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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States Grapple with Problematic Rule from Federal Voting Cases
The Purcell principle, which holds that federal courts should not change voting rules too close to an election, is increasingly being raised in state litigation.
Advice for Law Students From State Supreme Court Justices
As the school year kicks off, eight justices reflect on what they wish someone had told them when they were in law school.
The Right to Protest and State Constitutions
Free speech protections found in state constitutions could offer broader rights to protesters than the First Amendment.
State Constitutional Conventions, Explained
The last state to hold a conventional convention was in Rhode Island in 1986.
The Right to Petition in State Constitutions, Explained
Some states protect citizens’ right to make requests of or complaints against the government more broadly than the federal Constitution.
What the SCOTUS Term Means for State Courts
Some of the Court’s most important holdings — including on abortion, gun restrictions, and presidential immunity — have implications for state courts and constitutions.
Pennsylvania’s Indigent Defense Crisis Goes to Court
Pennsylvania is not the only state struggling to meet its constitutional obligations to provide representation to people who can’t afford it.
Judicial Deference to Agency Expertise in the States
Almost all state courts recognize the importance of agencies’ expertise in policymaking.