Connecticut Supreme Court Decisions
Founded in 1784, the Connecticut Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. It convenes in eight two-week sessions between September and June. The Court receives its authority from Article V and Amendment Article XX of the Connecticut Constitution, which also provide the rules that govern its procedures. A constitutional amendment is required to make significant changes to the Court.
The Connecticut Supreme Court often hears cases as a panel of five justices, although sometimes all seven justices will hear a case, which is known as en banc review. While most of the cases that it hears originate in superior court, the Court usually will not hear an appeal until an intermediate appellate court has reviewed the case. However, there are exceptions for cases involving a conviction of a crime that carries a death sentence and for cases challenging the validity of a state law or part of the state constitution.
To be eligible to serve on the Connecticut Supreme Court, a candidate must be no older than 70 at the time of their appointment, a resident of Connecticut, and licensed to practice law in Connecticut. When a new justice needs to be appointed, the judicial selection commission will send a list of candidates to the Governor of Connecticut. After the Governor chooses a nominee, the General Assembly will decide whether to confirm them. Each justice serves an eight-year term, after which they must be re-nominated and re-confirmed to be retained. This involves appearing at a hearing before the senate judiciary committee, which will make a recommendation to the General Assembly on whether to re-confirm the justice. The Chief Justice may be selected according to the same process, or the Governor may nominate a current Associate Justice to serve as the Chief Justice. If this happens, the justice will serve only the remainder of their current eight-year term as the Chief Justice. A justice must retire from actively serving on the Court when they turn 70.
- 2023 (97)
- 2022 (172)
- 2021 (190)
- 2020 (56)
- 2019 (132)
- 2018 (108)
- 2017 (138)
- 2016 (181)
- 2015 (182)
- 2014 (177)
- 2013 (131)
- 2012 (166)
- 2011 (170)
- 2010 (186)
- 2009 (191)
- 2008 (203)
- 2007 (181)
- 2006 (171)
- 2005 (190)
- 2004 (198)
- 2003 (237)
- 2002 (158)
- 2001 (186)
- 2000 (76)
- 1998 (1)
- 1997 (2)
- 1996 (4)
- 1991 (1)
- 1990 (2)
- 1988 (1)
- 1985 (2)
- 1983 (174)
- 1982 (184)
- 1981 (184)
- 1980 (218)
- 1979 (209)
- 1978 (163)
- 1977 (131)
- 1976 (169)
- 1975 (159)
- 1974 (121)
- 1973 (101)
- 1972 (118)
- 1971 (97)
- 1970 (84)
- 1969 (87)
- 1968 (106)
- 1967 (110)
- 1966 (97)
- 1965 (103)
- 1964 (110)
- 1963 (97)
- 1962 (96)
- 1961 (116)
- 1960 (95)
- 1959 (109)
- 1958 (112)
- 1957 (71)
- 1956 (116)
- 1955 (102)
- 1954 (119)
- 1953 (114)
- 1952 (90)
- 1951 (105)
- 1950 (95)
Recent Decisions From the Connecticut Supreme Court
Date: November 7, 2023
Docket Number: SC20676
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the trial court in favor of Defendant Barbara Lembo in this action brought by beneficiaries of an inter vivos trust and their mother alleging that Defendant breached her…
Date: October 24, 2023
Docket Number: SC20733
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the appellate court determining that the State Board of Labor Relations did not act unreasonably, illegally, arbitrarily, or in abuse of its discretion when it applied the clear…
Date: October 17, 2023
Docket Number: SC20677
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court denying Plaintiff's application to vacate an arbitration award rendered in favor of Defendant and granting Defendant's motion to confirm the award, holding that…
Date: October 10, 2023
Docket Number: SC20642
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court awarding damages to Companions and Homemakers, Inc. for tortious interference with contractual and business relations and a violation of the Connecticut Unfair…
Date: September 26, 2023
Docket Number: SC20701
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the appellate court concluding that enforcement of in terrorem, or no-contest, clauses in the decedent's will and trust agreement against Defendant would violate public policy,…
Date: September 19, 2023
Docket Number: SC20452
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment of the trial court finding Defendant guilty of manslaughter in the first degree, criminal possession of a firearm, and possession of a weapon in a…
Date: September 19, 2023
Docket Number: SC20702
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the appellate court concluding that the trial court lost jurisdiction when it dismissed Defendant's pending criminal charges and, therefore, was without jurisdiction to…
Date: September 12, 2023
Docket Number: SC20683
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court convicting Defendant of one count of sexual assault in the first degree and two counts of risk of injury to a child, holding that Defendant was not entitled to…
Date: September 5, 2023
Docket Number: SC20664
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court dissolving Plaintiff's marriage to Defendant, holding that Plaintiff was not entitled to relief on his allegations of error. At issue in this case was the…
Date: August 29, 2023
Docket Number: SC20686
