2019 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 9 - Elections
Chapter 146 - Elections
Section 9-183a - Number of justices of the peace, exceptions.

(a) The number of justices of the peace for each town shall be equal to one-third the number of jurors to which such town is by law entitled, except in the town of Waterbury the number shall be sixty-nine, in the town of Trumbull the number shall be thirty, in the town of Meriden the number shall be thirty-six, and in the town of Litchfield the number shall be fifteen; provided any town, by ordinance, may provide for the selection of a lesser number of justices of the peace for such town as herein provided, which shall be not less than fifteen.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of any special act or charter to the contrary:

(1) In 1994, the number of justices of the peace for any town which selects a number of justices of the peace under a special act or charter, which is fewer than one-third the number of jurors to which the town is by law entitled, shall be one and one-half times the number authorized for the town on May 1, 1994, but not less than fifteen;

(2) In 1996, the number of justices of the peace for any such town shall be one and one-half times the number authorized for the town on May 1, 1994, but not less than fifteen, unless the town amends such special act or charter or adopts an ordinance under subdivision (3) of this subsection;

(3) Any town which selects a number of justices of the peace under a special act or charter, which is fewer than one-third the number of jurors to which the town is by law entitled, may amend such special act or charter under chapter 99 or may adopt an ordinance superseding such special act or charter provision, to provide for a number of justices of the peace to be selected in 1996, and quadrennially thereafter, which shall be not less than fifteen nor more than one-third the number of jurors to which the town is by law entitled, or may repeal the special act or charter provision.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of any ordinance to the contrary:

(1) In 1994, the number of justices of the peace for any town which selects a number of justices of the peace under an ordinance, which is fewer than one-third the number of jurors to which the town is by law entitled, shall be one and one-half times the number authorized for the town on May 1, 1994, but not less than fifteen;

(2) In 1996, the number of justices of the peace for any such town shall be one and one-half times the number authorized for the town on May 1, 1994, but not less than fifteen, unless the town amends such ordinance under subdivision (3) of this subsection;

(3) Any town which selects a number of justices of the peace under an ordinance, which is fewer than one-third the number of jurors to which the town is by law entitled, may amend such ordinance to provide for a number of justices of the peace to be selected in 1996, and quadrennially thereafter, which shall be not less than fifteen nor more than one-third the number of jurors to which the town is by law entitled, or may repeal the ordinance provision.

(d) Upon the adoption, amendment or repeal of any ordinance under this section, the clerk of such town shall send a certified copy thereof to the Secretary of the State.

(P.A. 74-109, S. 1, 11; P.A. 94-230, S. 1, 10; P.A. 96-120, S. 1, 3; P.A. 04-142, S. 10; P.A. 06-137, S. 14.)

History: P.A. 94-230 designated first sentence of existing section as Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a) to increase number of justices of the peace from 46 to 69 in Waterbury, from 7 to 15 in Trumbull, from 15 to 23 in Meriden and from 5 to 15 in Litchfield and to require a minimum of 15 justices of the peace in towns establishing a number of justices of the peace by ordinance, added Subsec. (b) re number of justices of the peace in towns establishing a number of justices of the peace under special act or charter, added Subsec. (c) re number of justices of the peace in towns establishing a number of justices of the peace by ordinance, designated second sentence of existing section as Subsec. (d) and inserted “amendment” and “under this section” in Subsec. (d), effective June 11, 1994; P.A. 96-120 added new Subsec. (b)(2) re the number of justices of the peace in 1996, and renumbered former Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and new Subsec. (c)(2) re the number of justices of the peace in 1996 and renumbered former Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3), effective May 24, 1996; P.A. 04-142 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing the number of justices of the peace in Meriden from 23 to 36, effective May 17, 2004; P.A. 06-137 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the number of justices of the peace for the town of Trumbull from 15 to 30, effective June 6, 2006.