who first commenced service as a judge or compensation commissioner prior to January 1, 1981, and who attains the age of seventy while serving in
his or her respective office or who is retired because of disability, shall receive the
following retirement salary: Sec. 51-50a. Retirement at sixty-five or after twenty years of service as a judge,
family support magistrate or compensation commissioner or with thirty years of
state service credit. Retirement of judge nominated but not reappointed. (a) (1)
The right of any judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner to a
retirement salary in accordance with the provisions of this section shall vest and be
nonforfeitable when the judge, family support magistrate or commissioner has attained
the age of sixty-five years, or has served twenty years as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner or has thirty years of state service credit under the
provisions of chapter 66, provided not less than ten years of such state service was served
as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner, and provided such
state service shall not be used for retirement credit under chapter 66. Any contributions
made under chapter 66 shall be transferred to the Judges, Family Support Magistrates
and Compensation Commissioners Retirement Fund. Sec. 51-50b. Retirement contribution. (a) There shall be deducted and withheld
from the salary payable to each judge under subsections (a) and (d) of section 51-47,
family support magistrate under subsection (h) of section 46b-231, and compensation
commissioner under section 31-277 a sum equal to five per cent of the judge's, family
support magistrate's or commissioner's salary. The sums deducted and withheld shall
be deposited in the Judge's Retirement Fund. The provisions of this subsection shall
apply to any family support magistrate who had elected under the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (i) of section 46b-231. Sec. 51-50c. Assignment of senior judges to judicial duties. Participation in
alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc. (a)(1)
Any senior judge of the Supreme Court may be designated and assigned by the Chief
Justice or the Chief Court Administrator to perform such judicial duties in the Supreme
Court or by the Chief Court Administrator to perform such judicial duties in the Superior
Court, as such senior judge is willing to undertake; (2) any senior judge of the Appellate
Court may be designated by the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court or the Chief Court
Administrator to perform such judicial duties in the Appellate Court or by the Chief
Court Administrator to perform such judicial duties in the Superior Court, as such senior
judge is willing to undertake. Sec. 51-50d. Duties and powers of senior judges. (a) A senior judge shall have
all the powers of a judge of the court to which he is designated and assigned. Sec. 51-50e. Senior judge may complete matters after expiration of his assignment. A senior judge who has sat by designation and assignment in any court may,
notwithstanding the expiration of his designation and assignment, decide or join in the
decision and final disposition of all matters submitted to him during his assignment
period and may decide or join in the consideration and disposition of applications for
rehearing or further proceedings in the matters, including matters relating to cases on
appeal. Sec. 51-50f. Powers of certain state referees. A retired Chief Justice or judge of
the Supreme Court, judge of the Appellate Court, judge of the Superior Court or judge
of the Court of Common Pleas, acting as a state referee after attaining the age of seventy
years, shall have the power of a judge of the Superior Court on matters referred to him
from the Superior Court. Sec. 51-50g. Chief Court Administrator may make new assignments. Section
51-50g is repealed. Sec. 51-50h. Power of retired judges to decide small claims. (a) A retired judge
of the Court of Common Pleas or Superior Court acting as a state referee, may, at locations designated by the Chief Court Administrator, hear and determine small claims
matters and render judgment thereon. Sec. 51-50i. Senior judges, reappointment, successors. (a) Any judge who retires from full-time active service, who has not attained the age of seventy and who is
an elector and a resident of this state, shall be a senior judge of the court of which he is
a member during the remainder of the term of office for which he was appointed, and
he shall be eligible for reappointment to succeeding terms as such senior judge in the
manner prescribed by law for the appointment of a judge of the court of which he is a
member. Sec. 51-50j. Retired Supreme Court, Appellate Court and Superior Court
judges eligible for certain duties. Each retired Chief Justice, associate judge of the
Supreme Court, judge of the Appellate Court and judge of the Superior Court shall be
eligible for the performance of judicial duties and all services under the provisions
of sections 9-346b, 51-194, 51-204, 51-207, 53a-45, 54-47b to 54-47g, inclusive, and
54-82. Sec. 51-50k. Private practice of law prohibited. Each retired justice or judge
who is designated and assigned by the Chief Justice or the Chief Court Administrator
to perform judicial duties shall be an elector and a resident of this state, shall be a member
of the bar of the state of Connecticut and shall not engage in private practice. Participation
in an alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc. shall not
be considered the private practice of law. Sec. 51-50l. Retired senior judges eligible for appointment as state referees.
(a) Each senior judge who ceases to hold office as a senior judge because of having
reached the age of seventy years and who is an elector and a resident of this state shall
be a state referee for the remainder of his term of office as a judge and shall be eligible for
appointment as a state referee during the remainder of his life in the manner prescribed by
law for the appointment of a judge of the court of which he is a member.
Sec. 51-39. Disqualification by relationship or interest. Judge or family support magistrate may act with consent of parties.
Sec. 51-39a. Use of judicial office for financial gain prohibited.
Sec. 51-40. Practice of law by judges restricted.
Sec. 51-41.
Sec. 51-41a.
Secs. 51-42 to 51-44.
Sec. 51-44a. Judicial Selection Commission. Members. Duties. Nomination of judges by Governor.
Sec. 51-45. Resignation of judges or family support magistrates.
Sec. 51-45a. Admonishment of judge or family support magistrate by Chief Court Administrator.
Sec. 51-45b. Medical examination of judge or family support magistrate ordered by Chief
Court Administrator, when. Matter referred to Judicial Review Council, when.
Sec. 51-45c. Investigation by Judicial Review Council re mental infirmity or illness,
drug dependency or alcohol addiction of judge or family support magistrate. Findings. Authority.
Sec. 51-46.
Sec. 51-46a. Statement of financial interests to be reported.
Sec. 51-47. Salaries of judges. Practice of law prohibited. Membership on board of directors of bank prohibited. Longevity payments.
Sec. 51-47a. Appropriations.
Sec. 51-47b. Compensation of senior judges and referees.
Sec. 51-48. Payment of expenses of judges.
Sec. 51-49. Disability retirement of judges, state's attorneys, public defenders, family
support magistrates and compensation commissioners.
Sec. 51-49a. Vested and nonforfeitable right to retirement salary after ten years of
service.
Sec. 51-49b. Cost of living allowance for retired judges, family support magistrates and
compensation commissioners who commenced service on or after January 1, 1981.
Sec. 51-49c. Cost of living allowance for surviving spouses of judges, family support
magistrates and compensation commissioners who commenced service on or after January 1,
1981.
Sec. 51-49d. Funding of retirement system for judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners on actuarial reserve basis. State contributions.
Sec. 51-49e. Judge's Retirement Fund.
Sec. 51-49f. Determination of retirement salary of judges and allowance to surviving
spouses.
Sec. 51-49g. Determination of retirement salary of compensation commissioners and allowance to surviving spouses.
Sec. 51-49h. Credit for military service.
Sec. 51-50. Retirement at age seventy or for disability.
Sec. 51-50a. Retirement at sixty-five or after twenty years of service as a judge, family
support magistrate or compensation commissioner or with thirty years of state service
credit. Retirement of judge nominated but not reappointed.
Sec. 51-50b. Retirement contribution.
Sec. 51-50c. Assignment of senior judges to judicial duties. Participation in alternative
dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc.
Sec. 51-50d. Duties and powers of senior judges.
Sec. 51-50e. Senior judge may complete matters after expiration of his assignment.
Sec. 51-50f. Powers of certain state referees.
Sec. 51-50g. Chief Court Administrator may make new assignments.
Sec. 51-50h. Power of retired judges to decide small claims.
Sec. 51-50i. Senior judges, reappointment, successors.
Sec. 51-50j. Retired Supreme Court, Appellate Court and Superior Court judges eligible
for certain duties.
Sec. 51-50k. Private practice of law prohibited.
Sec. 51-50l. Retired senior judges eligible for appointment as state referees.
Sec. 51-51. Pensions for surviving spouses and children of judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners.
Secs. 51-51a to 51-51f. Judicial Review Council.
(b) A judge or family support magistrate shall not be disqualified to act in any
proceeding by reason of his being a member of any ecclesiastical corporation, unless it
is a party to the action, nor in any proceeding in which any town, city or borough is
interested or is a party, by reason of his being an inhabitant thereof or liable to taxation
therein or by reason of his being related to any taxpayer or inhabitant thereof.
(c) When any judge or family support magistrate is disqualified to act in any proceeding before him, he may act if the parties thereto consent in open court.
(1949 Rev., S. 7692−7694; P.A. 82-248, S. 20; P.A. 89-360, S. 22, 45.)
History: P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing section into Subsecs. but made
no substantive change; P.A. 89-360 applied provisions to family support magistrates.
Statute does not affect ministerial acts. 12 C. 467. Judge of probate, uncle to a devisee and heir-at-law, not disqualified.
17 C. 542. Judge of probate held incompetent by reason of pecuniary interest. 26 C. 15. Disqualification arising from
relationship by marriage ceases upon the death of one of the married parties. 12 C. 88. Justice of the peace disqualified
when he owns the debt in suit. 12 C. 384. This section applies to commissioners on insolvent estates. 9 C. 502; 12 C. 139;
13 C. 221. And to appraisers of land set off on execution. 1 C. 300; 13 C. 47. Whether relationship to petitioner disqualifies
commissioners laying out highway; if so, objection may be waived by matter in pais. 22 C. 178. Shareholder in bank
owning railroad stock is disqualified to act as committee in a cause to which the railroad company is a party. 23 C. 384.
Applies to a magistrate taking a deposition. 52 C. 165. The word "act" embraces every act or proceeding in a suit. 60 C.
428. An incidental interest not pecuniary does not disqualify. 64 C. 310. An attorney not a "party." 83 C. 182. Attorney
should not try case before court of which he is judge. 72 C. 435. Disqualification not waived by trial; judgment is erroneous.
75 C. 104. Relationship to a disinterested witness does not disqualify judge. 124 C. 237. Legislative history indicates that
waiver provision applies to section 51-41 also. 147 C. 296. Where defendant requested and received a change of election
from jury to court before the same judge he claimed was disqualified to hear the case and failed to make the claim until
after his conviction, his actions can only be construed as consent in open court. 152 C. 630, 631. Where judge participated
in pretrial conference and urged settlement on plaintiff, proper course was for judge to decline to hear case but, as plaintiff
failed to raise question of disqualification before or during trial, claim was waived and not seasonably raised on appeal.
155 C. 609. Cited. 170 C. 520, 522. Statute mandates disqualification because of relationship between judge and defendant.
Disqualification because of membership in bar association discussed. 184 C. 21, 22, 26−30. Cited. 186 C. 725, 744. Cited.
214 C. 14, 18. Cited. 227 C. 784, 792.
Cited. 2 CA 551, 564. Cited. Id., 650, 654. Cited. 4 CA 504, 508. Cited. Id., 669, 670. Cited. 6 CA 576, 581. Cited. 7
CA 435, 440, 443. Cited. 10 CA 422, 427. Cited. 14 CA 645, 648. Cited. 18 CA 207, 210.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 2 CA 551, 560, 561. Cited. 4 CA 504, 509.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 195 C. 202, 204.
Cited. 4 CA 504, 509. Cited. 7 CA 435, 444. Cited. 9 CA 299, 300. Cited. 10 CA 422, 427. Cited. 13 CA 651, 655.
No statutory or common law ground existed to disqualify judge who had, fifteen years previous, as parole board member
ruled adversely on defendant's request for parole. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 669.
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(P.A. 84-435, S. 3, 6; P.A. 89-360, S. 23, 45.)
History: P.A. 84-435 effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 89-360 applied provisions to family support magistrates.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 7695; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 25.)
See Sec. 51-47 re prohibition against judges practicing law.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
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(b) The members of the commission shall be appointed as follows: The Governor
shall appoint six members, one from each congressional district, who shall be attorneys-
at-law; the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one member who shall not be an attorney-at-law; the majority
leader of the Senate and the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall each
appoint one member who shall not be an attorney-at-law; and the minority leader of the
Senate and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one
member, who shall not be an attorney-at-law.
(c) The members of the commission shall elect a chairman from among the members
appointed by the Governor.
(d) (1) The members first appointed by the Governor prior to June 22, 1989, shall
complete their terms of office. Of the members appointed by the Governor for terms
commencing November 20, 1992, two members shall serve for a term of one year, two
members shall serve for a term of two years and two members shall serve for a term of
three years. Thereafter, the members of the commission so appointed shall serve for
terms of three years. At the expiration of the terms of the members appointed for terms
commencing November 20, 1992, such members shall be eligible for appointment to a
consecutive term.
(2) The terms of office of the members first appointed by the legislative leaders
prior to June 22, 1989, shall expire on September 30, 1989. Such members shall be
eligible for appointment to a term commencing October 1, 1989. Of the members whose
terms commence October 1, 1989, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the
speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one member for a term of
three years; the majority leader of the Senate and the majority leader of the House of
Representatives shall each appoint one member for a term of one year; and the minority
leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall each
appoint one member for a term of two years. Thereafter, the members so appointed shall
serve for terms of three years.
(3) Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the appointing authority. The members of the commission
shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for any necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Except as provided in subdivisions
(1) and (2) of this subsection, no member may serve consecutive terms, and if a member
is an attorney, no member of his firm may serve a term consecutive to such member.
(e) The commission shall evaluate incumbent judges who seek reappointment to the
same court and shall forward to the Governor for consideration the names of incumbent
judges who are recommended for reappointment as provided in this subsection. The
commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54
concerning criteria by which to evaluate incumbent judges who seek reappointment to
the same court; provided pending adoption of such regulations, the commission shall
use criteria established prior to June 22, 1989, for the evaluation of such judges. In
evaluating the reappointment of an incumbent judge, the commission shall consider the
legal ability, competence, integrity, character and temperament of such judge and any
other relevant information concerning such judge. There shall be a presumption that
each incumbent judge who seeks reappointment to the same court qualifies for retention
in judicial office. The burden of rebutting such presumption shall be on the commission.
The commission shall investigate and interview each incumbent judge who seeks reappointment and, prior to the expiration of a term of office of such judge, shall recommend
such incumbent judge for nomination for reappointment by the Governor to the same
court unless, as provided in this subsection, recommendation of such judge is denied.
If a preliminary examination indicates further inquiry is necessary before a recommendation of reappointment may be made, the commission shall hold a hearing concerning
the reappointment of such judge. The commission shall send notice to the judge by
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, not less than one hundred eighty
days prior to the convening of such legislative session which is to consider the reappointment of the incumbent judge, (A) that a hearing by the commission on such reappointment shall be held and of the time, date and place of such hearing, which shall be
not less than thirty days nor more than forty-five days after the date of such notice and
(B) of specific claims made against the judge. The commission shall make a record of
all hearings conducted pursuant to this subsection. The hearing may be open to the
public at the request of the judge. For purposes of conducting a hearing under this
subsection, not less than ten members of the commission shall be present and voting.
A judge appearing before such a hearing shall be entitled to counsel, to present evidence
and to cross-examine witnesses who appear voluntarily. No judge shall be required to
sign or execute any release in order to proceed with the hearing. The commission shall
not later than twenty days after the close of such hearing render its decision whether
it shall recommend such incumbent judge for nomination for reappointment by the
Governor. Any affirmative vote of a majority plus one of the members present and
voting shall be required to deny recommendation to the Governor for nomination of
an incumbent judge to the same court. A judge who has not received approval by the
commission may within ten days after receipt of the notice of decision, which shall
include a record of the numerical vote, request a rehearing on the grounds that the
conclusions of the commission are contrary to the evidence presented at the hearing or
the commission failed to comply with the procedural or substantive requirements of this
section. The decision of the commission shall be final. There shall be no right of appeal
by any judge appearing before the commission, at law or in equity, or any resort to any
court following the decision of the commission.
(f) Except as provided in subsection (e), the commission shall seek qualified candidates for consideration by the Governor for nomination as judges for the Superior Court,
Appellate Court and Supreme Court. The commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 concerning criteria by which to evaluate the
qualifications of candidates, including incumbent judges who seek appointment to a
different court. The commission shall investigate and interview the candidates, including
incumbent judges seeking appointment to a different court. A list of such qualified
candidates shall be compiled by the commission.
(g) In connection with any inquiry concerning the reappointment of an incumbent
judge, the commission shall have the power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance
of witnesses and the production of any books or papers which in the judgment of the
commission are relevant to the inquiry. The commission may, upon request of the judge
whose reappointment is at issue, issue a subpoena on behalf of such judge. If any person
disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto refuses to answer any
pertinent question put to him by the commission, or to produce any books and papers
pursuant thereto, the commission, on its own behalf or on behalf of the judge, may apply
to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford setting forth such disobedience
to process or refusal to answer, and said court may cite such person to appear before
said court to answer such question or to produce such books and papers and, upon his
refusal so to do shall commit him to a community correctional center, there to remain
until he so testifies.
(h) (1) Judges of all courts, except those courts to which judges are elected, shall
be nominated by the Governor exclusively from the list of candidates or incumbent
judges submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission. Any candidate or incumbent
judge who is nominated from such list by the Governor to be Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, and who is appointed Chief Justice by the General Assembly, shall serve a term
of eight years from the date of appointment. The Governor shall nominate a candidate
for a vacancy in a judicial position within forty-five days of the date he receives the
recommendations of the commission. When considering the nomination of an incumbent judge for reappointment to the same court, the Governor may nominate the incumbent judge if the commission did not deny recommendation for reappointment. Whenever an incumbent judge is denied recommendation for reappointment to the same court
by the commission or is recommended by the commission but not nominated by the
Governor for reappointment to the same court, or whenever a vacancy in a judicial
position occurs or is anticipated, the Governor shall choose a nominee from the list of
candidates compiled pursuant to subsection (f) of this section. (2) Notwithstanding the
provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection and subsection (f) of this section, the
Governor may nominate an associate judge of the Supreme Court to be Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court without such judge being investigated and interviewed by the
commission and being on the list of qualified candidates compiled and submitted to the
Governor by the commission. An associate judge of the Supreme Court who has been
nominated by the Governor to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in accordance with
this subdivision, and who is appointed Chief Justice by the General Assembly, shall
serve an initial term as Chief Justice equal to the remainder of such judge's term as an
associate judge of the Supreme Court.
(i) A majority of the membership of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members of the commission present and
voting shall be required for any action by the commission except (1) an affirmative vote
of at least a majority plus one of the members present and voting shall be required for
a new nominee to be recommended to the Governor for nomination as a judge or for an
incumbent judge to be recommended to the Governor for nomination as a judge to a
different court and (2) an affirmative vote of a majority plus one of the members present
and voting shall be required to deny recommendation to the Governor for nomination
of an incumbent judge to the same court. No vote of the commission on a new nominee
shall be by secret ballot. The vote of the commission on an incumbent judge may be by
secret ballot.
(j) Except as provided in subsections (e) and (m) of this section, the investigations,
deliberations, files and records of the commission shall be confidential and not open to
the public or subject to disclosure except that the criteria by which candidates or incumbent judges who seek reappointment to the same court or appointment to a different
court are evaluated and the procedural rules adopted by the commission shall be public.
(k) The commission may employ such staff as is necessary for the performance of
its functions and duties.
(l) No member of the commission who is an attorney-at-law shall be considered for
recommendation to the Governor for nomination as a judge during his tenure on the
commission or for a period of two years following the termination of his tenure on the
commission.
(m) In January of each year, the chairperson of the commission shall report to the
joint standing committee on judiciary the following information: (1) The number of
candidates interviewed for appointment as new nominees, the number of incumbent
judges interviewed for reappointment to the same court and the number of incumbent
judges interviewed for appointment to a different court, (2) the number of candidates
who were recommended and denied recommendation to the Governor as new nominees,
the number of incumbent judges recommended and denied recommendation for appointment to the same court and the number of incumbent judges recommended and denied
recommendation for appointment to a different court, and (3) the statistics regarding
the race, gender, national origin, religion and years of experience as members of the bar
of all such candidates.
(n) The commission shall have the power to enter into such contractual agreements
as may be necessary for the discharge of its duties concerning the investigation of candidates seeking appointment to a judicial position and incumbent judges seeking reappointment to the same court or appointment to a different court, within the limits of
appropriated funds and in accordance with established procedures.
(P.A. 85-586, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 89-238, S. 1, 4; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 42,
70; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4−6; P.A. 99-267, S. 2, 3; P.A. 00-109; 00-191, S. 12, 16.)
History: P.A. 85-586 effective November 19, 1986, upon certification by the secretary of the state of the vote approving
the constitutional amendment concerning the establishment of the commission. (See Volume 1, Article XXV of the Amendments to the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, for further information); P.A. 88-230 authorized substitution of
"judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in the public and special acts of 1989, effective
September 1, 1991; P.A. 89-238 revised section re appointment and terms of members, evaluation, investigation and
interview of incumbent judges who seek appointment to the same court, regulations re criteria by which to evaluate
qualifications of judicial candidates, including incumbent judges, subpoena power of commission, nomination of incumbent
judges, vote necessary for recommendation for nomination by commission or for denial of recommendation, and statistical
report to judiciary committee re judicial candidates; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September
1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 made a technical change in Subsec. (g); P.A. 93-142 changed
the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220
changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-
267 amended Subsec. (h) by adding Subdiv. (2) permitting the Governor to nominate an associate judge of the Supreme
Court to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court without investigation or interview of such judge by the commission or
being on list of qualified candidates compiled by the commission and submitted to the Governor, effective July 8, 1999;
P.A. 00-109 added Subsec. (n) to authorize the commission to enter into contractual agreements for the discharge of its
duties concerning the investigation of judicial candidates; P.A. 00-191 amended Subsec. (h) by adding provisions that any
candidate or incumbent judge who is nominated and appointed Chief Justice shall serve for a term of eight years from date
of appointment and that an associate judge of the Supreme Court who is nominated and appointed Chief Justice shall serve
an initial term as Chief Justice equal to the remainder of such judge's term as associate judge, effective May 26, 2000.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 7726; P.A. 89-360, S. 24, 45.)
History: P.A. 89-360 applied provisions to family support magistrates.
See Sec. 4-18 re resignations of state officers, generally.
See Sec. 4-19 re appointments to fill vacancies.
Power of governor to fill vacancy when legislature not in session. 87 C. 538.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 86-402, S. 11, 13; P.A. 89-360, S. 25, 45.)
History: P.A. 89-360 applied provisions to family support magistrates.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 86-402, S. 9, 13; P.A. 89-360, S. 26, 45.)
History: P.A. 89-360 applied provisions to family support magistrates.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) The council shall not later than three business days after the termination of
such proceeding notify the Chief Court Administrator and the judge or family support
magistrate of the findings thereof.
(c) (1) If the council finds that the judge or family support magistrate is not suffering
from any mental infirmity or illness or drug dependency or addiction to alcohol and can
fully perform his or her judicial or magisterial duties, the Chief Court Administrator
shall reassign such judge or family support magistrate or modify such judge's or family
support magistrate's assignment. (2) If the council finds that a judge or family support
magistrate is suffering from a temporary mental infirmity, mental illness, drug dependency or addiction to alcohol which prevents the judge or family support magistrate
from performing his or her judicial or magisterial duties, either on a full-time or part-
time basis, the council shall request the judge or family support magistrate to seek
appropriate treatment. A judge or family support magistrate who can perform his or her
duties on a part-time basis while undergoing treatment shall be assigned by the Chief
Court Administrator to duties as he deems fit. A judge or family support magistrate who
cannot perform any duties while undergoing treatment shall seek a paid voluntary leave
of absence. Upon completion of a treatment program as determined by the Judicial
Review Council and a finding by the Judicial Review Council that said judge or family
support magistrate can fully perform his judicial or magisterial duties, a judge or family
support magistrate who was on leave of absence shall be reassigned by the Chief Court
Administrator or a judge or family support magistrate who was performing judicial or
magisterial duties on a part-time basis shall resume full-time duties. The Judicial Review
Council shall monitor compliance by the judge or family support magistrate in the treatment program which has been established and shall periodically report to the Chief
Court Administrator as to the status of such judge or family support magistrate. If the
judge or family support magistrate refuses to seek treatment, or does not fully cooperate
in the treatment program, the council may (A) publicly censor the judge or family support
magistrate; (B) suspend the judge or family support magistrate for a definite term not
to exceed one year; (C) refer the matter to the Supreme Court with a recommendation
that the judge or family support magistrate be suspended for a period longer than one
year; or (D) refer the matter to the Supreme Court with a recommendation that the judge
or family support magistrate be removed from office. (3) If the Judicial Review Council
finds that a judge is permanently incapable of adequately fulfilling his or her duties
because of mental infirmity or illness or drug dependency or addiction to alcohol, the
judge shall thereupon be retired with retirement pay to be determined as provided in
section 51-50. (4) If the Judicial Review Council finds that a family support magistrate
is permanently incapable of adequately fulfilling his or her duties because of mental
infirmity or illness or drug dependency or addiction to alcohol, the family support magistrate shall be removed from office. Such removal shall not preclude the family support
magistrate from applying for benefits, which may be available, pursuant to chapters 65
and 66.
(P.A. 86-402, S. 10, 13; P.A. 89-360, S. 27, 45.)
History: P.A. 89-360 added references to family support magistrates and added Subsec. (c) (4) re removal from office
of family support magistrates for mental infirmity or illness or drug or alcohol addiction.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) The statement, on a form provided by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, shall include the following information for the preceding calendar year in regard to
the judge or family support magistrate, his or her spouse and the dependent children
living in his or her household: (1) With respect to the judge or family support magistrate,
the statement shall include: (A) The date, place and nature of any activity for which
the judge or family support magistrate received compensation other than judicial or
magisterial compensation for services rendered and the name of the payor and the
amount of the compensation received provided, if the compensation received was a fee
for an appearance or the delivery of an address to any meeting of any organization, the
report of the fee so received shall be filed within thirty days after receipt of the fee; (B)
the name of each security in excess of five thousand dollars at fair market value owned
by the judge or family support magistrate or held in the name of a corporation, partnership
or trust for the benefit of the judge or family support magistrate, except in the case of
a trust established by a judge or family support magistrate for the purpose of divesting
himself or herself of all control and knowledge of his or her assets in order to avoid a
conflict of interest during his or her term of office, only the existence of the trust and
the name of the trustee shall be included, but the value need not be specified; (C) all
real property and its location, whether owned by the judge or family support magistrate
or held in the name of a corporation, partnership or trust for the benefit of the judge or
family support magistrate; (2) with respect to his or her spouse and dependent children
living in his or her household, the statement shall include: (A) The name of all businesses
with which the spouse or child is associated; (B) the category or type of all sources of
income of his or her spouse or each child in excess of one thousand dollars, but amounts
of income need not be specified, and the names and addresses of specific clients and
customers who provide more than five thousand dollars of income, and amounts of
income need not be specified; (C) the name of each security in excess of five thousand
dollars at fair market value owned by the spouse or each child or held in the name of a
corporation, partnership or trust for the benefit of the spouse or child, except in the case
of a trust established by the spouse or child for the purpose of divesting the spouse or
child of all control and knowledge of his or her assets in order to avoid a conflict of
interest during the judge's or family support magistrate's term of office, only the existence of the trust and the name of the trustee shall be included, but the value need not
be specified; (D) all real property and its location, whether owned by the spouse or child
or held in the name of a corporation, partnership or trust for the benefit of the spouse
or child; (E) any fees or honorariums received for any appearance or the delivery of an
address to any meeting of any organization by the spouse or child shall be disclosed
within thirty days after receipt of the fee or honorarium.
(c) The statement filed pursuant to this section shall be a matter of public information, except the list of names filed in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b)
of this section shall be sealed and confidential and for the use of the Judicial Review
Council and the Supreme Court only if an investigation has been initiated under section
51-51j and the Judicial Review Council or the Supreme Court is of the opinion that
disclosure of the list is germane to the investigation. The list may be subject to a subpoena
in any criminal prosecution, impeachment proceedings or a hearing before the Supreme
Court under section 51-51j.
(d) The financial statement, except as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (b)
of this section shall be open to inspection at the Office of the Chief Court Administrator
of the Judicial Department or at a place designated by the Chief Court Administrator.
(e) The Chief Court Administrator shall report to the Judicial Review Council any
judge or family support magistrate who fails to file any statement required by this section.
(P.A. 78-281, S. 1; P.A. 82-248, S. 21; P.A. 85-140, S. 1; P.A. 89-360, S. 28, 45; P.A. 97-132, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A.
98-1, S. 89.)
History: P.A. 82-248 rephrased provisions of section and changed reference to "executive secretary" to "chief court
administrator"; P.A. 85-140 amended Subsec. (a) to require that appellate court judges file financial interests statement;
P.A. 89-360 added references to family support magistrates; P.A. 97-132 amended Subsec. (a) to provide filing of statement
of financial interest with Office of Chief Court Administrator instead of Judicial Review Council, amended Subsec. (b) to
require forms provided by Office of Chief Court Administrator, made a conforming change in Subsec. (c), and added new
Subsec. (e) re report by Chief Court Administrator to Judicial Review Council re any judge or family support magistrate
who fails to file statement; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (c).
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1) On and after April 1, 2000, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, one
hundred thirty-five thousand eight hundred sixty-one dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one
hundred thirty thousand seventeen dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme
Court, one hundred twenty-four thousand six hundred eighty-three dollars; (D) the Chief
Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred twenty-three thousand one hundred fifty-
two dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred sixteen thousand two
hundred sixty-seven dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the
Superior Court, one hundred thirteen thousand eight hundred ninety-six dollars; (G)
each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred eleven thousand two hundred seventy-
nine dollars.
(2) On and after April 1, 2001, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, one
hundred forty thousand five hundred eighty-two dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one hundred
thirty-four thousand seven hundred thirty-eight dollars; (C) each associate judge of the
Supreme Court, one hundred twenty-nine thousand four hundred four dollars; (D) the
Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred twenty-seven thousand eight hundred
seventy-three dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred twenty thousand nine hundred eighty-eight dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a
judge of the Superior Court, one hundred eighteen thousand six hundred seventeen
dollars; (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred sixteen thousand dollars.
(3) On and after April 1, 2002, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, one
hundred forty-nine thousand five hundred eighty-two dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one
hundred forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty-eight dollars; (C) each associate
judge of the Supreme Court, one hundred thirty-eight thousand four hundred four dollars;
(D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred thirty-six thousand eight hundred seventy-three dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred twenty-
nine thousand nine hundred eighty-eight dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, one hundred twenty-seven thousand six hundred
seventeen dollars; (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars.
(b) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a)
of this section, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system
shall receive one thousand dollars in annual salary, each Superior Court judge designated
as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand dollars in
annual salary and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge
for facilities or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court
shall receive one thousand dollars in annual salary.
(c) Each such judge shall be an elector and a resident of this state, shall be a member
of the bar of the state of Connecticut and shall not engage in private practice, nor on or
after July 1, 1985, be a member of any board of directors or of any advisory board of
any state bank and trust company, state bank or savings and loan association, national
banking association or federal savings bank or savings and loan association. Nothing
in this subsection shall preclude a senior judge from participating in any alternative
dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc.
(d) Each such judge, excluding any senior judge, who has completed not less than
ten years of service as a judge of either the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or the
Superior Court, or of any combination of such courts, or of the Court of Common Pleas,
the Juvenile Court or the Circuit Court, or other state service or service as an elected
officer of the state, or any combination of such service, shall receive semiannual longevity payments based on service as a judge of any or all of such six courts, or other state
service or service as an elected officer of the state, or any combination of such service,
completed as of the first day of July and the first day of January of each year, as follows:
(1) A judge who has completed ten or more years but less than fifteen years of
service shall receive one-quarter of three per cent of the annual salary payable under
subsection (a) of this section.
(2) A judge who has completed fifteen or more years but less than twenty years of
service shall receive one-half of three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.
(3) A judge who has completed twenty or more years but less than twenty-five years
of service shall receive three-quarters of three per cent of the annual salary payable
under subsection (a) of this section.
(4) A judge who has completed twenty-five or more years of service shall receive
three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 3597; 1955, S. 1965d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 15; 1959, P.A. 531, S. 19; 670, S. 1; February, 1965,
P.A. 331, S. 12; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 26; 795; 1969, P.A. 601, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 281, S. 19; P.A. 74-183, S. 28, 291; P.A. 76-
436, S. 10a, 35, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 13, 72; 77-576, S. 30, 45, 65; P.A. 78-377, S. 1, 4; P.A. 79-608, S. 1, 10; P.A. 80-
337, S. 1, 13; 80-483, S. 132, 186; P.A. 82-248, S. 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 1, 9; P.A. 84-399, S. 1, 17; 84-435,
S. 1, 6; P.A. 85-517, S. 1, 5; P.A. 86-328, S. 2, 3; P.A. 87-198, S. 1, 6; 87-476; 87-508, S. 5, 10; P.A. 88-364, S. 65, 123;
P.A. 90-328, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-226, S. 27, 28; P.A. 93-108, S. 1, 6; 93-379, S. 3, 8; P.A. 95-191, S. 2, 4; July 21 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-1, S. 4, 8; P.A. 98-197, S. 2, 8; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1, S. 37, 51; P.A. 00-231, S. 8, 10.)
History: 1959 acts raised salaries of chief justice from twenty to twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars; of associate
judges from nineteen to twenty-one thousand five hundred dollars; of judges of the superior court from eighteen thousand
five hundred to twenty-one thousand dollars; of common pleas court judges from fifteen thousand five hundred to seventeen
thousand dollars; and of judges of juvenile court from thirteen to fifteen thousand dollars, and stipulated latter not to engage
in private practice; 1965 act increased salary of chief justice to thirty thousand dollars; associate judges to twenty-nine
thousand dollars; superior court judges to twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars; common pleas court judges to
twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars, and juvenile court judges to twenty thousand dollars; 1967 acts raised salary
of chief justice to thirty-three thousand dollars, established salary of chief court administrator at thirty-three thousand
dollars, established salary of circuit court judges at seventeen thousand five hundred dollars and of chief judge of circuit
court at twenty thousand dollars (salary provisions for circuit court judges formerly found in repealed Sec. 51-47a), required
that all judges be members of state bar and extended prohibition against private practice to apply to all judges; 1969 act
raised salary of circuit court judges to twenty-one thousand five hundred dollars and salary of chief judge of circuit court
to twenty-three thousand five hundred dollars; 1972 act raised chief justice's salary to forty thousand dollars, chief court
administrator's salary to thirty-eight thousand dollars and associate judges' salaries to thirty-six thousand dollars, established salary of chief judge of superior court at thirty-five thousand dollars, raised other superior court judges' salaries to
thirty-four thousand five hundred dollars, established salary of chief judge of common pleas court at thirty thousand dollars,
raised other common pleas judges' salaries to twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars, established salary of chief judge
of juvenile court at twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars, raised other juvenile court judges' salaries to twenty-six
thousand five hundred dollars, raised salary of circuit court chief judge to twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars and
other circuit court judges' salaries to twenty-six thousand five hundred dollars; P.A. 74-183 deleted salary provisions for
circuit court judges, raised salary of chief judges of common pleas and juvenile courts to thirty-two thousand five hundred
dollars and raised salary of other judges of juvenile court to twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars; P.A. 76-436
deleted salary for chief judge of superior court, establishing same salary for all superior court judges, deleted salaries for
common pleas and juvenile court judges and added new salary provisions to reflect merger of common pleas and juvenile
courts into superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 specified that salary set for chief court administrator applies
"if he is a judge of the supreme or superior court", effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 specified computation basis for
third through fifth and succeeding years of service and replaced previous provisions which insured that superior court
judges serving on July 1, 1978, and former common pleas and juvenile court judges would not receive reduced salaries
after merger with new provisions re salaries of such judges and, effective July 1, 1979, raised chief justice's salary to forty-
one thousand dollars, raised chief court administrator's salary to forty-one thousand dollars, raised associate judges salaries
to forty thousand dollars, raised salary for superior court judges with five or more years of service from thirty-four thousand
five hundred dollars to thirty-eight thousand five hundred dollars, raised salaries for judges hired on or after July 1, 1978,
with one year of service from twenty-nine thousand seven hundred dollars to thirty-four thousand five hundred dollars,
for those with two years of service from thirty thousand nine hundred dollars to thirty-five thousand five hundred dollars,
for those with three years of service from thirty-two thousand one hundred dollars to thirty-six thousand five hundred
dollars, for those with four years of service from thirty-three thousand three hundred dollars to thirty-seven thousand five
hundred dollars; P.A. 78-377 clarified provisions re effect of P.A. 76-436 and raised salary of chief justice to forty-four
thousand dollars and salary of chief court administrator to forty-two thousand dollars, effective January 1, 1970; P.A. 79-
608 raised chief justice's salary to forty-six thousand six hundred forty dollars, raised chief court administrator's salary
to forty-four thousand five hundred twenty dollars, raised associate justices' salaries to forty-two thousand four hundred
dollars, raised salaries for superior court judges serving on June 30, 1978, to forty thousand eight hundred ten dollars,
raised initial salaries from twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars to thirty thousand two hundred ten dollars, raised
salaries to thirty-six thousand five hundred dollars for one year's service, to thirty-seven thousand six hundred thirty dollars
for two years' service, and to thirty-eight thousand six hundred dollars for three years' service to thirty-nine thousand
seven hundred fifty dollars for four years' service to forty thousand eight hundred ten dollars for five years' service; P.A.
80-337 divided section into Subsecs., revised salaries effective January 1, 1981, raising chief justice's salary to fifty-one
thousand ninety-three dollars, chief court administrator's salary to forty-eight thousand eight hundred forty-six dollars,
associate judges' salaries to forty-six thousand six hundred dollars, superior court judges' salaries (if serving June 30,
1978) to forty-three thousand eight hundred seventy-three dollars, newly appointed judges' salaries to thirty-six thousand
eight hundred six dollars, salaries for one year's service to forty-one thousand forty-six dollars, salaries for two years'
service to forty-one thousand seven hundred fifty-three dollars, salaries for three years' service to forty-two thousand four
hundred sixty dollars, salaries for four years' service to forty-three thousand one hundred sixty-six dollars and salaries for
five years' service to forty-three thousand eight hundred seventy-three dollars, and added Subdivs. (2) to (4) in Subsec.
(a) re future salary increases and additional payments; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 82-248 made technical
revision, rewording some provisions, but made no substantive change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 added "judges of the
appellate court" and revised salaries effective July 1, 1983, raising chief justice's salary to sixty-three thousand six hundred
dollars, chief court administrator's salary to sixty-one thousand five hundred dollars, associate judge's salary to fifty-eight
thousand three hundred dollars, appellate court judge's salary to fifty-five thousand seven hundred dollars and superior
court judge's salary to fifty-three thousand dollars, and added Subdivs. (2) and (3) re future salary increases; P.A. 84-399
added Subsec. (d) re longevity payments; P.A. 84-435 added provision prohibiting judge from being member of board of
directors or advisory board of any state bank and trust company, state bank or savings and loan association, national banking
association or federal savings bank or savings and loan association, effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 85-517 revised salaries
effective July 1, 1986, raising chief justice's salary to seventy-five thousand nine hundred sixty dollars, chief court administrator's salary to seventy-two thousand three hundred seventy-three dollars, associate judge's salary to sixty-nine thousand
one hundred three dollars, the chief presiding judge's salary to seventy thousand one hundred sixty-three dollars, appellate
court judge's salary to sixty-five thousand nine hundred thirty-eight dollars, the deputy chief court administrator's salary
to sixty-four thousand four hundred eighty-three dollars and superior court judge's salary to sixty-two thousand eight
hundred seventy-eight dollars and added Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on or after July 1, 1987; P.A. 86-328 revised
salaries effective July 1, 1986, by increasing chief justice's salary to seventy-seven thousand nine hundred sixty dollars,
chief court administrator's salary to seventy-four thousand three hundred seventy-three dollars, and associate judge's salary
to seventy-one thousand one hundred three dollars; revised salaries effective April 1, 1987, increasing chief justice's salary
to eighty thousand four hundred sixty dollars, chief court administrator's salary to seventy-six thousand eight hundred
seventy-three dollars, associate judge's salary to seventy-three thousand six hundred three dollars, chief presiding judge's
salary to seventy-two thousand six hundred sixty-three dollars, appellate court judge's salary to sixty-eight thousand four
hundred thirty-eight dollars, deputy chief court administrator's salary to sixty-six thousand nine hundred eighty three
dollars and superior court judge's salary to sixty-five thousand three hundred seventy-eight dollars; and revised salaries
effective July 1, 1987, increasing chief justice's salary to eighty-four thousand four hundred eighty-three dollars, chief
court administrator's salary to eighty thousand seven hundred seventeen dollars, associate judge's salary to seventy-seven
thousand two hundred eighty-three dollars, chief presiding judge's salary to seventy-six thousand two hundred ninety-six
dollars, appellate court judge's salary to seventy-one thousand eight hundred sixty dollars, deputy chief court administrator's salary to seventy thousand three hundred thirty-two dollars and superior court judge's salary to sixty-eight thousand
six hundred forty-seven dollars; P.A. 87-198 substituted "chief judge" for "chief presiding judge"; P.A. 87-476 deleted
Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a) re salaries on and after July 1, 1985, and added Subdivs. (4), (5) and (6) re salary increases on
and after July 1, 1988; July 1, 1989, and July 1, 1990; P.A. 87-508 amended Subsec. (c) to require that judges be electors
and residents of this state; P.A. 88-364 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to chief "presiding" judge of appellate
court; P.A. 90-328, effective July 1, 1991, amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re salary on and after July 1, 1986,
April 1, 1987, July 1, 1987, and July 1, 1988, and added provisions re salary increases on and after July 1, 1991, July 1,
1992 and July, 1, 1993; and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that administrative judge of appellate system, chief administrative judge for facilities and chief administrative judge for the juvenile division shall receive an additional one thousand
dollars in annual salary; P.A. 92-226 amended Subsec. (d) to include service as a prosecutorial official of the judicial
department, or service as a defense attorney of the judicial department or the public defender services commission, or any
combination of such service; P.A. 93-108 amended Subsec. (c) to permit senior judge to participate in alternative dispute
resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc., effective June 3, 1993; P.A. 93-379 amended Subsec. (d) to permit
credit for longevity purposes for any other state service or service as an elected officer of the state or any combination of
service, effective June 30, 1993; P.A. 95-191 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re salary on and after July 1,
1989, July 1, 1990, July 1, 1991, and July 1, 1992, and adding provisions re salary increases on and after July 1, 1995, and
July 1, 1996, effective July 1, 1995; July 21 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) and
(2) re salary increases on and after July 1, 1993, and July 1, 1995, redesignating former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (1) and
adding new Subdivs. (2) and (3) re salary increases on and after October 1, 1997, and October 1, 1998, respectively,
effective July 23, 1997; P.A. 98-197 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re salaries on and after July 1, 1996, and
adding Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on and after October 1, 1999, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1 amended
Subsec. (a) by adding Subdivs. (4) and (5) re salary increases, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-231 amended Subsec. (a) to
delete former Subdivs. (1) to (3), inclusive, renumber former Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (1) and (2) and add new
Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on and after April 1, 2002, effective January 3, 2001.
Prohibition against practice of law by judges was rule of policy prior to enactment of statute. 72 C. 437. Power to
determine a salary system for compensation of judges is a legislative power; section does not violate separation of powers
nor equal protection clauses of state or federal constitutions. 179 C. 552−557, 559, 562. Cited. 213 C. 54, 65.
System adopted by state of paying salaries on biweekly basis held to result in underpayment of public officer on a
statutory annual salary. 20 CS 417.
Subsec. (c):
P.A. 93-108 cited. 226 C. 475, 492.
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(1969, P.A. 601, S. 2; P.A. 85-613, S. 153, 154.)
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(b) In no event shall the total of a retired judge's compensation, defined as retirement
salary plus fees payable by the state for services as a senior judge or state referee for
services rendered in any fiscal year, exceed the amount equal to the highest salary on
which his retirement salary is based during the fiscal year.
(P.A. 74-309, S. 6, 17; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 64, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 32, 65; P.A. 82-248, S. 23.)
History: P.A. 76-436 deleted references to Secs. 17-55 and 51-142 in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576
rephrased clause re maximum retirement compensation in Subsec. (b) for clarity; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision,
changing "such" to "the" and eliminating obsolete reference to fiscal year ending June 30, 1975.
See Sec. 52-434(f) re per diem compensation of state referees.
Cited. 214 C. 552, 558.
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(1949 Rev., S. 3597, 7658; 1955, S. 1965d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 15; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 88; 531, S. 23; P.A. 74-183,
S. 29, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 61, 681; P.A. 88-364, S. 66, 123.)
History: 1959 acts included circuit court and juvenile court judges; P.A. 74-183 removed judges of circuit court from
purview of section, reflecting reorganization of judicial system, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 removed judges
of common pleas and juvenile courts from purview of section, their functions having been transferred to superior court,
effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 88-364 added "judge of the appellate court".
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(b) If the Judicial Review Council finds that the justice, judge, Chief State's Attorney, Deputy Chief State's Attorney, state's attorney, Chief Public Defender, Deputy
Chief Public Defender, public defender, family support magistrate or compensation
commissioner is permanently incapacitated from adequately fulfilling his duties, (1) the
justice, judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner shall thereupon
be retired with retirement pay to be determined as provided by section 51-50, or (2) the
Chief State's Attorney, Deputy Chief State's Attorney, state's attorney, Chief Public
Defender, Deputy Chief Public Defender or public defender shall thereupon be retired
and shall receive as retirement pay, annually, two-thirds the salary of the office which
he held at the time of his retirement, as such salary may be changed from time to time.
No judge shall be denied benefits under section 51-50 as a result of the expiration of
his judicial term of office during the pendency of a disability matter before the Judicial
Review Council. Any council proceedings pursuant to this section shall be confidential.
(1949 Rev., S. 7736; 1955, S. 3137d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 89; 531, S. 20; 1967, P.A. 622, S. 5; 1971, P.A. 639, S. 3; P.A.
73-122, S. 11, 27; P.A. 74-183, S. 30, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 62, 681; P.A. 77-494, S. 11, 18; P.A. 82-248, S. 24; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 56, 82; P.A. 84-399, S. 2, 17; 84-421, S. 2, 4; P.A. 86-348, S. 3, 8; P.A. 92-160, S. 1, 19; 92-226, S.
4, 28.)
History: 1959 acts included circuit court and juvenile court judges; 1967 act included state's attorneys; 1971 act applied
provisions to compensation commissioner; P.A. 73-122 included chief state's attorney and deputy chief state's attorney
and qualified applicability re state's attorneys by adding "who had elected under the provisions of Sec. 51-278 to be
included within the provisions of this section"; P.A. 74-183 removed circuit court judges from purview of section, reflecting
reorganization of judicial system, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of common
pleas and juvenile courts' function to superior court, adding proviso re retirement compensation for judges of former
juvenile, circuit and common pleas courts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-494 replaced committee consisting of governor,
chief justice, attorney general, health commissioner, president pro tempore of senate and speaker of house of representatives
with judicial review council; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing section into
Subsecs. but made no substantive change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 included reference to appellate court in Subsec. (a);
P.A. 84-399 deleted provisions re disability retirement benefits for judges of juvenile court, circuit court or court of common
pleas; P.A. 84-421 extended provisions of section to include any public defender who had elected under Sec. 51-295a to
be included in this section, effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 86-348 extended provisions of section to include any chief public
defender or deputy chief public defender who had elected under Sec. 51-295a to be included in this section; P.A. 92-160
amended Subsec. (b) by adding prohibition re denial of benefits under Sec. 51-50 as result of expiration of term during
pendency of matter before judicial review council and adding provision re confidentiality of proceedings; P.A. 92-226
extended provisions of section to include any family support magistrate who had elected under Sec. 46b-231 to be included
in this section.
See Sec. 31-283e re compensation commissioners' right to elect benefits under this section.
See Sec. 51-275 for definitions of "Chief State's Attorney" and "Deputy Chief State's Attorney".
Cited. 213 C. 54, 65.
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(b) Any such judge or commissioner who first commenced service as a judge or
compensation commissioner prior to January 1, 1981, and who resigns prior to becoming
eligible to retire under section 51-50a and after at least ten years of service, shall receive,
at such time as he would have been eligible to so retire if he had continued in such
service, as retirement salary, annually, fifty per cent of the retirement salary he would
have received had he served until he was so eligible, plus ten per cent of such retirement
salary for each year of service beyond ten years but for not more than five years of
additional service.
(c) Any such judge, family support magistrate or commissioner who first commenced service as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner
on or after January 1, 1981, and who resigns prior to becoming eligible to retire under
section 51-50a and after at least ten years of service, shall receive, at such time as he
would have been eligible to so retire if he had continued in such service, annually, an
amount equal to the fraction of the retirement salary he would have received had he
served until he was so eligible which corresponds to the ratio which the number of years
of his completed service bears to the number of years of service which would have been
completed at age sixty-five or twenty years, whichever is less.
(d) In determining the amount of retirement payments to be made pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, longevity payments which would have been made
if the judge, family support magistrate or commissioner had continued to serve as a
judge, family support magistrate or commissioner from the date of resignation with a
vested right to a retirement salary shall not be included in the computation.
(P.A. 78-342, S. 3; P.A. 80-337, S. 7, 13; P.A. 82-248, S. 25; P.A. 84-399, S. 3, 17; P.A. 92-226, S. 5, 28.)
History: P.A. 80-337 specified applicability of previous provisions to judges and commissioners whose term of service
began before January 1, 1981, and added provisions applicable to those whose service began on or after that date; P.A.
82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing section into Subsecs. but made no substantive
change; P.A. 84-399 added Subsec. (d) providing that longevity payments which would have been made if judge or
compensation commissioner continued to serve from the date of resignation shall not be included in computation of benefits;
P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of section to include family support magistrates.
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(P.A. 80-337, S. 4, 13; P.A. 92-226, S. 6, 28.)
History: P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of section to include family support magistrates.
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(P.A. 80-337, S. 6, 13; P.A. 92-226, S. 7, 28.)
History: P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of section to include family support magistrates.
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(1) "Retirement system" or "system" means the retirement provisions in sections
51-49a to 51-50b, inclusive, and section 51-51, for judges, family support magistrates
and compensation commissioners;
(2) "Actuarial reserve basis" means a basis under which the liabilities of the retirement system are determined using actuarial assumptions, tables and methods and under
which assets are accumulated under a program designed to achieve a balance between
the accumulated assets and the liabilities of the system;
(3) "Funding" means the accumulation of assets in advance of the payment of retirement allowances in accordance with a definite actuarial program;
(4) "Normal cost" means the amount of contribution which the state is required to
make into the retirement fund in order to meet the actuarial cost of current service;
(5) "Unfunded liability" means the actuarially determined value of the liability for
service before the date of the actuarial valuation less the accumulated assets in the
retirement fund;
(6) "Amortization of unfunded liabilities" means a systematic program of payment
for the unfunded liabilities over a period of years in lieu of a payment in one sum;
(7) "Current service" means service rendered in the current fiscal year;
(8) "Retirement fund" means the Judge's Retirement Fund established by section
51-49e.
(b) The retirement system shall be funded on an actuarial reserve basis. On or before
November 1, 1998, and biennially thereafter, the Retirement Commission, as administrator of the system pursuant to section 5-155a, shall certify to the General Assembly,
with respect to the ensuing biennium, the amount necessary on the basis of an actuarial
determination to gradually establish and subsequently maintain the retirement fund on
such determined actuarial reserve basis, and make such other recommendations with
regard to such fund and its administration as the commission deems appropriate. The
Retirement Commission shall, at least once every two years, prepare a valuation of the
assets and liabilities of the system. On the basis of each such valuation, it shall redetermine the normal rate of contribution and, until it is amortized, the unfunded past service
liability. The General Assembly shall review the commission's recommendations and
certification and shall appropriate to the retirement fund the amount certified by the
Retirement Commission as necessary provided said certification is in compliance with
this section at the time of certification, and the amount so certified shall not be reduced
or used for other than the purposes of this section.
(c) The Retirement Commission shall determine on an actuarial basis (1) a normal
rate of contribution which the state shall be required to make into the retirement fund
in order to meet the actuarial cost of current service and (2) the unfunded past service
liability. Effective July 1, 1991, the unfunded past service liability shall be funded as a
level percentage of payroll. The state contribution shall be the sum of the normal cost
and the amount required for a forty-year amortization of unfunded liabilities. The forty-
year period for such amortization shall commence July 1, 1991.
(d) No act liberalizing the benefits of the retirement system shall be enacted by the
General Assembly until the assembly has requested and received from the Retirement
Commission a certification of the unfunded liability created by such change and the
cost of such change under the actuarial funding basis adopted by this section using full
normal cost plus thirty-year amortization. Any unfunded liability created by such change
shall be amortized over a period of thirty years.
(e) The funds of the retirement system shall not be reduced or used for other than
the purposes of the system.
(P.A. 81-456, S. 3; P.A. 84-546, S. 110, 173; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-10, S. 3, 20; P.A. 92-226, S. 8, 28; P.A. 98-159,
S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 84-546 made technical change in Subsec. (b), substituting reference to Sec. 5-155a for reference to Sec.
5-155; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-10 amended Subsec. (c) to delete six-year funding program for the actuarial reserve basis
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1982, and requirement that unfunded liability be fully amortized over forty-year period
commencing with fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and added provisions that (1) unfunded past service liability shall
be funded as a level percentage of payroll effective July 1, 1991, (2) state contribution shall be sum of normal cost and
amount required for forty-year amortization of unfunded liabilities, and (3) forty-year amortization period shall commence
July 1, 1991; P.A. 92-226 redefined "retirement system" to include family support magistrates; P.A. 98-159 amended
Subsec. (b) to change certification date from "on or before March first annually" to "on or before November 1, 1998, and
biennially thereafter," with respect to the ensuing biennium, effective July 1, 1998.
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(P.A. 81-456, S. 5.)
See Sec. 51-49d re funding of retirement system.
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(b) For purposes of determining both the retirement salary of judges who first commenced service as judges on or after January 1, 1981, and the allowance payable to their
surviving spouses, under subsection (b) of section 51-51, "salary" shall be composed
of the total of the following amounts: The annual salary payable at the time of retirement
or death, fixed in accordance with subsection (a) of section 51-47; and for judges to
whom a longevity payment has been made or is due and payable, in each case under
subsection (d) of section 51-47, (1) one and one-half per cent of the annual salary the
judge was receiving at the time of retirement or death, for those who have completed
ten or more but less than fifteen years of service as a judge or other state service or
service as an elected official of the state or any combination of such service, (2) three
per cent of the annual salary the judge was receiving at the time of retirement or death,
for those who have completed fifteen or more but less than twenty years of service as
a judge or other state service or service as an elected official of the state or any combination of such service, (3) four and one-half per cent of the annual salary the judge was
receiving at the time of retirement or death, for those who have completed twenty or
more but less than twenty-five years of service as a judge or other state service or service
as an elected official of the state or any combination of such service, and (4) six per
cent of the annual salary the judge was receiving at the time of retirement or death, for
those who have completed twenty-five or more years of service as a judge or other state
service or service as an elected official of the state or any combination of such service.
(P.A. 84-399, S. 7, 17; P.A. 96-233.)
History: P.A. 96-233 included other state service or service as an elected official or any combination of such service
for purposes of longevity credit for determination of retirement salary.
Cited. 213 C. 54, 65.
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(b) For purposes of determining both the retirement salary of compensation commissioners who first commenced service as compensation commissioners in a term
commencing on or after January 1, 1981, and the allowance payable to their surviving
spouses, under subsection (b) of section 51-51, "salary" shall be composed of the total
of the following amounts: The annual salary payable at the time of retirement or death,
fixed in accordance with subsection (a) of section 31-277; and for compensation commissioners to whom a longevity payment has been made or is due and payable, in each
case under subsection (b) of section 31-277, (1) one and one-half per cent of the annual
salary the commissioner was receiving at the time of retirement or death, for those who
have completed ten or more but less than fifteen years of service as a commissioner,
(2) three per cent of the annual salary the commissioner was receiving at the time of
retirement or death, for those who have completed fifteen or more but less than twenty
years of service as a commissioner, (3) four and one-half per cent of the annual salary
the commissioner was receiving at the time of retirement or death, for those who have
completed twenty or more but less than twenty-five years of service as a commissioner
and (4) six per cent of the annual salary the commissioner was receiving at the time of
retirement or death, for those who have completed twenty-five or more years of service
as a commissioner.
(P.A. 84-399, S. 13, 17; 84-546, S. 163, 173; P.A. 92-226, S. 20, 28.)
History: P.A. 84-546 made technical changes to Subsec. (b), changing "judge" to "commissioner"; P.A. 92-226 amended
section to provide that January 1, 1981, date re determination of retirement salary and surviving spouse allowance applies
to date "term" commenced rather than to date "service" commenced.
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(b) Any such judge, any family support magistrate or any compensation commissioner who is a veteran may receive credit for retirement purposes for military service, if
such judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner makes retirement
contributions for each month of military service equal to one-twelfth of five per cent of
his first year's salary as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner multiplied by the total number of months of such military service, except that (1)
no retirement contribution shall be made for service as a prisoner of war, and (2) no
credit shall be allowed for military service to any such judge, family support magistrate
or compensation commissioner who has served less than ten years as a judge, family
support magistrate or compensation commissioner, nor for more than fifty per cent of
such military service or three years, whichever is less. Service credit for military service
for retirement purposes other than service as a prisoner of war shall not be granted until
payment of contributions is completed. Any application for military service credit under
this section for service as a prisoner of war shall be accompanied by sufficient proof
from the Veterans' Administration of the United States that such judge, family support
magistrate or compensation commissioner is a former prisoner of war.
(c) For purposes of this section: (1) "Armed forces" means the United States Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force; (2) "veteran" means any person honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active service in,
the armed forces; (3) "military service" shall be service during World War II, December
7, 1941, to December 31, 1946; the Korean hostilities, June 27, 1950, to October 27,
1953; and the Vietnam era, January 1, 1964, to July 1, 1975, and shall include service
as a prisoner of war.
(P.A. 86-295, S. 2, 3; P.A. 92-226, S. 10, 28; P.A. 98-197, S. 4, 8; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 100, 121.)
History: P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of section to include family support magistrates; P.A. 98-197 amended
Subsec. (b) by permitting compensation commissioners to purchase military service credit for retirement purposes, effective
July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998.
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(1) A retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall receive, annually, two-thirds
of the salary for the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
(2) A retired Chief Court Administrator who was a judge shall receive, annually,
two-thirds of the salary for the office of Chief Court Administrator;
(3) A retired associate judge of the Supreme Court shall receive, annually, two-
thirds of the salary for the office of associate judge of the Supreme Court;
(4) A retired Chief Judge of the Appellate Court shall receive, annually, two-thirds
of the salary for the office of Chief Judge of the Appellate Court;
(5) A retired judge of the Appellate Court shall receive, annually, two-thirds of the
salary for the office of judge of the Appellate Court;
(6) A retired Deputy Chief Court Administrator who was a judge shall receive,
annually, two-thirds of the salary for the office of Deputy Chief Court Administrator;
(7) A retired judge of the Superior Court shall receive, annually, two-thirds of the
salary for the office of judge of the Superior Court;
(8) A retired judge of the Court of Common Pleas, a retired judge of the Circuit
Court or a retired judge of the Juvenile Court, shall receive, annually, two-thirds of the
salary for the office of judge of the Superior Court;
(9) A retired compensation commissioner shall receive, annually, two-thirds of the
salary of a compensation commissioner.
(b) Each judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner who first
commences service as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner on or after January 1, 1981, and who attains the age of seventy while serving in his
or her respective office or who is retired because of disability shall receive as retirement,
annually, two-thirds of the salary the judge, family support magistrate or compensation
commissioner was receiving at the time of his or her retirement.
(1949 Rev., S. 3597; 1955, S. 1967d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 90; 531, S. 21; February, 1965, P.A. 331, S. 47; 1967, P.A. 621,
S. 3; 1971, P.A. 639, S. 4; P.A. 74-183, S. 31, 291; 74-309, S. 1, 17; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 63, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 31, 65;
P.A. 80-337, S. 2, 13; P.A. 82-248, S. 26; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 2, 9; P.A. 84-399, S. 4, 17; P.A. 85-517, S. 2, 5;
P.A. 87-198, S. 2, 6; P.A. 92-226, S. 11, 28.)
History: 1959 acts included judges of circuit and juvenile courts; 1965 act provided that section applies only to judge
first appointed prior to June 8, 1965; 1967 act deleted 1965 provision and specified applicability of section to judges who
reach age of seventy while serving as judge and judges who retire because of disability; 1971 act added provision re
compensation commissioners and applied section as a whole to such commissioners; P.A. 74-183 made no change; P.A.
74-309 clarified basis for retirement compensation, substituting "salary of the judicial office held by him at the time of his
retirement" for "salary of a judge of the court of which he was a member"; P.A. 76-436 changed basis for retirement
compensation, adding provisions specifically applicable to chief court administrator, to associate judges of supreme court
or superior court judges and to judges of common pleas, juvenile or circuit courts, deleting former provision re basis for
retirement computation as amended by P.A. 74-309, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 amended section to add provisions
re increases in retirement compensation, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 80-337 designated former provisions as Subsecs. (a)
and (c), specifying in Subsec. (a) that provisions apply to judges and compensation commissioners who began serving
before January 1, 1981, and deleting provision re retirement salary and increments for retired chief judge of superior court,
and added provisions designated as Subsecs. (b) and (d); P.A. 82-248 restated provisions of section and divided Subsec
(a) into subdivisions; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 added new Subdiv. in Subsec. (a) re retirement salary of retired judge of
the appellate court; P.A. 84-399 amended Subsec. (a) by adding "for the office of" and deleting references to retirement
benefits based on salary step levels, and deleted Subsec. (c) re definition of "salary"; P.A. 85-517 added disability retirement
provisions for a retired chief presiding judge of the appellate court and a retired deputy chief court administrator who was
a judge; P.A. 87-198 deleted "presiding" as adjective modifying "judge"; P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of Subsec. (b)
to include family support magistrates.
See Sec. 31-283e re compensation commissioners' right to elect benefits under this section.
Cited. 147 C. 656.
Subsec. (a):
Subpara. (4) cited. 7 CA 136, 139.
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(2) Any judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner who has
been refunded contributions from the State Employees Retirement Fund for any prior
period of state service may receive credit for such service upon repayment of such
refunded contributions with interest thereon at the rate of five per cent per year from the
date of refund to the date of payment. The amount of such payment shall be transferred
to the judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners retirement
system. A judge, family support magistrate or commissioner may elect to retire at any
time thereafter.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any judge who has served
for at least sixteen years as a judge and was nominated by the Governor for a subsequent
term but was not reappointed and who has attained sixty-three years of age, shall be
eligible to receive a retirement salary effective upon the expiration of his term as a judge.
The retirement salary shall be in the amount equal to the fraction of the retirement salary
such judge would have received had he served until he was eligible to retire which
corresponds to the ratio which the number of years of his completed service bears to
the number of years of service which would have been completed at age sixty-five or
twenty years, whichever is less.
(b) Each justice or judge or family support magistrate who retired while holding
judicial office shall receive annually as retirement salary an amount in accordance with
the provisions of section 51-50; and each compensation commissioner who first commenced service as a compensation commissioner prior to January 1, 1981, shall receive,
annually, as retirement salary, two-thirds of the salary of a compensation commissioner,
and each compensation commissioner who first commenced service as a compensation
commissioner on or after January 1, 1981, shall receive, annually, as retirement salary,
two-thirds of the salary the compensation commissioner was receiving at the time of
his or her retirement; except that, if a judge, family support magistrate or commissioner
has served fewer than ten years at the time of his retirement under this section, his
retirement salary shall be reduced in the ratio which the number of years of his completed
service bears to the number of years of service which would have been completed at
age seventy, or ten years, whichever is less.
(1967, P.A. 621, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 639, S. 5; P.A. 74-183, S. 32, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 63a, 681; P.A. 78-342, S. 2; P.A.
80-337, S. 3, 13; P.A. 82-248, S. 27; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 5, 9; P.A. 92-226, S. 12, 28; P.A. 93-379, S. 4, 8; P.A.
98-197, S. 5, 8.)
History: 1971 act amended section to apply to compensation commissioners; P.A. 74-183 restated provisions re retirement salary of chief justice of supreme court and judges of all other courts, changing basis from "salary of a judge of the
court of which he was a member at the time of his retirement" to "salary of the judicial office held by him at the time of
his retirement", effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 specified retirement salary as amount in accordance with Sec.
51-50 rather than as amount equaling two-thirds of salary of judicial office held at time of retirement, effective July 1,
1978; P.A. 78-342 restated provision re criteria for retirement; P.A. 80-337 allowed retirement after twenty years' service
rather than twenty-five years' service and distinguished between those who began serving before January 1, 1981, and
those who began serving on or after that date; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing
section into Subsecs. but made no substantive change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision
permitting retirement of judge or compensation commissioner who has thirty years of state service credit, provided not
less than ten years of such service was served as judge or compensation commissioner and such service shall not be used
for retirement under chapter 66; P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of section to include family support magistrates; P.A.
93-379 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision that any judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner
who has been refunded retirement contributions may receive credit for such service upon repayment of refunded contributions plus interest, effective June 30, 1993; P.A. 98-197 amended Subsec. (a) by dividing Subsec. into Subdivs. and added
Subdiv. (3) re eligibility of judge to receive retirement salary who has served for at least sixteen years as a judge, was
nominated by Governor for subsequent term but was not reappointed and has attained the age of sixty-three, effective July
1, 1998.
See Sec. 31-283e re compensation commissioners' rights to elect benefits under this section.
Discussed. History of state referees. 164 C. 360.
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(b) The provisions of this section with respect to judges shall apply only to any
person first appointed a judge of any court after May 20, 1967, and, on or after July 1,
1978, to any person who was appointed a judge on or prior to May 20, 1967, and who
is reappointed to the same court on or after July 1, 1978, or who is appointed to a different
court on or after July 1, 1978. The deduction or withholding shall commence with the
reappointment or appointment, as the case may be. The appointment of a judge of the
Supreme Court to the office of Chief Justice, the appointment, on or after August 1,
1983, of a judge of the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court prior to the expiration of
his term as an Appellate Court judge or the appointment of a Superior Court judge to
the Supreme Court or, on or after August 1, 1983, to the Appellate Court, prior to the
expiration of his term as a Superior Court judge shall not be deemed to be a reappointment
to the same court or appointment to a different court.
(c) All matching noncontributory payments required to be made by the state to
carry out the provisions of sections 51-49, 51-50 and 51-50a on behalf of compensation
commissioners shall be an expense of the compensation commission for purposes of
assessment under section 31-345.
(d) All contributions made under this section shall be refunded without interest
to any judge, family support magistrate or commissioner who resigns or is otherwise
removed from judicial office or from the office of family support magistrate or the office
of compensation commissioner prior to becoming eligible for retirement benefits or in
the event of the death of any such judge, family support magistrate or commissioner,
to his named beneficiary or, if none, his estate, provided no pension is payable under
section 51-51.
(1967, P.A. 621, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 639, S. 6; P.A. 77-576, S. 47, 65; 77-602; P.A. 80-337, S. 11, 13; P.A. 81-456, S. 4;
P.A. 82-248, S. 28; 82-392, S. 1, 3; P.A. 84-399, S. 5, 17; P.A. 85-613, S. 75, 154; P.A. 86-295, S. 1, 3; P.A. 92-226, S.
13, 28.)
History: 1971 act added provision re payments on behalf of compensation commissioners and applied previously
existing provisions to compensation commissioners; P.A. 77-576 added provisions re effect of reappointment to same
court or appointment to a different court and re refund of contributions to judge or compensation commissioner who ceases
to hold office before becoming eligible for retirement; P.A. 77-602 replaced refund provision of P.A. 77-576 with new
provision applicable to judge or compensation commissioner who resigns or is otherwise removed from office rather than
to judge or compensation commissioner who "ceases to hold office"; P.A. 80-337 clarified meaning of "salary" for purposes
of section; P.A. 81-456 required that deductions from judges' salaries be deposited in judge's retirement fund rather than
in general fund; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing section into Subsecs. but
made no substantive change; P.A. 82-392 added provision re refund of all contributions in the event of death of judge or
compensation commissioner to his named beneficiary, or if none, his estate, provided no pension is payable under Sec.
51-51; P.A. 84-399 amended Subsec. (a) by adding references to salary payable to each judge under Subsecs. (a) and (d)
of Sec. 54-47 and compensation commissioner under Sec. 31-277 and deleted Subsec. (e) re definition of "salary"; P.A.
85-613 made technical changes, substituting reference to Sec. 51-47 for reference to Sec. 54-47; P.A. 86-295 amended
Subsec. (b) to provide that the appointment on and after August 1, 1983, of judge of the appellate court to the supreme
court prior to expiration of term as appellate judge, or judge of the superior court to the appellate court prior to expiration
of term as superior court judge shall not be deemed to be reappointment to same court or appointment to different court;
P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of section to include any family support magistrate who had elected under Sec. 46b-231
to be included in this section.
See Sec. 51-49d re funding of retirement system.
Discussed. History of state referees. 164 C. 360.
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(b) Any senior judge of the Superior Court may be designated and assigned by the
Chief Court Administrator to perform such judicial duties in the Superior Court as such
senior judge is willing to undertake.
(c) A senior judge shall not perform judicial duties unless such senior judge is so
designated and assigned except as a state referee in the manner prescribed by law.
(d) The Chief Court Administrator may designate, assign or summon any senior
judge, in any matter in which the Chief Court Administrator may designate, assign or
summon a judge or judges, to sit or act in any judicial capacity.
(e) The Chief Court Administrator may make new designations and assignments
in accordance with the provisions of this section and may revoke designations and assignments previously made by the Chief Court Administrator.
(f) A senior judge may participate in an alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc. in any year commencing July first provided such judge
performed the duties of a senior judge for at least seventy-five days during the preceding
year, except that (1) for the year commencing July 1, 1993, a senior judge may participate
in said alternative dispute resolution program without having performed the duties of
a senior judge for seventy-five days during the preceding year and (2) a senior judge
may participate in said alternative dispute resolution program from the date such judge
assumes the status of a senior judge, through the completion of the year commencing
July first following such date, without having satisfied the seventy-five-day requirement.
(1967, P.A. 621, S. 6−10; P.A. 74-183, S. 33, 291; 74-309, S. 3, 17; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 65, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 34,
65; P.A. 82-248, S. 29; P.A. 93-108, S. 2, 6; P.A. 99-215, S. 7, 25, 29.)
History: P.A. 74-183 revised Subsec. (d) to reflect transfer of circuit court functions to court of common pleas, effective
December 31, 1974; P.A. 74-309 referred to "senior" judges rather than to "retired" judges throughout section, authorized
assignments to supreme court duties by chief justice in Subsec. (a), inserted new Subsec. (e) re senior judges of juvenile
court, relettering former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), and new Subsec. (g) re chief court administrator's power to assign
duties to senior judges; P.A. 76-436 deleted Subsec. (d) re assignment of senior judge of common pleas court to duties in
circuit court, that court having been replaced by common pleas court in P.A. 74-183, relettering remaining Subsecs.
accordingly, and amended Subsecs. (c) and (d), formerly (e), to reflect transfer of common pleas and juvenile courts'
functions to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 deleted Subsecs. (c) and (d) re assignment of senior judges
of common pleas and juvenile courts to duties in superior court to fully effect provisions of P.A. 76-436, effective July 1,
1978; P.A. 82-248 rephrased section and added provisions re authority of chief court administrator to make and revoke
assignments and filing and recording of assignments with clerks; P.A. 93-108 added Subsec. (g) re participation of senior
judges in alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc., effective June 3, 1993; P.A. 99-215
amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (2) re designation of senior judge of the Appellate Court to perform judicial duties
in the Appellate Court or the Superior Court and made technical changes, effective June 29, 1999, and deleted Subsec. (f)
re filing of designations and assignments with clerk and entered on minutes of court and relettered remaining Subsec.
accordingly.
Discussed. History of state referees. 164 C. 360.
Cited. 41 CS 1, 6.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 41 CS 1, 4.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 199 C. 496, 503.
Subsec. (g):
P.A. 93-108 cited. 226 C. 475, 492.
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(b) A senior judge shall discharge, during the period of his designation and assignment, all judicial duties for which he is designated and assigned. He may be required
to perform any duty which might be required of a judge of the court to which he is
designated and assigned.
(1967, P.A. 621, S. 13; P.A. 74-309, S. 4, 17; P.A. 82-248, S. 30.)
History: P.A. 74-309 referred to senior judges rather than to retired justices or judges; P.A. 82-248 restated section and
divided section into Subsecs. but made no substantive change.
Discussed. History of state referees. 164 C. 360. Cited. 199 C. 496, 503.
Statute gives senior judge same powers as other judges of the superior court including issuance of search warrants
outside judicial districts for which they are assigned. 41 CS 1, 5, 7.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 41 CS 1, 5.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 41 CS 1, 5.
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(1967, P.A. 621, S. 14; P.A. 74-309, S. 5, 17; P.A. 82-248, S. 31.)
History: P.A. 74-309 referred to senior judges rather than to retired justices or judges; P.A. 82-248 restated provisions
of section but made no substantive change.
Discussed. History of state referees. 164 C. 360.
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(1967, P.A. 621, S. 11; P.A. 76-436, S. 468, 681; P.A. 82-248, S. 32; P.A. 85-140, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 76-436 removed reference to powers of common pleas court judge, reflecting transfer of common pleas
court functions to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision but no substantive change;
P.A. 85-140 applied provisions of section to retired appellate court judges.
See Conn. Const. Art. V, S. 6 re seventy-year age limit for persons serving as judges unless serving as state referee.
See Secs. 52-434, 52-434a re state referees, generally.
Cited. 158 C. 16. Cited. 163 C. 14. Discussed. History of state referees. 164 C. 360.
Referee directed to file report under section 13a-76 where case had been heard before passage of this section. 27 CS 494.
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(1967, P.A. 621, S. 12; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 66, 681; P.A. 82-248, S. 163.)
See Sec. 51-50c re assignment of senior judges to judicial duties.
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(b) A retired judge of the Circuit Court acting as a state referee may hear and determine small claims matters at locations designated by the Chief Court Administrator.
After the hearing, such retired judge shall report his findings to the referring court.
(1972, P.A. 108, S. 11; P.A. 74-183, S. 35, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 67, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 36, 65; P.A. 78-379, S.
4, 27; P.A. 82-248, S. 33.)
History: P.A. 74-183 included retired judges of common pleas court in provisions and replaced chief judge of circuit
court with chief judge of common pleas court, reflecting transfer of duties from circuit court to court of common pleas,
effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 included retired judges of superior court, deleted reference to judges' power to
render judgments on small claims matters and replaced chief judge of common pleas court with chief court administrator,
effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 rephrased section restoring reference to judges' power to render judgment on small
claims matters, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-379 required that retired circuit court judge report findings to referring
court, terminating his power to render judgment on small claims matters; P.A. 82-248 reworded section and divided section
into Subsecs.
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(b) A successor to any judge who retires shall be appointed in the manner prescribed
by law.
(c) Any senior judge of the Court of Common Pleas or the Juvenile Court shall be
eligible for appointment in accordance with subsection (a) of this section to a term as
a senior judge of the Superior Court provided such senior judge shall not attain the age
of seventy prior to July 1, 1978.
(P.A. 74-309, S. 2, 17; P.A. 77-576, S. 35, 65; P.A. 87-508, S. 6, 10.)
History: P.A. 77-576 added Subsec. (c) re appointment of senior judge of common pleas or juvenile court as senior
judge in superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 87-508 amended Subsec. (a) to require that senior judges be electors
and residents of this state.
Cited. 41 CS 1, 4, 6.
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(P.A. 74-309, S. 14, 17; P.A. 78-280, S. 73, 127; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 57, 82; P.A. 86-99, S. 32, 34; P.A. 91-
407, S. 2, 42.)
History: P.A. 78-280 substituted "associate" for "associated" judge of supreme court, a technical correction; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 83-29 included reference to judge of the appellate court; P.A. 86-99 replaced reference to Sec. 9-346 with
reference to Sec. 9-346b; P.A. 91-407 deleted reference to "54-47" and substituted "54-47b to 54-47g, inclusive," in
lieu thereof.
Cited. 41 CS 1, 6.
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(P.A. 74-309, S. 15, 17; P.A. 79-426, S. 1; P.A. 87-508, S. 7, 10; P.A. 93-108, S. 3, 6.)
History: P.A. 79-426 specified applicability to retired justice or judge "who is designated and assigned by the chief
justice or the chief court administrator to perform judicial duties"; P.A. 87-508 required that retired judges who perform
judicial duties be electors and residents of this state; P.A. 93-108 specified participation in alternative dispute resolution
program approved by STA-FED, ADR Inc. shall not be considered private practice of law, effective June 3, 1993.
P.A. 93-108 cited. 226 C. 475, 492.
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(b) Each such judge who was a judge of the Superior Court or the Court of Common
Pleas may exercise, as shall be prescribed by law, the powers of a judge of the Superior
Court on matters referred to him as a state referee by the Chief Court Administrator as
provided in section 2 of article eighth of the amendments to the Constitution of this state.
(P.A. 74-309, S. 8, 17; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 68, 681; P.A. 79-426, S. 2; P.A. 80-222, S. 2; P.A. 82-248, S. 34; P.A. 84-
546, S. 111, 173; P.A. 87-508, S. 8, 10.)
History: P.A. 76-436 revised section to reflect transfer of common pleas court functions to superior court, effective
July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-426 specified that senior judges seventy years old or older are eligible for appointment as state referee
where previously section stated that such senior judges "shall be" referees, implying automatic change in status; P.A. 80-
222 specified that senior judges, upon reaching seventy years of age, automatically become state referees for the remaining
portion of their term of office as judge; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing
section into Subsecs. but made no substantive change; P.A. 84-546 made technical change in Subsec. (b), correcting
constitutional cite; P.A. 87-508 amended Subsec. (a) to require that state referees be electors and residents of this state.
Cited. 199 C. 496, 503.