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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Judicial Deference to Agency Expertise in the States
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State Constitutional Conventions Explained
The nation’s first constitutional convention in decades may take place in Louisiana this summer.
New Findings Highlight Lack of Diversity on State Supreme Courts
More data and further scholarship is needed to devise policies for promoting a state bench that adequately represents the varied background of the public.