Sec. 51-44a. Judicial Selection Commission. Members. Duties. Nomination of judges by Governor.
Sec. 51-50c. Assignment of senior judges to judicial duties.
Sec. 51-50k. Private practice of law prohibited.
Sec. 51-44a. Judicial Selection Commission. Members. Duties. Nomination of judges by Governor. (a) There is established a Judicial Selection Commission, within the Office of Governmental Accountability established under section 1-300. Said commission shall be comprised of twelve members. Not more than six of the members shall belong to the same political party. None of the members shall be an elected or appointed official of the state or hold state-wide office in a political party.
(b) The members of the commission shall be appointed as follows: (1) Until June 30, 2025, the Governor shall appoint six members, one from each congressional district and one at-large member, three of whom shall be attorneys-at-law and three of whom shall not be attorneys-at-law; the president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law; the speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member who shall not be an attorney-at-law; the majority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member who shall not be an attorney-at-law; the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law; the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member who shall not be an attorney-at-law; and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law. (2) On and after July 1, 2025, when making an appointment, the appointing authority shall make such appointment in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision: (A) The Governor shall appoint six members, one from each congressional district and one at-large member, three of whom shall be attorneys-at-law who have engaged in the practice of law in this state for not less than ten years and three of whom shall not be attorneys-at-law; (B) the president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law who has engaged in the practice of law in this state for not less than ten years; (C) the speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law who has engaged in the practice of law in this state for not less than ten years; (D) the majority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member who shall not be an attorney-at-law; (E) the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law who has engaged in the practice of law in this state for not less than ten years; (F) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law who has engaged in the practice of law in this state for not less than ten years; and (G) the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member who shall be an attorney-at-law who has engaged in the practice of law in this state for not less than ten years.
(c) The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members appointed by the Governor.
(d) (1) The members of the commission shall serve for terms of three years.
(2) Members shall serve for terms of three years and, notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-1, until their successors are appointed and have qualified or ninety days after the completion of their terms, whichever is earlier.
(3) Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the appointing authority. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(4) No member of the commission may serve consecutive terms, except that, if a person is appointed a member of the commission to fill a vacancy and complete an unexpired term, such person may serve an additional term. If a commission member is an attorney, no member of the commission member's firm may serve a term consecutive to such commission member.
(e) The commission shall evaluate incumbent judges who seek reappointment to the same court and shall forward to the Governor for consideration the names of incumbent judges who are recommended for reappointment as provided in this subsection. The commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 concerning criteria by which to evaluate incumbent judges who seek reappointment to the same court; provided pending adoption of such regulations, the commission shall use criteria established prior to June 22, 1989, for the evaluation of such judges. In evaluating the reappointment of an incumbent judge, the commission shall consider the legal ability, competence, integrity, character and temperament of such judge and any other relevant information concerning such judge. There shall be a presumption that each incumbent judge who seeks reappointment to the same court qualifies for retention in judicial office. The burden of rebutting such presumption shall be on the commission. The commission shall investigate and interview each incumbent judge who seeks reappointment and, prior to the expiration of a term of office of such judge, shall recommend such incumbent judge for nomination for reappointment by the Governor to the same court unless, as provided in this subsection, recommendation of such judge is denied. If a preliminary examination indicates further inquiry is necessary before a recommendation of reappointment may be made, the commission shall hold a hearing concerning the reappointment of such judge. The commission shall send notice to the judge by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, not less than one hundred eighty days prior to the convening of such legislative session which is to consider the reappointment of the incumbent judge, (1) that a hearing by the commission on such reappointment shall be held and of the time, date and place of such hearing, which shall be not less than thirty days nor more than forty-five days after the date of such notice, and (2) of specific claims made against the judge. The commission shall make a record of all hearings conducted pursuant to this subsection. The hearing may be open to the public at the request of the judge. For purposes of conducting a hearing under this subsection, not less than ten members of the commission shall be present and voting. A judge appearing before such a hearing shall be entitled to counsel, to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses who appear voluntarily. No judge shall be required to sign or execute any release in order to proceed with the hearing. The commission shall not later than twenty days after the close of such hearing render its decision whether it shall recommend such incumbent judge for nomination for reappointment by the Governor. Any affirmative vote of a majority plus one of the members present and voting shall be required to deny recommendation to the Governor for nomination of an incumbent judge to the same court. A judge who has not received approval by the commission may within ten days after receipt of the notice of decision, which shall include a record of the numerical vote, request a rehearing on the grounds that the conclusions of the commission are contrary to the evidence presented at the hearing or the commission failed to comply with the procedural or substantive requirements of this section. The decision of the commission following a rehearing shall be final. There shall be no right of appeal by any judge appearing before the commission, at law or in equity, or any resort to any court following the decision of the commission.
(f) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, the commission shall seek qualified candidates for consideration by the Governor for nomination as judges for the Superior Court, Appellate Court and Supreme Court. The commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning criteria by which to evaluate the qualifications of candidates, including incumbent judges who seek appointment to a different court. The commission shall investigate and interview the candidates, including incumbent judges seeking appointment to a different court. In the event the commission issues a decision informing a candidate that the candidate will not be considered by the Governor for nomination as a judge or informing an incumbent judge that such judge will not be considered by the Governor for appointment to a different court, such candidate or judge may request from the commission a brief summary that informs the candidate or judge of the reasons supporting such decision. The form and manner of such summary shall be determined by the commission. A list of such qualified candidates shall be compiled by the commission.
(g) In connection with any inquiry concerning the reappointment of an incumbent judge, the commission shall have the power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of any books or papers which in the judgment of the commission are relevant to the inquiry. The commission may, upon request of the judge whose reappointment is at issue, issue a subpoena on behalf of such judge. If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto refuses to answer any pertinent question put to such person by the commission, or to produce any books and papers pursuant thereto, the commission, on its own behalf or on behalf of the judge, may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford setting forth such disobedience to process or refusal to answer, and said court may cite such person to appear before said court to answer such question or to produce such books and papers and, upon refusal so to do shall commit such person to a community correctional center, there to remain until such person so testifies.
(h) (1) Judges of all courts, except those courts to which judges are elected, shall be nominated by the Governor exclusively from the list of candidates or incumbent judges submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission. Any candidate or incumbent judge who is nominated from such list by the Governor to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and who is appointed Chief Justice by the General Assembly, shall serve a term of eight years from the date of appointment. The Governor shall nominate a candidate for a vacancy in a judicial position within forty-five days of the date the Governor receives the recommendations of the commission. When considering the nomination of an incumbent judge for reappointment to the same court, the Governor may nominate the incumbent judge if the commission did not deny recommendation for reappointment. Whenever an incumbent judge is denied recommendation for reappointment to the same court by the commission or is recommended by the commission but not nominated by the Governor for reappointment to the same court, or whenever a vacancy in a judicial position occurs or is anticipated, the Governor shall choose a nominee from the list of candidates compiled pursuant to subsection (f) of this section. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection and subsection (f) of this section, the Governor may nominate an associate judge of the Supreme Court to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court without such judge being investigated and interviewed by the commission and being on the list of qualified candidates compiled and submitted to the Governor by the commission. An associate judge of the Supreme Court who has been nominated by the Governor to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in accordance with this subdivision, and who is appointed Chief Justice by the General Assembly, shall serve an initial term as Chief Justice equal to the remainder of such judge's term as an associate judge of the Supreme Court.
(i) A majority of the membership of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members of the commission present and voting shall be required for any action by the commission except (1) an affirmative vote of at least a majority plus one of the members present and voting shall be required for a new nominee to be recommended to the Governor for nomination as a judge or for an incumbent judge to be recommended to the Governor for nomination as a judge to a different court, and (2) an affirmative vote of a majority plus one of the members present and voting shall be required to deny recommendation to the Governor for nomination of an incumbent judge to the same court. No vote of the commission on a new nominee shall be by secret ballot. The vote of the commission on an incumbent judge may be by secret ballot.
(j) Except as provided in subsections (e), (f) and (m) of this section, the investigations, deliberations, files and records of the commission shall be confidential and not open to the public or subject to disclosure except that the criteria by which candidates or incumbent judges who seek reappointment to the same court or appointment to a different court are evaluated and the procedural rules adopted by the commission shall be public.
(k) The commission may employ such staff as is necessary for the performance of its functions and duties.
(l) No member of the commission who is an attorney-at-law shall be considered for recommendation to the Governor for nomination as a judge during his tenure on the commission or for a period of three years following the termination of his tenure on the commission.
(m) On or before January fifteenth annually, the chairperson of the commission shall report to the joint standing committee on judiciary the following information with respect to the prior calendar year: (1) The number of candidates interviewed for appointment as new nominees, the number of incumbent judges interviewed for reappointment to the same court and the number of incumbent judges interviewed for appointment to a different court, (2) the number of candidates who were recommended and denied recommendation to the Governor as new nominees, the number of incumbent judges recommended and denied recommendation for appointment to the same court and the number of incumbent judges recommended and denied recommendation for appointment to a different court, (3) the statistics regarding the race, gender, national origin, religion, areas of professional experience and years of experience as members of the bar of all such candidates and incumbent judges interviewed, recommended and denied recommendation under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, and (4) as of January first in the year of such report, the number of candidates on the list compiled by the commission pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and the statistics regarding the race, gender, national origin, religion, areas of professional experience, years of experience as members of the bar and calendar year of recommendation of all such candidates.
(n) The commission shall have the power to enter into such contractual agreements as may be necessary for the discharge of its duties concerning the investigation of candidates seeking appointment to a judicial position and incumbent judges seeking reappointment to the same court or appointment to a different court, within the limits of appropriated funds and in accordance with established procedures.
(P.A. 85-586, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 89-238, S. 1, 4; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 42, 70; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; P.A. 99-267, S. 2, 3; P.A. 00-109; 00-191, S. 12, 16; P.A. 01-195, S. 52, 181; P.A. 03-170, S. 1; P.A. 05-288, S. 171; P.A. 10-179, S. 149; P.A. 11-48, S. 64; P.A. 25-114, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 85-586 effective November 19, 1986, upon certification by the secretary of the state of the vote approving the constitutional amendment concerning the establishment of the commission; P.A. 89-238 revised section re appointment and terms of members, evaluation, investigation and interview of incumbent judges who seek appointment to the same court, regulations re criteria by which to evaluate qualifications of judicial candidates, including incumbent judges, subpoena power of commission, nomination of incumbent judges, vote necessary for recommendation for nomination by commission or for denial of recommendation, and statistical report to judiciary committee re judicial candidates (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in the public and special acts of 1989, effective September 1, 1991); P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 made a technical change in Subsec. (g); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-267 added Subsec. (h)(2) permitting the Governor to nominate an associate judge of the Supreme Court to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court without investigation or interview of such judge by the commission or being on list of qualified candidates compiled by the commission and submitted to the Governor, effective July 8, 1999; P.A. 00-109 added Subsec. (n) to authorize the commission to enter into contractual agreements for the discharge of its duties concerning the investigation of judicial candidates; P.A. 00-191 amended Subsec. (h) by adding provisions that any candidate or incumbent judge who is nominated and appointed Chief Justice shall serve for a term of eight years from date of appointment and that an associate judge of the Supreme Court who is nominated and appointed Chief Justice shall serve an initial term as Chief Justice equal to the remainder of such judge's term as associate judge, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 01-195 made a technical change in Subsec. (h) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 03-170 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision re appointment of two persons from each congressional district, one of whom shall be an attorney-at-law and one of whom shall not be an attorney-at-law, with provision re six of the members shall be attorneys-at-law and six of the members shall not be attorneys-at-law, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing former provisions with new provisions re appointment of members, amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change, and amended Subsec. (d) by replacing former Subdivs. (1) and (2) with new Subdivs. (1), (2) and (3) re terms of members, redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdivs. (4) and (5), replacing therein exception for provisions of Subdivs. (1) and (2) re serving consecutive terms with exception for person appointed to fill a vacancy and complete an unexpired term re serving an additional term, and making technical changes, effective June 26, 2003; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 10-179 amended Subsec. (m) by specifying date report is due annually and calendar year for which report is to provide required information, by requiring statistics provided under Subdiv. (3) to include incumbent judges interviewed, recommended and denied recommendation and by adding Subdiv. (4) re candidates on list compiled pursuant to Subsec. (f), effective May 7, 2010; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re Office of Governmental Accountability, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 25-114 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision specifying 6 members shall be attorneys-at-law and 6 members shall not be attorneys-at-law, amended Subsec. (b) adding “(1) Until June 30, 2005,” re appointment of commission members and adding Subdiv. (2) re appointment of commission members on and after July 1, 2025, amended Subsec. (d)(2) by deleting “appointed on and after June 26, 2003,”, by deleting former Subsec. (d)(3) re members serving on June 26, 2003, continuing to serve as members until end of term, redesignating Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (3) and (4) and deleting reference to June 26, 2023, in Subdiv. (d)(4), amended Subsec. (e) by substituting “decision of the commission following a rehearing shall be final” for “decision of the commission shall be final” and by making technical changes, amended Subsec. (f) by adding provision permitting a candidate or a judge seeking nomination to another court to request a summary of the commission's decision when candidate or judge will not be considered by Governor for nomination or appointment to a different court, amended Subsec. (g) by making technical changes, amended Subsec. (j) by substituting “(e), (f) or (m)” for “(e) or (m)” and amended Subsec. (m) by adding references to areas of professional experience and by making technical changes, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 51-47. Salaries of judges. Practice of law prohibited. Membership on board of directors of bank prohibited. Longevity payments. (a) The judges of the Superior Court, judges of the Appellate Court and judges of the Supreme Court shall receive annually salaries as follows:
(1) On and after July 1, 2023, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two hundred thirty-three thousand five hundred twelve dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, two hundred twenty-four thousand three hundred ninety dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, two hundred sixteen thousand sixty-three dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, two hundred thirteen thousand six hundred seventy-four dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, two hundred two thousand nine hundred fifty-seven dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, one hundred ninety-nine thousand two hundred twenty-three dollars; and (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred ninety-five thousand one hundred sixty-seven dollars.
(2) On and after July 1, 2024, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two hundred forty thousand five hundred eighteen dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, two hundred thirty-one thousand one hundred twenty-one dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, two hundred twenty-two thousand five hundred forty-five dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, two hundred twenty thousand eighty-four dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, two hundred nine thousand forty-six dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, two hundred five thousand one hundred ninety-nine dollars; and (G) each judge of the Superior Court, two hundred one thousand twenty-three dollars.
(3) On and after July 1, 2025, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two hundred forty-eight thousand nine hundred thirty-six dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, two hundred thirty-nine thousand two hundred ten dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, two hundred thirty thousand three hundred thirty-four dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, two hundred twenty-seven thousand seven hundred eighty-six dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, two hundred sixteen thousand three hundred thirty-six dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, two hundred twelve thousand three hundred eighty-one dollars; and (G) each judge of the Superior Court, two hundred eight thousand fifty-nine dollars.
(b) (1) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after July 1, 2023, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand three hundred thirty-one dollars in additional compensation, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand three hundred thirty-one dollars in additional compensation and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand three hundred thirty-one dollars in additional compensation.
(2) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after July 1, 2024, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand three hundred seventy-one dollars in additional compensation, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand three hundred seventy-one dollars in additional compensation and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand three hundred seventy-one dollars in additional compensation.
(3) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after July 1, 2025, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand four hundred nineteen dollars in additional compensation, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand four hundred nineteen dollars in additional compensation and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand four hundred nineteen dollars in additional compensation.
(c) Each such judge shall be an elector and a resident of this state, shall be a member of the bar of the state of Connecticut and shall not engage in private practice, nor on or after July 1, 1985, be a member of any board of directors or of any advisory board of any state bank and trust company, state bank or savings and loan association, national banking association or federal savings bank or savings and loan association.
(d) Each such judge, excluding any senior judge, who has completed not less than ten years of service as a judge of either the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or the Superior Court, or of any combination of such courts, or of the Court of Common Pleas, the Juvenile Court or the Circuit Court, or other state service or service as an elected officer of the state, or any combination of such service, shall receive semiannual longevity payments based on service as a judge of any or all of such six courts, or other state service or service as an elected officer of the state, or any combination of such service, completed as of the first day of July and the first day of January of each year, as follows:
(1) A judge who has completed ten or more years but less than fifteen years of service shall receive one-quarter of three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.
(2) A judge who has completed fifteen or more years but less than twenty years of service shall receive one-half of three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.
(3) A judge who has completed twenty or more years but less than twenty-five years of service shall receive three-quarters of three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.
(4) A judge who has completed twenty-five or more years of service shall receive three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 3597; 1955, S. 1965d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 15; 1959, P.A. 531, S. 19; 670, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 331, S. 12; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 26; 795; 1969, P.A. 601, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 281, S. 19; P.A. 74-183, S. 28, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 35, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 13, 72; 77-576, S. 30, 45, 65; P.A. 78-377, S. 1, 4; P.A. 79-608, S. 1, 10; P.A. 80-337, S. 1, 13; 80-483, S. 132, 186; P.A. 82-248, S. 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 1, 9; P.A. 84-399, S. 1, 17; 84-435, S. 1, 6; P.A. 85-517, S. 1, 5; P.A. 86-328, S. 2, 3; P.A. 87-198, S. 1, 6; 87-476; 87-508, S. 5, 10; P.A. 88-364, S. 65, 123; P.A. 90-328, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-226, S. 27, 28; P.A. 93-108, S. 1, 6; 93-379, S. 3, 8; P.A. 95-191, S. 2, 4; July 21 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1, S. 4, 8; P.A. 98-197, S. 2, 8; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1, S. 37, 51; P.A. 00-231, S. 8, 10; P.A. 01-186, S. 14; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 12; P.A. 13-247, S. 240; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 460; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3, S. 89; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 254; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 11; P.A. 22-118, S. 131; P.A. 23-204, S. 81; P.A. 25-91, S. 11; 25-168, S. 49.)
History: 1959 acts raised salaries of chief justice from $20,000 to $22,500; of associate judges from $19,000 to $21,500; of judges of the superior court from $18,500 to $21,000; of common pleas court judges from $15,500 to $17,000; and of judges of juvenile court from $13,000 to $15,000, and stipulated latter not to engage in private practice; 1965 act increased salary of chief justice to $30,000; associate judges to $29,000; superior court judges to $27,500; common pleas court judges to $22,500, and juvenile court judges to $20,000; 1967 acts raised salary of chief justice to $33,000, established salary of chief court administrator at $33,000, established salary of circuit court judges at $17,500 and of chief judge of circuit court at $20,000 (salary provisions for circuit court judges formerly found in repealed Sec. 51-47a), required that all judges be members of state bar and extended prohibition against private practice to apply to all judges; 1969 act raised salary of circuit court judges to $21,500 and salary of chief judge of circuit court to $23,500; 1972 act raised chief justice's salary to $40,000, chief court administrator's salary to $38,000 and associate judges' salaries to $36,000, established salary of chief judge of superior court at $35,000, raised other superior court judges' salaries to $34,500, established salary of chief judge of common pleas court at $30,000, raised other common pleas judges' salaries to $28,500, established salary of chief judge of juvenile court at $28,500, raised other juvenile court judges' salaries to $26,500, raised salary of circuit court chief judge to $28,500 and other circuit court judges' salaries to $26,500; P.A. 74-183 deleted salary provisions for circuit court judges, raised salary of chief judges of common pleas and juvenile courts to $32,500 and raised salary of other judges of juvenile court to $28,500; P.A. 76-436 deleted salary for chief judge of superior court, establishing same salary for all superior court judges, deleted salaries for common pleas and juvenile court judges and added new salary provisions to reflect merger of common pleas and juvenile courts into superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 specified that salary set for chief court administrator applies “if he is a judge of the supreme or superior court”, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 specified computation basis for third through fifth and succeeding years of service and replaced previous provisions which insured that superior court judges serving on July 1, 1978, and former common pleas and juvenile court judges would not receive reduced salaries after merger with new provisions re salaries of such judges and, effective July 1, 1979, raised chief justice's salary to $41,000, raised chief court administrator's salary to $41,000, raised associate judges salaries to $40,000, raised salary for superior court judges with five or more years of service from $34,500 to $38,500, raised salaries for judges hired on or after July 1, 1978, with one year of service from $29,700 to $34,500, for those with two years of service from $30,900 to $35,400, for those with three years of service from $32,100 to $36,500, for those with four years of service from $33,300 to $37,500; P.A. 78-377 clarified provisions re effect of P.A. 76-436 and raised salary of chief justice to $44,000 and salary of chief court administrator to $42,000, effective January 1, 1970; P.A. 79-608 raised chief justice's salary to $46,640, raised chief court administrator's salary to $44,520, raised associate justices' salaries to $42,400, raised salaries for superior court judges serving on June 30, 1978, to $40,810, raised initial salaries from $28,500 to $30,210, raised salaries to $36,500 for one year's service, to $37,630 for two years' service, to $38,600 for three years' service, to $39,750 for four years' service, and to $40,810 for five years' service; P.A. 80-337 divided section into Subsecs., revised salaries effective January 1, 1981, raising chief justice's salary to $51,093, chief court administrator's salary to $48,846, associate judges' salaries to $46,600, superior court judges' salaries (if serving June 30, 1978) to $43,873, newly appointed judges' salaries to $36,806, salaries for one year's service to $41,046, salaries for two years' service to $41,753, salaries for three years' service to $42,460, salaries for four years' service to $43,166 and for five years' service to $43,873, and added Subdivs. (2) to (4) in Subsec. (a) re future salary increases and additional payments; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions, but made no substantive change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 added “judges of the appellate court” and revised salaries effective July 1, 1983, raising chief justice's salary to $63,600, chief court administrator's salary to $61,500, associate judge's salary to $58,300, appellate court judge's salary to $55,700 and superior court judge's salary to $53,000, and added Subdivs. (2) and (3) re future salary increases; P.A. 84-399 added Subsec. (d) re longevity payments; P.A. 84-435 added provision prohibiting judge from being member of board of directors or advisory board of any state bank and trust company, state bank or savings and loan association, national banking association or federal savings bank or savings and loan association, effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 85-517 revised salaries effective July 1, 1986, raising chief justice's salary to $75,960, chief court administrator's salary to $72,373, associate judge's salary to $69,103, the chief presiding judge's salary to $70,163, appellate court judge's salary to $65,938, the deputy chief court administrator's salary to $64,483 and superior court judge's salary to $62,878 and added Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on or after July 1, 1987; P.A. 86-328 revised salaries effective July 1, 1986, by increasing chief justice's salary to $77,960, chief court administrator's salary to $74,373, and associate judge's salary to $71,103; revised salaries effective April 1, 1987, increasing chief justice's salary to $89,460, chief court administrator's salary to $76,873, associate judge's salary to $73,603, chief presiding judge's salary to $72,663, appellate court judge's salary to $68,438, deputy chief court administrator's salary to $66,983 and superior court judge's salary to $65,378; and revised salaries effective July 1, 1987, increasing chief justice's salary to $84,483, chief court administrator's salary to $80,717, associate judge's salary to $77,283, chief presiding judge's salary to $76,296, appellate court judge's salary to $71,860, deputy chief court administrator's salary to $70,332 and superior court judge's salary to $68,647; P.A. 87-198 substituted “chief judge” for “chief presiding judge”; P.A. 87-476 deleted Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a) re salaries on and after July 1, 1985, and added Subdivs. (4), (5) and (6) re salary increases on and after July 1, 1988; July 1, 1989, and July 1, 1990; P.A. 87-508 amended Subsec. (c) to require that judges be electors and residents of this state; P.A. 88-364 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to chief “presiding” judge of appellate court; P.A. 90-328, effective July 1, 1991, amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re salary on and after July 1, 1986, April 1, 1987, July 1, 1987, and July 1, 1988, and added provisions re salary increases on and after July 1, 1991, July 1, 1992, and July, 1, 1993; and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that administrative judge of appellate system, chief administrative judge for facilities and chief administrative judge for the juvenile division shall receive an additional $1,000 in annual salary; P.A. 92-226 amended Subsec. (d) to include service as a prosecutorial official of the judicial department, or service as a defense attorney of the judicial department or the public defender services commission, or any combination of such service; P.A. 93-108 amended Subsec. (c) to permit senior judge to participate in alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc., effective June 3, 1993; P.A. 93-379 amended Subsec. (d) to permit credit for longevity purposes for any other state service or service as an elected officer of the state or any combination of service, effective June 30, 1993; P.A. 95-191 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re salary on and after July 1, 1989, July 1, 1990, July 1, 1991, and July 1, 1992, and adding provisions re salary increases on and after July 1, 1995, and July 1, 1996, effective July 1, 1995; July 21 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) and (2) re salary increases on and after July 1, 1993, and July 1, 1995, redesignating former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdivs. (2) and (3) re salary increases on and after October 1, 1997, and October 1, 1998, respectively, effective July 23, 1997; P.A. 98-197 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re salaries on and after July 1, 1996, and adding Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on and after October 1, 1999, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdivs. (4) and (5) re salary increases, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-231 amended Subsec. (a) to delete former Subdivs. (1) to (3), inclusive, renumber former Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (1) and (2) and add new Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on and after April 1, 2002, effective January 3, 2001; P.A. 01-186 amended Subsec. (b) by adding judge for administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) and (2) re salaries on and after April 1, 2000 and 2001, redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) re salaries on and after April 1, 2002, as new Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdivs. (2) to (4) re salary increases for judges on and after January 1, 2005, 2006 and 2007, effective January 1, 2005; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) to (4) re salaries on and after April 1, 2002, and January 1, 2005, 2006, and 2007 and adding new Subdivs. (1) and (2) re salaries on and after July 1, 2013, and 2014, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former provisions re additional salaries and adding new Subdivs. (1) and (2) re additional salaries on and after July 1, 2013, and 2014, effective July 1, 2013; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re salaries on and after July 1, 2013, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1), adding new Subdiv. (2) re salaries on and after July 1, 2015, and adding Subdiv. (3) re salaries on and after July 1, 2016, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salary on and after July 1, 2013, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2015, and adding Subdiv. (3) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2015 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b)(3), the word “receive”, re additional compensation for administrative judge of a judicial district, was added editorially by the Revisors for clarity, pursuant to Sec. 2-56f); May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3 amended Subsecs. (a)(3) and (b)(3) by substituting “July 1, 2017” for “July 1, 2016”, effective June 2, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “and prior to October 31, 2017” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdiv. (4) re salaries on and after October 31, 2017, and adding Subdiv. (5) re salaries on and after July 1, 2019, amended Subsec. (b) by adding “and prior to October 31, 2017” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdiv. (4) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after October 31, 2017, and adding Subdiv. (5) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2019, effective October 31, 2017; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) to (4) re salaries on and after July 1, 2014, July 1, 2015, July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2017, respectively, redesignating existing Subdiv. (5) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) re salaries on and after July 1, 2021, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) to (4) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2014, July 1, 2015, July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2017, respectively, redesignating existing Subdiv. (5) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (1) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2021, effective June 23, 2021; P.A. 22-118 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re salaries on and after July 1, 2019, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) re salaries on and after July 1, 2022, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2019, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2022, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 23-204 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re salaries on and after July 1, 2021, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) and Subdiv. (3) re salaries on and after July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2021, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) and Subdiv. (3) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 25-91 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provision re senior judge not being precluded from participating in alternative dispute program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc., effective June 24, 2025; P.A. 25-168 made an identical change as P.A. 25-91 and amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re salaries on and after July 1, 2022, redesignating existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as Subdivs. (1) and (2) and adding new Subdiv. (3) re salaries on and after July 1, 2025, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2022, redesignating existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as Subdivs. (1) and (2) and adding new Subdiv. (3) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 51-50c. Assignment of senior judges to judicial duties. (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.
(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; P.A. 25-91, S. 12.)
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 added Subsec. (a)(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; P.A. 25-91 deleted former Subsec. (f) re participation of senior judges in alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc., effective June 24, 2025.
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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.
(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; P.A. 25-91, S. 13.)
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. 25-91 deleted provision re participation in alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED, ADR Inc. not being considered private practice of law, effective June 24, 2025.
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