Connecticut

Connecticut Supreme Court
Judicial Selection Method: Hybrid
7 Justices
8 year terms
State High Court & Judicial Nominating Commission Composition & Terms of Judicial Nominating Commission Judicial Selection Process Legal Authority
12 members*:

  • 3 lawyers appointed by the Governor**
  • 3 lawyers appointed by
    • The President Pro Tempore of the Senate
    • The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives
    • The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
  • 3 non-lawyers appointed by the Governor**
  • 3 non-lawyers appointed by
    • The Speaker of the House of Representatives
    • The Majority Leader of the Senate
    • The Minority Leader of the Senate

*Not more than 6 of the members of the Commission shall belong to the same political party

**Of the 6 appointed by the Governor, there must be 1 from each of the 5 congressional districts and 1 member at large

Terms: 3 years (staggered)

 General

  • Commission submits list of candidates from which the Governor must choose one.
  • After nomination by the Governor, nominees are appointed by the General Assembly.
  • At the end of a Justice’s term, the Justice is subject to re-nomination by the Judicial Selection Commission and reappointment by the Governor.

Interim Vacancies

  • Vacancies shall not be filled by the Governor when the General Assembly is not in session unless, prior to such filling, the Governor submits the name of the proposed vacancy appointee to the committee on the judiciary.
  • Within forty-five days, the committee on the judiciary may, upon the call of either chairman, hold a special meeting for the purpose of approving or disapproving such proposed vacancy appointee by majority vote.
  • The Governor shall not administer the oath of office to such proposed vacancy appointee until the committee has approved such proposed vacancy appointee.

Percentage of Lawyers on the Nominating Commission

Who Selects the Nominating Commissioners?

    Docket Watch

  • Gay Marriage Update: New England, Iowa, Wisconsin, and California

    Litigation regarding gay marriage and other gay rights issues continues throughout the several states, and it is increasingly likely that the Supreme Court of the United States will rule on whether the United States Constitution guarantees a right to gay marriage. This article, a synopsis of the status of gay marriage in various states, analyzes recent court decisions in hopes of illuminating the relevant legal arguments. This article also highlights the most well-organized efforts and key players in the campaigns to legalize gay marriage at the state level.

  • Judicial Election

    Judges are elected by popular vote.

  • Democratic Appointment

    Judges are appointed directly by a democratic body, or appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of some democratic body.