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Judicial selection in Connecticut
| Judicial selection in Connecticut | |
 | |
| Connecticut Supreme Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | 8 years |
| Connecticut Appellate Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | 8 years |
| Connecticut Superior Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | 8 years |
| Connecticut Probate Courts | |
| Method: | Partisan election |
| Term: | 4 years |
Judicial selection refers to the process used to select judges for courts. At the state level, methods of judicial selection vary substantially in the United States, and in some cases between different court types within a state. There are six primary types of judicial selection: partisan and nonpartisan elections, the Michigan method, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. To read more about how these selection methods are used across the country, click here.
This article covers how state court judges are selected in Connecticut, including:
- The Connecticut Supreme Court,
- The Connecticut Appellate Court,
- The Connecticut Superior Court, and
- limited jurisdiction courts.
As of April 2025, judges for all courts in the state except the Connecticut Probate Courts were selected through the assisted appointment method, where the governor selects a nominee from a list provided by a nominating commission. Judges of the Connecticut Probate Courts were selected through partisan elections.
Click here to notify us of changes to judicial selection methods in this state.
Connecticut Supreme Court
- See also: Connecticut Supreme Court
The seven justices on the Connecticut Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. The Connecticut Judicial Selection Commission is responsible for screening candidates and submitting a shortlist to the governor. The commission is made up of 12 members: six appointed by the governor and six appointed by leaders in the state legislature. The governor must appoint a justice from the commission's shortlist and the appointee must then be confirmed by a majority vote of the Connecticut General Assembly.[1][2]
Justices serve for eight years after their appointment. To continue to serve on the court, they must be renominated by the governor and reapproved by the General Assembly.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a state resident;
- licensed to practice law in the state; and
- under the age of 70 (retirement at 70 is mandatory).[3]
Chief justice
The chief justice is appointed by the governor and confirmed by a majority vote of the Connecticut General Assembly. In the event of a vacancy, however, the governor may nominate an associate justice to serve as chief without involving the judicial nominating commission. Chief justices appointed this way will serve out the remainder of their predecessor's term rather than a full eight years, which is the typical term length of the chief justice.[1]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a judge's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends qualified candidates to the governor and the governor selects a successor from that list with legislative approval. The new appointee serves an eight-year term.[4]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Connecticut General Assembly, "Sec. 51-44a. Judicial Selection Commission. Members. Duties. Nomination of judges by Governor.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Article Fifth. of the Judicial Department - Sec. 2.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Frequently Asked Media Questions," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Connecticut General Assembly, "Article Fifth. of the Judicial Department - Sec. 2.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Sec. 51-197c. Appellate Court; judges, appointment, terms, Chief Judge.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Frequently Asked Media Questions," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ The Courant, "Appellate Court Has New Chief Judge," March 30, 2010
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "About Connecticut Courts," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Brennan Center for Justice, "Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Frequently Asked Media Questions," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Article Fifth. of the Judicial Department - Sec. 4.," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "History of Reform Efforts: Connecticut," accessed September 10, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Courts, "FAQ: Federal Judges," accessed March 26, 2015
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Judicial Selection: The Process of Choosing Judges," accessed August 10, 2021
Federal courts:
Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Connecticut • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Connecticut
State courts:
Connecticut Supreme Court • Connecticut Appellate Court • Connecticut Superior Court • Connecticut Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Connecticut • Connecticut judicial elections • Judicial selection in Connecticut
