Sec. 51-198. Constitution of Supreme Court; retired judges, terms, participation in meetings; deliberation and participation in disposition of case after age of
seventy. (a) The Supreme Court shall consist of one Chief Justice and six associate
judges, who shall, at the time of their appointment, also be appointed judges of the
Superior Court.
(b) In addition thereto, each Chief Justice or associate judge of the Supreme Court
who elects to retain office but to retire from full-time active service shall continue to
be a member of the Supreme Court during the remainder of his or her term of office
and during the term of any reappointment under section 51-50i, until he or she attains
the age of seventy years. He or she shall be entitled to participate in the meetings of the
judges of the Supreme Court and vote as a member thereof, but only with respect to
matters for which he or she has been summoned pursuant to subsection (b) of section
51-207.
(c) A judge of the Supreme Court who has attained the age of seventy years may
continue to deliberate and participate in all matters concerning the disposition of any
case which the judge heard prior to attaining said age, until such time as the decision
in any such case is officially released. The judge may also participate in the deliberation
of a motion for reconsideration in such case if such motion is filed within ten days of
the official release of such decision.
(1949 Rev., S. 7672; February, 1965, P.A. 331, S. 26; P.A. 74-309, S. 10, 17; P.A. 82-248, S. 101; P.A. 87-508, S. 3,
10; P.A. 00-191, S. 11, 16; P.A. 01-195, S. 53, 181; P.A. 06-152, S. 13.)
History: 1965 act increased number of associate judges from four to five; P.A. 74-309 added provisions re powers and
privileges of chief justice or associate judge of supreme court who retains office but retires from full-time service; P.A.
82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing section into Subsecs., but made no substantive
change; P.A. 87-508 increased number of associate judges from five to six; P.A. 00-191 added Subsec. (c) providing that
judge of Supreme Court who has attained age of 70 may continue to deliberate and participate in all matters concerning
disposition of case which judge heard prior to attaining age 70, until decision is released and may participate in deliberation
if motion for reconsideration is filed, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsec. (b) for
purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 06-152 amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical change
and inserting "but only with respect to matters for which he or she has been summoned pursuant to subsection (b) of section
51-207", effective June 6, 2006.
Cited. 135 C. 267.
Subsec. (c):
Limited, temporary duties authorized in Subsec. do not amount to "holding office" and therefore do not contravene
mandatory retirement provision of Article V, Sec. 6 of Connecticut Constitution. 293 C. 641.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-198a. Law clerks. Section 51-198a is repealed.
(1959, P.A. 623, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 286; 1971, P.A. 588; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 382, 681; P.A. 78-130, S. 1, 2.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-199. Jurisdiction. (a) The Supreme Court shall have final and conclusive
jurisdiction of all matters brought before it according to law, and may carry into execution all its judgments and decrees and institute rules of practice and procedure as to
matters before it.
(b) The following matters shall be taken directly to the Supreme Court: (1) Any
matter brought pursuant to the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under section
2 of article sixteen of the amendments to the Constitution; (2) an appeal in any matter
where the Superior Court declares invalid a state statute or a provision of the state
Constitution; (3) an appeal in any criminal action involving a conviction for a capital
felony, class A felony, or other felony, including any persistent offender status, for
which the maximum sentence which may be imposed exceeds twenty years; (4) review
of a sentence of death pursuant to section 53a-46b; (5) any election or primary dispute
brought to the Supreme Court pursuant to section 9-323 or 9-325; (6) an appeal of any
reprimand or censure of a probate judge pursuant to section 45a-65; (7) any matter
regarding judicial removal or suspension pursuant to section 51-51j; (8) an appeal of
any decision of the Judicial Review Council pursuant to section 51-51r; (9) any matter
brought to the Supreme Court pursuant to section 52-265a; (10) writs of error; and (11)
any other matter as provided by law.
(c) The Supreme Court may transfer to itself a cause in the Appellate Court. Except
for any matter brought pursuant to its original jurisdiction under section 2 of article
sixteen of the amendments to the Constitution, the Supreme Court may transfer a cause
or class of causes from itself, including any cause or class of causes pending on July 1,
1983, to the Appellate Court. The court to which a cause is transferred has jurisdiction.
(d) The Supreme Court may issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of its
jurisdiction and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.
(1949 Rev., S. 7674; P.A. 82-248, S. 102; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 2, 82; P.A. 97-178, S. 2; P.A. 98-81, S. 5; P.A.
03-176, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 82-248 changed "rules of practice for its regulation" to "rules of practice and procedure as to matters
before it"; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 added Subsecs. (b) and (c) concerning matters taken directly to the supreme court
and transfers from appellate court; P.A. 97-178 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re appeal of class A felony or
other felony, including persistent offender status, for which maximum sentence exceeds 20 years; P.A. 98-81 amended
Subsec. (b)(3) by adding "class A felony, or other felony, including any persistent offender status, for which the maximum
sentence which may be imposed exceeds twenty years"; P.A. 03-176 made technical changes in Subsec. (b) and added
Subsec. (d) re issuance of writs, effective June 26, 2003.
See Sec. 51-14 re rules.
Jurisdiction of supreme court confined to causes and matters which have been regularly before the court below. 8 C.
165; 15 C. 341. May review decision of superior court on habeas corpus. 33 C. 321. Will not generally reconsider questions
of law after once giving advice on reservation. 26 C. 110; 43 C. 255; 44 C. 391. Is a court of law only, and will not find
or infer facts. 27 C. 278; 29 C. 496; 34 C. 169; 35 C. 469; 38 C. 479; 40 C. 330; 50 C. 275, 276; 62 C. 507; 64 C. 432. Has
no jurisdiction of motion for new trial, unless completed and allowed according to law. 9 C. 112. Procedure where supreme
court is overruled by U.S. supreme court. 1 C. 102; 82 C. 702. May decline to give an opinion as to the validity of a proposed
act, at the request of general assembly. 33 C. 586. Will try an issue of fact on a plea in abatement of original process. 41
C. 190. History and jurisdiction in general. 64 C. 432. Cannot issue mandamus. 80 C. 326. On reversal of judgment in jury
case, cannot direct judgment to be entered for appellant. 81 C. 578. Power to direct trial court to certify evidence. 82 C.
132; 88 C. 211; To compel trial judge to state grounds of action on demurrer. 69 C. 485. As to power of court, sitting in
one district, to pass order as to appeal pending in another. 70 C. 500. Want of jurisdiction in lower court will not prevent
court considering appeal. 68 C. 561. Will not review conclusions of fact; 67 C. 349; 73 C. 410; 75 C. 140; 75 C. 302; 77
C. 666; 79 C. 709; 81 C. 84; 82 C. 254; act requiring retrial of facts is unconstitutional. 67 C. 505; 102 C. 541. Errors as
to questions of fact will be considered only to complete record to present questions of law. 65 C. 79; 67 C. 466. It is
improper to seek to get court to review facts. 75 C. 302; 77 C. 368. But it is error to find a material fact without evidence.
73 C. 692; 82 C. 5; 84 C. 93; 84 C. 121; 109 C. 348. Or to fail to find fact that is uncontradicted; but failure of direct
evidence to contradict is not sufficient. 72 C. 225; 74 C. 468; 76 C. 323; Id., 593; 102 C. 539; 108 C. 23. If subordinate
facts fail legally or logically to support ultimate fact found, court may review decision; otherwise not. 83 C. 388; Id., 628;
84 C. 70; 85 C. 225; 84 C. 632; 88 C. 163; 107 C. 420, 422; 109 C. 494. Question is, did court commit error of law as to
facts found. 80 C. 596. Court cannot review conclusion based on weight of evidence or credibility of witnesses. 79 C. 99;
84 C. 67. See notes to Conn. Const., Art. 2; Art. 5, Sec. 1. Cited. 185 C. 495. Cited. 192 C. 704. Cited. 194 C. 245. Cited.
199 C. 417. Cited. 202 C. 252. Cited. 219 C. 384. Cited. 223 C. 41. Cited. 224 C. 749. Cited. 225 C. 102. Cited. 227 C.
301. Cited. 228 C. 630. Cited. 230 C. 183. Cited. 235 C. 206. Trial court order precluding parties from filing any further
motions regarding custody or visitation constitutes an appealable final judgment. 243 C. 380.
Cited. 1 CA 5; Id., 7; Id., 9; Id., 10; Id., 11; Id., 14; Id., 17; Id., 20; Id., 30; Id., 38; Id., 40; Id., 48; Id., 54; Id., 58; Id.,
72; Id., 78; Id., 84; Id., 90; Id., 93; Id., 96; Id., 99; Id., 109; Id., 119; Id., 120; Id., 123; Id., 138; Id., 150; Id., 154; Id., 158;
Id., 160; Id., 162; Id., 165; Id., 169; Id., 172; Id., 176; Id., 184; Id., 188; Id., 195; Id., 207; Id., 219; Id., 224; Id., 226; Id.,
228; Id., 239; Id., 249; Id., 253; Id., 256; Id., 260; Id., 264; Id., 275; Id., 282; Id., 291; Id., 298; Id., 303; Id., 310; Id., 315;
Id., 329; Id., 337; Id., 341; Id., 344; Id., 349; Id., 351; Id., 356; Id., 366; Id., 368; Id., 371; Id., 397; Id., 400; Id., 409; Id.,
417; Id., 421; Id., 422; Id., 433; Id., 454; Id., 463; Id., 481; Id., 489; Id., 496; Id., 501; Id., 505; Id., 529; Id., 535; Id., 550;
Id., 566; Id., 576; Id., 578; Id., 584; Id., 595; Id., 604; Id., 609; Id., 621. Cited. 2 CA 4; Id., 17; Id., 24; Id., 27; Id., 36; Id.,
43; Id., 49; Id., 54; Id., 58; Id., 68; Id., 87; Id., 89; Id., 98; Id., 103; Id., 110; Id., 114; Id., 119; Id., 127; Id., 132; Id., 141;
Id., 152; Id., 160; Id., 165; Id., 167; Id., 174; Id., 179; Id., 213; Id., 225; Id., 239; Id., 246; Id., 261; Id., 264; Id., 266; Id.,
270; Id., 275; Id., 278; Id., 279; Id., 282; Id., 290; Id., 294; Id., 302; Id., 303; Id., 308; Id., 315; Id., 322; Id., 333; Id., 342;
Id., 345; Id., 346; Id., 348; Id., 351; Id., 355; Id., 374; Id., 377; Id., 380; Id., 400; Id., 413; Id., 416; Id., 430; Id., 438; Id.,
439; Id., 448; Id., 449; Id., 456; Id., 460; Id., 465; Id., 468; Id., 472; Id., 485; Id., 489; Id., 494; Id., 515; Id., 523; Id., 530;
Id., 537; Id., 543; Id., 551; Id., 573; Id., 579; Id., 590; Id., 600; Id., 605; Id., 622; Id., 635; Id., 650; Id., 660; Id., 663; Id.,
680; Id., 683; Id., 686; Id., 688; Id., 692; Id., 696; Id., 697; Id., 701; Id., 712; Id., 715; Id., 729. Cited. 3 CA 1; Id., 10; Id.,
25; Id., 34; Id., 40; Id., 74; Id., 106; Id., 111; Id., 137; Id., 148; Id., 172; Id., 214; Id., 222; Id., 230; Id., 249; Id., 250; Id.,
268; Id., 277; Id., 284; Id., 289; Id., 310; Id., 317; Id., 322; Id., 339; Id., 346; Id., 353; Id., 359; Id., 403; Id., 459; Id., 510;
Id., 522; Id., 590; Id., 644; Id., 650. Cited. 4 CA 58; Id., 514; Id., 519; Id., 541; Id., 575; Id., 611; Id., 672. Cited. 5 CA 29;
Id., 288; Id., 488. Cited. 7 CA 217. Cited. 38 CA 546.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 230 C. 335.
Subsec. (b):
Subdiv. (3) cited. 214 C. 146; 216 C. 282; Id., 699; 217 C. 243; 218 C. 349. Cited. Id., 714. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 766;
219 C. 93; Id., 605; 220 C. 345; Id., 796. Cited. 221 C. 315. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 331. Cited. Id., 430. Subdiv. (3) cited.
Id., 643; 222 C. 506; Id., 556; 223 C. 127. Cited. Id., 207. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 273. Cited. Id., 535; Id., 635. Subdiv. (3)
cited. Id., 674. Cited. 224 C. 63. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 168; Id., 325; Id., 372; Id., 397; Id., 445; 225 C. 55; Id., 114. Cited.
Id., 270. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 347; Id., 450; Id., 519; Id., 609; 226 C. 237; Id., 618. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 757; Id., 773.
Subdiv. (3) cited. 227 C. 1; Id., 101; Id., 153; Id., 207; Id., 231; Id., 417; Id., 448; Id., 456; Id., 677; Id., 711; Id., 751.
Cited. 228 C. 62. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 118; Id., 281. Cited. Id., 412. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 582; 229 C. 125. Cited. Id.,
328. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 557. Cited. Id., 664. Subdiv. (3) cited. 230 C. 43; Id., 351. Cited. 231 C. 43; Id., 115. Subdiv.
(3) cited. Id., 235. Subdiv. (5) cited. Id., 602. Subdiv. (3) cited. 233 C. 1; Id., 106. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 437. Subdiv. (3)
cited. Id., 813; 234 C. 381. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 455. Cited. Id., 683. Subdiv. (3) cited. 235 C. 145; Id., 274. Cited. Id.,
595; Id., 671. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 748. Cited. Id., 802. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 865. Cited. 236 C. 31; Id., 112. Subdiv. (3)
cited. Id., 189; Id., 388. Cited. Id., 514. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 781. Cited. 237 C. 284; Id., 390. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 518;
238 C. 253. Cited. Id., 313; Id., 389. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 588; 239 C. 427; Id., 481; 240 C. 210; 241 C. 1; Id., 322; Id.,
665; Id., 702. Cited. 242 C. 93. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 318. Cited. Id., 445; Id., 505; Id., 605. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 666;
243 C. 205.
Subdiv. (3) cited. 8 CA 177. Cited. 20 CA 470. Subdiv. (3) cited. 42 CA 348.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 210 C. 597. Cited. 220 C. 61. Cited. 222 C. 216; Id., 374; Id., 380; Id., 699; Id., 730; Id., 784; Id., 793; Id., 799.
Cited. 223 C. 1; Id., 22; Id., 31; Id., 68; Id., 80; Id., 152; Id., 155; Id., 243; Id., 336; Id., 354; Id., 376; Id., 384; Id., 419;
Id., 436; Id., 573; Id., 595; Id., 777; Id., 786. Cited. 224 C. 6; Id., 8; Id., 23; Id., 29; Id., 44; Id., 82; Id., 96; Id., 106; Id.,
110; Id., 124; Id., 133; Id., 145; Id., 152; Id., 210; Id., 219; Id., 231; Id., 263; Id., 313; Id., 382; Id., 426; Id., 483; Id., 524;
Id., 543; 563; Id., 580; Id., 593; Id., 666; Id., 675; Id., 693; Id., 711; Id., 758; Id., 766; Id., 776; Id., 797; Id., 823. Cited.
225 C. 1; Id., 32; Id., 91; Id., 177; Id., 185; Id., 217; Id., 223; Id., 238; Id., 297; Id., 305; Id., 314; Id., 339; Id., 355; Id.,
367; Id., 420; Id., 528; Id., 575; Id., 637; Id., 691; Id., 700; Id., 705; Id., 731; Id., 771. Cited. 226 C. 51; Id., 92; Id., 105;
Id., 205; Id., 219; Id., 265; Id., 299; Id., 314; Id., 407; Id., 427; Id., 446; Id., 475; Id., 497; Id., 508; Id., 579; Id., 652; Id.,
670; Id., 704; Id., 792; Id., 812; Id., 818. Cited. 227 C. 32; Id., 116; Id., 124; Id., 147; Id., 175; Id., 270; Id., 333; Id., 505;
Id., 601; Id., 641; Id., 780; Id., 802; Id., 826; Id., 829; Id., 848. Cited. 228 C. 1; Id., 23; Id., 42; Id., 79; Id., 137; Id., 158;
Id., 187; Id., 206; Id., 271; Id., 343; Id., 375; Id., 393; Id., 401; Id., 476; Id., 498; Id., 552; Id., 535; Id., 545; Id., 574; Id.,
610; Id., 651; Id., 699; Id., 766; Id., 785. Cited. 229 C. 1; Id., 213; Id., 247; Id., 256; Id., 345; Id., 359; Id., 455; Id., 459;
Id., 479; Id., 634; Id., 691; Id., 703; Id., 716; Id., 771; Id., 801; Id., 842. Cited. 230 C. 1; Id., 106; Id., 140; Id., 148; Id.,
351; Id., 400; Id., 486; Id., 525; Id., 560; Id., 622; Id., 641; Id., 660; Id., 668; Id., 764; Id., 779; Id., 828. Cited. 231 C. 1;
Id., 77; Id., 95; Id., 168; Id., 265; Id., 272; Id., 276; Id., 301; Id., 308; Id., 315; Id., 328; Id., 344; Id., 355; Id., 370; Id.,
378; Id., 381; Id., 391; Id., 418; Id., 441; Id., 451; Id., 462; Id., 500; Id., 514; Id., 529; Id., 563; Id., 598; Id., 690; Id., 707;
Id., 731; Id., 745; Id., 756. Cited. 232 C. 17; Id., 27; Id., 44; Id., 57; Id., 65; Id., 91; Id., 117; Id., 122; Id., 167; Id., 172;
Id., 175; Id., 181; Id., 198; Id., 216; Id., 223; Id., 242; Id., 270; Id., 272; Id., 294; Id., 311; Id., 325; Id., 335; Id., 392; Id.,
401; Id., 405; Id., 419; Id., 455; Id., 480; Id., 527; Id., 550; Id., 559; Id., 594; Id., 599; Id., 632; Id., 645; Id., 666; Id., 756.
Cited. 233 C. 14; Id., 28; Id., 44; Id., 174; Id., 198; Id., 243; Id., 254; Id., 281; Id., 296; Id., 304; Id., 352; Id., 398; Id., 370;
Id., 403; Id., 460; Id., 474; Id., 486; Id., 524; Id., 531; Id., 701; Id., 732. Cited. 234 C. 1; Id., 35; Id., 123; Id., 139; Id., 169;
Id., 217; Id., 221; Id., 281; Id., 301; Id., 312; Id., 390; Id., 408; Id., 411; Id., 488; Id., 498; Id., 513; Id., 539; Id., 581; Id.,
597; Id., 614; Id., 660; Id., 807; Id., 817. Cited. 235 C. 1; Id., 128; Id., 334; Id., 393; Id., 397; Id., 408; Id., 417; Id., 465;
Id., 539; Id., 559; Id., 572; Id., 614; Id., 637; Id., 671; Id., 693; Id., 737; Id., 778; Id., 790; Id., 837; Id., 850. Cited. 236 C.
1; Id., 78; Id., 89; Id., 156; Id., 212; Id., 250; Id., 287; Id., 299; Id., 362; Id., 375; Id., 388; Id., 421; Id., 453; Id., 582; Id.,
613; Id., 670; Id., 681; Id., 710; Id., 722; Id., 746; Id., 750; Id., 769; Id., 820; Id., 863. Cited. 237 C. 1; Id., 12; Id., 31; Id.,
71; Id., 81; Id., 135; Id., 169; Id., 184; Id., 209; Id., 233; Id., 259; Id., 272; Id., 339; Id., 348; Id., 454; Id., 481; Id., 490;
Id., 550; Id., 679. Cited. 238 C. 1; Id., 146; Id., 183; Id., 216; Id., 273; Id., 285; Id., 293; Id., 337; Id., 571; Id., 637; Id.,
745; Id., 761; Id., 778; Id., 800; Id., 809; Id., 828; Id., 839. Cited. 239 C. 1; Id., 19; Id., 32; Id., 56; Id., 109; Id., 124; Id.,
144; Id., 168; Id., 199; Id., 207; Id., 233; Id., 235; Id., 251; Id., 256; Id., 259; Id., 265; Id., 284; Id., 313; Id., 336; Id., 356;
Id., 408; Id., 437; Id., 449; Id., 471; Id., 515; Id., 537; Id., 549; Id., 553; Id., 574; Id., 599; Id., 617; Id., 629; Id., 638; Id.,
658; Id., 676; Id., 708; Id., 769; Id., 793; Id., 802. Cited. 240 C. 10; Id., 26; Id., 35; Id., 58; Id., 86; Id., 97; Id., 119; Id.,
141; Id., 192; Id., 246; Id., 287; Id., 309; Id., 343; Id., 365; Id., 422; Id., 475; Id., 489; Id., 549; Id., 576; Id., 610; Id., 658;
Id., 694; Id., 708; Id., 743; Id., 788; Id., 799. Cited. 241 C. 24; Id., 199; Id., 269; Id., 278; Id., 282; Id., 370; Id., 382; Id.,
399; Id., 423; Id., 439; Id., 466; Id., 476; Id., 502; Id., 546; Id., 630; Id., 692; Id., 749; Id., 792. Cited. 242 C. 1; Id., 17;
Id., 79; Id., 143; Id., 152; Id., 202; Id., 255; Id., 335; Id., 345; Id., 363; Id., 375; Id., 432; Id., 648; Id., 727; Id., 745. Cited.
243 C. 17; Id., 66; Id., 115; Id., 168; Id., 205. Supreme Court treated appeal from final judgment of trial court ordering
new election as if it had been filed in Appellate Court and transferred it from that court pursuant to this Subsec. 250 C. 241.
Cited. 8 CA 177; Id., 290. Cited. 45 CA 448. Cited. 46 CA 578; Id., 600; Id., 640; Id., 810.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-199a. Short title: Uniform Certification of Questions of Law Act. Section 51-199a is repealed, effective June 3, 1999.
(P.A. 85-111, S. 1-9; P.A. 99-107, S. 14, 15.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-199b. Uniform Certification of Questions of Law Act. (a) This section
may be cited as the "Uniform Certification of Questions of Law Act".
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "State" means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States.
(2) "Tribe" means a tribe of Native Americans which is recognized by federal law.
(c) The Supreme Court, on the motion of a party to pending litigation or its own
motion, may certify a question of law to the highest court of another state or of a tribe if:
(1) The pending cause involves a question to be decided under the law of the other
jurisdiction;
(2) The answer to the question may be determinative of an issue in the pending
cause; and
(3) The question is one for which no answer is provided by a controlling appellate
decision, constitutional provision or statute of the other jurisdiction.
(d) The Supreme Court may answer a question of law certified to it by a court of
the United States or by the highest court of another state or of a tribe, if the answer may
be determinative of an issue in pending litigation in the certifying court and if there is
no controlling appellate decision, constitutional provision or statute of this state.
(e) The court certifying a question of law to the Supreme Court shall issue a certification order and forward it to the Supreme Court. Before responding to a certified question,
the Supreme Court may require the certifying court to deliver all or part of its record to
the Supreme Court.
(f) A certification order must contain:
(1) The question of law to be answered;
(2) The facts relevant to the question, showing fully the nature of the controversy
out of which the question arose;
(3) That the receiving court may reformulate the question; and
(4) The names and addresses of counsel of record and unrepresented parties.
(g) If the parties cannot agree upon a statement of facts, then the certifying court
shall determine the relevant facts and shall state them as a part of its certification order.
(h) The Supreme Court, acting as the receiving court, shall notify the certifying
court of acceptance or rejection of the question, and in accordance with notions of comity
and fairness, it shall respond to an accepted certified question as soon as practicable.
(i) After the Supreme Court has accepted a certified question, proceedings in the
Supreme Court are governed by the rules or statutes governing briefs, arguments and
other appellate procedures. Procedures for certification from this state to a receiving
court are those provided in the rules and statutes of the receiving forum.
(j) The Supreme Court shall state in a written opinion the law answering the certified
question and send a copy of the opinion to the certifying court, counsel of record and
parties appearing without counsel.
(k) The Supreme Court may reformulate a question certified to it.
(l) Fees and costs are the same as in civil appeals docketed before the Supreme
Court and shall be equally divided between the parties unless otherwise ordered by the
certifying court in its order of certification.
(m) If any provision of this section or its application to any person, court or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of
this section which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and
to this end the provisions of this section are severable.
(n) This section shall be construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform
the law of those jurisdictions that enact it.
(P.A. 99-107, S. 1-13, 15.)
History: P.A. 99-107 effective June 3, 1999.
Section does not provide Connecticut Supreme Court with the ability to review federal questions that are being litigated
in the appropriate federal fora, even where claim involves free speech rights that may be coextensive under state and federal
constitutions. 254 C. 799.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-200. Terms and special sessions. Terms of the Supreme Court shall be
held at Hartford and the specific dates of such terms shall be posted on the Internet web
site of the Judicial Branch. Special sessions may be held at any other time or place as
fixed by rule of the judges or on call of the Chief Justice.
(1949 Rev., S. 7675; P.A. 10-43, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 10-43 replaced provision re terms held on first Tuesday of each month except July, August and September
with provision re specific dates of terms shall be posted on Internet web site of Judicial Branch, deleted requirement that
term continue until business ready at its beginning is disposed of and replaced special "terms" with special "sessions".
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-201. Chief clerk of the Supreme Court. The justices of the Supreme
Court shall appoint a chief clerk of the Supreme Court who shall not be a chief clerk of
any judicial district. The chief clerk of the Supreme Court shall also be the chief clerk
of the Appellate Court.
(1949 Rev., S. 7684; P.A. 82-248, S. 103; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 65, 82.)
History: P.A. 82-248 substituted "judicial district" for "county"; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 rewrote section, providing
for appointment of a chief clerk of the supreme court by justices of the supreme court and providing that such chief clerk
shall also be the chief clerk of the appellate court.
Who are such clerks; duties. 70 C. 337. See note to Sec. 51-51v.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-202. Court docket. The chief clerk of the Supreme Court shall keep the
docket of the Supreme Court. The chief clerk of the Appellate Court shall keep the
docket of the Appellate Court.
(1949 Rev., S. 7676; P.A. 78-280, S. 86, 127; P.A. 81-472, S. 150, 159; P.A. 82-248, S. 104; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 66, 82.)
History: P.A. 78-280 substituted "judicial districts" for "counties" generally and "judicial district of Hartford-New
Britain" for "Hartford county" specifically, adding judicial districts of Ansonia-Milford, Waterbury and Danbury; P.A.
81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 82-248 rephrased section but made no substantive change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted former provisions re clerk of the supreme court and court docket and added new provisions requiring chief clerk
of the supreme court to keep docket of the supreme court and the appellate court.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-203. Assignment of cases. (a) Assignment of cases for hearing by the
Supreme Court shall be made by the chief clerk of the Supreme Court, under the direction
of the Chief Justice or an associate judge designated by the Chief Justice.
(b) Assignments of cases for hearing by the Appellate Court shall be made by the
chief clerk of the Appellate Court, under the direction of the Chief Judge or an Appellate
Court judge designated by the Chief Judge.
(c) Assignments shall ordinarily be made in the order in which cases stand upon
the docket of cases ready to be heard; but counsel may, in writing and in the manner
provided by the rules of the Supreme Court or Appellate Court, as the case may be,
request a variation in such order. Assignments shall be made, so far as reasonably possible, in accordance with any such request or in a way which suits the convenience of
counsel.
(1949 Rev., S. 7677; P.A. 78-280, S. 6, 127; P.A. 82-248, S. 105; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 67, 82; P.A. 87-198,
S. 5, 6; P.A. 10-43, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 78-280 substituted "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" for "Hartford county"; 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 added reference to clerk of supreme court for the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain to chief
clerk of the supreme court, added provision re assignment of cases for hearing by appellate court in Subsec. (b) and added
"of cases ready to be heard" in Subsec. (c); P.A. 87-198 substituted "chief judge" for "chief presiding judge"; P.A. 10-43
amended Subsec. (a) to delete "at the Supreme Court room in Hartford" and "on or before the Thursday preceding the
beginning of each term, the day and hour to be fixed by rule of court", amended Subsec. (b) to delete "the day and hour
to be fixed by rule of court" and amended Subsec. (c) to replace provision re counsel may by personal appearance or
communication present stipulation or reason why regular order should be departed from with provision re counsel may
request a variation in order and to replace "stipulation" with "request".
Power of court under former statute to pass order in one district concerning appeal pending in another. 70 C. 500.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-204. Quorum; judges called in. Section 51-204 is repealed, effective October 1, 2010.
(1949 Rev., S. 7678; P.A. 82-248, S. 106; P.A. 10-43, S. 43.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-205. Judges released from judicial duties on Superior Court, exception. The judges of the Supreme Court shall be released from sitting on the Superior
Court, except that the Chief Justice may assign any such judge to sit on the Superior
Court whenever in his judgment the public business may require it.
(1949 Rev., S. 7679; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 35; P.A. 78-280, S. 87, 127; P.A. 82-248, S. 107.)
History: 1967 act deleted provision re release from doing circuit duty; P.A. 78-280 referred to judges' sitting on superior
court rather than to their holding terms or sessions of court, reflecting fact that court now sits continuously; P.A. 82-248
reworded section but made no substantive change.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-206. Adjournment in absence of judges. Section 51-206 is repealed, effective October 1, 2010.
(1949 Rev., S. 7680; P.A. 00-99, S. 106, 154; P.A. 01-195, S. 54, 181; P.A. 10-43, S. 43.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-207. Composition of panel. Summoning of court members or other
judges to constitute panel. (a) Each party in any case before the Supreme Court has a
right to be heard by a panel consisting of five associate judges or the Chief Justice and
four associate judges.
(b) If any judge is disabled or if any judge is disqualified and the disqualification
is not waived or if the business before the court requires it, the Chief Justice or, in the
case of his or her disability or disqualification, the most senior associate judge qualified
may summon the sixth or seventh member, or both, of the Supreme Court to constitute
a panel. If a panel cannot be constituted from the seven members of the Supreme Court
due to the disability or disqualification of one or more members, the Chief Justice or,
in the case of his or her disability or disqualification, the most senior associate judge
qualified may summon one or more judges of the Superior Court, including senior judges
of the Supreme Court and judges and senior judges of the Appellate Court, to constitute
a panel, who shall attend and act as judges of the Supreme Court for the time being.
(c) The Chief Justice or any judge shall not sit to review a decision he or she made
below.
(1949 Rev., S. 7681; February, 1965, P.A. 252; 331, S. 27; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 108, 681; P.A. 82-248, S. 108; P.A.
87-508, S. 4, 10; 87-589, S. 42, 87; P.A. 06-152, S. 12; P.A. 10-43, S. 3.)
History: 1965 acts specified that full court consist of five judges, added reference to sixth member and to summoning
extra judge "if business before court requires it" and added provision re powers of chief justice or senior judge to summon
chief court administrator to constitute a full court; P.A. 76-436 specified that summoning of chief court administrator to
constitute full court depends on whether he is an associate judge of the supreme court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-248
made technical revision, rewording some provisions and dividing section into Subsecs., but made no substantive change;
P.A. 87-508 added provision permitting full court to consist of six associate justices or the chief justice and five or six
associate judges, upon order of the chief justice and added "or seventh" member "or both"; P.A. 87-589 made technical
changes in Subsec. (b); P.A. 06-152 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing "senior judge" with "most senior associate judge",
deleting "or one or more of the judges of the Superior Court", adding provision re summoning judges when full court
cannot be constituted from seven members of Supreme Court and making a technical change, and amended Subsec. (c)
by replacing "senior judge" with "most senior associate judge" and making technical changes, effective June 6, 2006; P.A.
10-43 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that each party has right to be heard by a panel, rather than a full court, rephrase
provisions and delete provision re panel may consist of six associate judges or Chief Justice and five or six associate judges,
amended Subsec. (b) to replace "If any judge is absent and such right is claimed" with "If any judge is disabled", delete
provision re failure to waive absence of judge, replace "absence" with "disability", replace "present and qualified" with
"qualified" and replace "full court" with "panel" and replaced former Subsec. (c) re summoning of Chief Court Administrator to constitute full court with new Subsec. (c) re prohibition on Chief Justice or any judge sitting to review decision he
or she made below.
Cited. 184 C. 21.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 230 C. 183.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-208. Judgment by agreement of parties. When the parties in any action
pending before the Supreme Court, or their attorneys, sign and file with the clerk an
agreement as to the judgment which shall be rendered therein, the clerk may enter judgment in the action upon the written order of the Chief Justice or presiding judge of the
Supreme Court.
(1949 Rev., S. 7682; P.A. 82-248, S. 109.)
History: P.A. 82-248 reworded section but made no substantive change.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-209. Majority of judges on panel to concur in decision. Procedure
when court evenly divided. No ruling, judgment or decree of any court may be reversed,
affirmed, sustained, modified or in any other manner affected by the Supreme Court or
the Appellate Court unless a majority of the judges on the panel hearing the cause concur
in the decision. No cause reserved, where no verdict has been rendered, judgment given
or decree passed, shall be determined unless a majority of the judges on the panel hearing
the cause concur in the decision. Whenever the Supreme Court is evenly divided as to
the result, the court shall reconsider the case, with or without oral argument, with an
odd number of judges. If the court reconsiders the case without oral argument, the judges
who did not hear oral argument shall have available to them the electronic recording or
transcript of the oral argument before participating in the decision. If a judge who is a
member of a panel is not present for oral argument, the judge shall have available to
him or her the electronic recording or transcript of the oral argument.
(1949 Rev., S. 7683; P.A. 82-248, S. 110; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 68, 82; P.A. 10-43, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 82-248 substituted "may" for "shall"; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 added reference to appellate court, added
"affirmed, sustained, modified or in any manner affected", deleted language re equal division of judges and casting vote
of the chief justice, and added language requiring a majority of judges to concur in decision and reargument before full
panel when case argued before even number of judges and court is evenly divided as result; P.A. 10-43 provided that it is
majority of judges on panel who must concur in decision, deleted provision requiring reargument before full panel when
case is argued before even number of judges and court is evenly divided as to result, added provision requiring reconsideration, with or without oral argument, with odd number of judges when court evenly divided as to result, and added provisions
re availability of electronic recording or transcript of oral argument.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-210. Costs of preparation and transmission of records in appealed
cases. Any expense necessarily incurred by the clerk of the Superior Court in preparing
copies of the files and records for transmittal to the Supreme Court or Appellate Court
in any case appealed or on a writ of error from the Superior Court to the Supreme Court
shall, when approved by the court, be taxed and paid in the same manner as other court
expenses. The judges of the Supreme Court or the Appellate Court, as the case may be,
may provide by rule that files and records in appeals or on writs of error be typewritten
in appropriate cases.
(1949 Rev., S. 7685; P.A. 76-436, S. 109, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 16, 72; P.A. 78-280, S. 88, 127; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 40, 82.)
History: P.A. 76-436 applied provisions specifically to superior court where previously applicable to any court and
added provision re typewritten files and records, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 added general reference to judicial
districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted detailed provisions re transmission of copies of files and records from
judgments rendered in specified counties, retaining general statements re expenses of preparing copies and typewritten
files and records; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 included reference to appellate court.
Necessity of having all exhibits as well as all testimony printed in record where appeal is from directed verdict; effect
of stipulation of counsel that exhibits need not be printed. 100 C. 277.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-211. Notice of decisions. The chief clerk of the Supreme Court or of the
Appellate Court shall transmit a notice of the decision upon a motion or of an order to
the clerk of the court from which the action proceeded and give notice to all counsel of
record.
(1949 Rev., S. 7686; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127; P.A. 82-248, S. 111; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 69, 82.)
History: P.A. 78-280 substituted "judicial district" for "county"; P.A. 82-248 reworded section but made no substantive
change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 rewrote section, deleting former provisions re clerk of the supreme court for each judicial
district, and added provision requiring chief clerk of the supreme court or appellate court to transmit notice of decision
upon a motion or order to clerk of court from which action proceeded and give notice to all counsel of record.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |