2023 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 51 - Courts
Chapter 883 - Supreme Court
Section 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 under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, class A felony or any 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; and (10) 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; P.A. 12-5, S. 13; P.A. 19-64, S. 10.)

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; P.A. 12-5 amended Subsec. (b)(3) to add reference to provisions of Sec. 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, re conviction for a capital felony, effective April 25, 2012; P.A. 19-64 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdiv. (10) re writs of error, redesignating existing Subdiv. (11) as Subdiv. (10), and making a technical change, effective January 1, 2020.

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. Cited. 185 C. 495; 192 C. 704; 194 C. 245; 199 C. 417; 202 C. 252; 219 C. 384; 223 C. 41; 224 C. 749; 225 C. 102; 227 C. 301; 228 C. 630; 230 C. 183; Id., 335; 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. Appellate Court's judgment on transferred writ of error is tantamount to an appeal for purposes of Sec. 51-197f and Supreme Court has jurisdiction to grant certification to appeal from that judgment; even though plain language of Subsec. (c) expressly expands Appellate Court jurisdiction to include writs of error upon transfer, no language expressly divests Supreme Court of final jurisdiction over writs of error that Subsec. (a) confers. 331 C. 711.

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; 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; 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; 4 CA 58; Id., 514; Id., 519; Id., 541; Id., 575; Id., 611; Id., 672; 5 CA 29; Id., 288; Id., 488; 7 CA 217; 38 CA 546.

Subsec. (b):

Cited. 214 C. 146; 216 C. 282; Id., 699; 217 C. 243; 218 C. 349; Id., 714; Id., 766; 219 C. 93; Id., 605; 220 C. 345; Id., 796; 221 C. 315; Id., 331; Id., 430; Id., 643; 222 C. 506; Id., 556; 223 C. 127; Id., 207; Id., 273; Id., 535; Id., 635; Id., 674; 224 C. 63; Id., 168; Id., 325; Id., 372; Id., 397; Id., 445; 225 C. 55; Id., 114; Id., 270; Id., 347; Id., 450; Id., 519; Id., 609; 226 C. 237; Id., 618; Id., 757; Id., 773; 227 C. 1; Id., 101; Id., 153; Id., 207; Id., 231; Id., 417; Id., 448; Id., 456; Id., 677; Id., 711; Id., 751; 228 C. 62; Id., 118; Id., 281; Id., 412; Id., 582; 229 C. 125; Id., 328; Id., 557; Id., 664; 230 C. 43; Id., 351; 231 C. 43; Id., 115; Id., 235; Id., 602; 233 C. 1; Id., 106; Id., 437; Id., 813; 234 C. 381; Id., 455; Id., 683; 235 C. 145; Id., 274; Id., 595; Id., 671; Id., 748; Id., 802; Id., 865; 236 C. 31; Id., 112; Id., 189; Id., 388; Id., 514; Id., 781; 237 C. 284; Id., 390; Id., 518; 238 C. 253; Id., 313; Id., 389; Id., 588; 239 C. 427; Id., 481; 240 C. 210; 241 C. 1; Id., 322; Id., 665; Id., 702; 242 C. 93; Id., 318; Id., 445; Id., 505; Id., 605; Id., 666; 243 C. 205.

Cited. 8 CA 177; 20 CA 470; 42 CA 348.

Subsec. (c):

Cited. 210 C. 597; 220 C. 61; 222 C. 216; Id., 374; Id., 380; Id., 699; Id., 730; Id., 784; Id., 793; Id., 799; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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 Subsec. 250 C. 241.

Cited. 8 CA 177; Id., 290; 45 CA 448; 46 CA 578; Id., 600; Id., 640; Id., 810.