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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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:
(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.
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.
(P.A. 81-456, S. 5.)
See Sec. 51-49d re funding of retirement system.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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:
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
Sec. 51-50g. Chief Court Administrator may make new assignments. Section
51-50g is repealed.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
Sec. 51-51. Pensions for surviving spouses and children of judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners. (a) The surviving spouse of a
deceased judge or of a compensation commissioner who commenced service as a judge
or compensation commissioner prior to January 1, 1981, who died while holding judicial
office or while holding the office of compensation commissioner or who died after
retirement, shall receive, annually, for the rest of his or her natural life the following
allowances:
(1) The surviving spouse of a person who was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court.
(2) The surviving spouse of a Chief Court Administrator who was a judge shall
receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Chief Court Administrator.
(3) The surviving spouse of a person who was an associate judge of the Supreme
Court, shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of an associate judge
of the Supreme Court.
(4) The surviving spouse of a person who was Chief Judge of the Appellate Court
shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Chief Judge of the Appellate Court.
(5) The surviving spouse of a judge of the Appellate Court shall receive, annually,
one-third of the salary for the office of a judge of the Appellate Court.
(6) The surviving spouse of a Deputy Chief Court Administrator who was a judge
shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Deputy Chief Court
Administrator.
(7) The surviving spouse of a person who was a judge of the Superior Court shall
receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of a judge of the Superior Court.
(8) The surviving spouse of a deceased judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of the
Circuit Court or of the Juvenile Court, shall receive annually, one-third of the salary for
the office of Superior Court judge.
(9) The surviving spouse of a deceased compensation commissioner shall receive,
annually, one-third of the salary of a compensation commissioner.
(b) The surviving spouse of a deceased judge of the Supreme Court, the Appellate
Court or the Superior Court or of a 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, and (1) who died while holding
judicial office or the office of family support magistrate or compensation commissioner
shall receive, annually, for the rest of his or her natural life, an allowance equal to one-third of the salary such judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner
was receiving on the date of his or her death; or (2) who died after the judge, family
support magistrate or compensation commissioner had retired shall receive, annually,
for the rest of his or her natural life, an allowance equal to one-half of the retirement
salary including any cost of living allowances the judge, family support magistrate or
compensation commissioner was receiving on the date of his or her death.
(c) The surviving spouse of a deceased judge or of a family support magistrate or
of a compensation commissioner who died after the judge, family support magistrate
or compensation commissioner had resigned with a vested right to a retirement salary
under the provisions of section 51-49a, shall receive, annually, for the rest of his or her
natural life, an allowance equal to one-half of the retirement salary the judge, family
support magistrate or compensation commissioner would have received had he or she
lived until he or she was so eligible.
(d) If a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner leaves no
surviving spouse, or if the surviving spouse dies before the youngest child of such judge,
family support magistrate or compensation commissioner reaches the age of eighteen,
the pension, if any, otherwise payable to his or her surviving spouse under this section
shall be payable, until the youngest child reaches the age of eighteen, to the guardian
of the child, for the support of such child and any other children of the judge, family
support magistrate or compensation commissioner under the age of eighteen.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a surviving spouse or child who
is receiving a pension under the provisions of any special act.
(1949 Rev., S. 3598; September, 1950, 1953, 1955, S. 1968d; November, 1955, S. N194; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 91; 531, S.
22; 1967, P.A. 621, S. 4; 1972, P.A. 89, S. 1; P.A. 74-45; 74-183, S. 36, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 68a, 681; P.A. 77-515, S. 1,
3; 77-576, S. 33, 65; P.A. 79-631, S. 87, 111; P.A. 80-337, S. 5, 13; P.A. 81-472, S. 89, 159; P.A. 82-248, S. 35; P.A. 84-399, S. 6, 17; P.A. 85-517, S. 3, 5; P.A. 87-198, S. 3, 6; P.A. 92-226, S. 14, 28.)
History: 1959 acts applied provisions to widows of circuit court judges and widows of juvenile court judges; 1967 act
deleted requirement that judge must have attained age of seventy for provisions to apply, deleted provision re widows of
judges who retired for disability under provisions of Sec. 51-49 and raised allowance from one-fourth to one-third of
judge's salary; 1972 act applied provisions to widows of compensation commissioners; P.A. 74-45 amended section to
refer to both male and female judges and substituted "surviving spouse" for "widow" accordingly; P.A. 74-183 changed
basis for allowance from one-third of "salary of a judge of the court of which her husband or his wife was a judge at the
time of such judge's retirement or death" to one-third of the "salary of the judicial office held by such deceased judge at
the time of his or her retirement or death", effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 changed basis for payments to spouses
of deceased judges of common pleas, circuit or juvenile court from one-third of salary of the judicial office held by the
deceased judge at the time of retirement or death to one-third of the first step of the salary of a superior court judge and
added proviso re payments to spouses of superior court judges who died before becoming eligible for the maximum salary
of a superior court judge, reflecting transfer of former courts' functions to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-515 based payments to spouses of circuit court judges on one-third of common pleas court judge's salary; P.A. 77-576
specified that allowance is to continue for the rest of the surviving spouse's natural life and added provisions re increments
in payments, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-631 deleted contradictory provision re allowances for spouses of common
pleas or juvenile court judges which had stated amount as one-third of salary for fifth year of service as superior court
judge; P.A. 80-337 designated previous provisions as Subsecs. (a), (d) and (e), amended Subsec. (a) to specify applicability
to spouses of judges and compensation commissioners who began serving as such before January 1, 1981, and to delete
provision re allowances to spouses of deceased chief judges of superior court, amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) to clarify
provisions re allowances to children and inserted new provisions designated as Subsecs. (b), (c) and (f) re allowances to
spouses of judges and compensation commissioners who began serving on or after July 1, 1981, to spouses of those whose
retirement rights had vested under Sec. 51-49a and re definition of "salary"; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A.
82-248 reworded some provisions and divided Subsec. (a) into subdivisions; P.A. 84-399 deleted references to levels of
judicial office, reworded benefit provisions for surviving spouses of judges, changed "monthly" to "annually" and deleted
Subsec. (f) re definition of "salary"; P.A. 85-517 added provisions re allowances for surviving spouse of a chief presiding
judge of the appellate court and a deputy chief court administrator who was a judge, effective July 1, 1986; P.A. 87-198
substituted "chief judge" for "chief presiding judge"; P.A. 92-226 extended provisions of section to include family support
magistrates.
Cited. 147 C. 656. Cited. 213 C. 54, 65.
Secs. 51-51a to 51-51f. Judicial Review Council. Sections 51-51a to 51-51f, inclusive, are repealed.
(1969, P.A. 771, S. 1-5; 1971, P.A. 188; P.A. 74-183, S. 37, 291; 74-338, S. 2, 94; P.A. 75-328, S. 1-4, 75-479, S. 4,
25; P.A. 76-436, S. 69, 681; P.A. 77-494, S. 17, 18.)