DIVORCE;

You asked (1) for the number of Level 1 (so-called “super secret”) divorce cases in the state, (2) whether cases are sealed at this level only in a few Judicial Districts or across the state, and (3) whether most or only a few judges seal cases at this level.

As of January 22, 2003, there were 104 Level 1 divorce cases, according to Deborah Fuller, Judicial Department Division of External Affairs. Fuller explains the degrees of sealing as follows: Cases designated as Level 1 are entirely sealed (kept confidential), including the parties’ names. In order to accomplish this, the cases are given a special number and code and only referred to in that way. The next degree of sealing is Level 2, in which the parties’ names are public but everything else is confidential. In Level 3, the parties’ names and most other information are public, but certain information is sealed.

Judges seal records at Level 1 across the state, rather than only in certain Judicial Districts. But the identity of judges who do so is confidential and not available to the public, according to Fuller.

Judges are authorized to order records and papers in any family matter, including divorce, sealed and not available for inspection except under court order. Before exercising this power, a judge must find that the interest in keeping the records secret overrides the public’s interest in attaining the information. The judge must state the overriding interest

on the record in open court and specify his findings underlying the order (Connecticut Practice Book §§ 11-20 and 25-59). Apparently judges are not making the open court disclosures.

Table 1 shows the number of Level 1 divorce cases by Judicial District. It reveals that the New London-Norwich Judicial District has more Level 1 cases (22) than any other single district and that Stamford-Norwich is the only district with none.

Table 1: Level 1 Divorce Cases by Judicial District

on January 22, 2003

Judicial District	Level 1 Divorce Cases
Ansonia/Milford	4
Danbury	9
Fairfield	20
Hartford	16
Litchfield	5
Middlesex	4
New Britain	3
New Haven/Meriden	14
New London/Norwich	22
Stamford/Norwalk	0
Tolland	5
Waterbury	1
Windham	1
TOTAL	104

SN-E: ro