Connecticut
Connecticut’s highest court is the Connecticut Supreme Court. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice. The governor appoints the chief justice from a list created by a judicial nominating commission unless the justice is already an associate justice. Nominees who are not already on the court must be confirmed by a majority of the Connecticut General Assembly. (Source: Appointment Process for Connecticut Supreme Court Justices; Connecticut General Assembly)
Judicial Selection
The governor nominates a candidate to the Connecticut Supreme Court from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the general assembly. Justices serve eight-year terms and may seek reappointment to additional terms in the same appointment process. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 70.
State Constitution
Connecticut has had two constitutions adopted in 1818 and 1965. As of January 1, 2024, it had 34 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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How Are State Judges Selected?
Thirty-eight states use elections as part of their system for choosing high court judges.
The Problem Punishment Poses for Democratic Orders: Ruination and Rights
Transcript of panel from Symposium: State Constitutions and the Limits of Criminal Punishments
Barriers to Rights Protections and Collateral Consequences
Transcript of panel from Symposium: State Constitutions and the Limits of Criminal Punishments
Closing Remarks
Transcript of panel from Symposium: State Constitutions and the Limits of Criminal Punishments
The Tenacious Power of Constitutional Torts
Despite hurdles, civil rights litigation is a critical tool for people who have been harmed by the government and for those seeking long-lasting change.
Who’s Hiring State Supreme Court Clerks?
State-by-state information to aid law students and young attorneys in securing a state clerkship.
Religious Freedom and Abortion
Religious liberty protections have been steadily extended in both state and federal court over the last two decades. In some states, plaintiffs are arguing religious liberty includes a right to an abortion, with some success.
The Other Declarations of 1776
A number of states adopted constitutions, including Declarations of Rights, the same year the nation was born.