Connecticut Superior Court

Connecticut Superior Courts

The Connecticut Superior Court is made up of trial courts in Connecticut.

All cases in Connecticut (outside of probate matters) originate in these courts. The court is divided into four areas: civil, criminal, family, and housing.

Civil cases are those between two aggravated parties and fall into five categories:

• Landlord - tenant
• Small claims
• Administrative appeals
• Civil jury
• Civil non-jury (case decided upon by a judge)

Criminal cases are those between individuals accused of breaking the law and the state. The criminal division of the Connecticut Superior Court hears cases on felonies, misdemeanors, violations (punishable by fine only), and infractions (no court appearance necessary).

Family cases consist of juvenile matters, child support and paternity actions, and all other family matters, including divorce.

Housing cases are heard by the Connecticut Superior Court in the Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford-Norwalk, and Waterbury judicial districts. Elsewhere, these cases fall under the regular civil docket.

Court districts

Superior Court District County Served Ansonia/Milford New Haven Danbury Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Hartford Hartford Litchfield Litchfield Middlesex Middlesex New Britain Hartford New Haven New Haven New London New London Stamford/Norwalk Fairfield Tolland Tolland Waterbury New Haven Windham Windham Senior judges, referees, and magistrates In the Connecticut Superior Court, senior judges, judge trial referees, state referees, and family support magistrates serve alongside superior court judges. Judges are eligible to retire at age 65 or after serving 20 years as a judge. Judges who retire before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 become senior judges. These judges are eligible to serve out the remainder of their terms at the court where they were assigned. A senior judge may be reappointed to succeeding terms until they reach age 70. They have the same powers as a superior court judge. When a judge takes senior status, the governor nominates a successor for their seat on the bench. The mandatory retirement age for superior court judges in Connecticut is age 70. State referees are retired judges who continue to work. Subject to certain restrictions, a senior judge automatically becomes a state referee upon turning 70. The judge may retain this position until their term as a judge or senior judge expires. Thereafter, the judge is eligible to be reappointed as a state referee for the remainder of their life. Judge trial referees are a subset of state referees who hear particular cases and are appointed for terms of not more than one year. Judge trial referees and state referees have the power of a judge of the superior court on matters referred by the superior court. Senior judges, state referees, and judge trial referees earn a $220 per diem in addition to their pensions. The governor appoints family support magistrates for three-year terms. Although they are not judges, they do perform some judicial functions. Their duties include hearing paternity, child, and spousal support matters. See also Connecticut Superior Court judges Courts in Connecticut Connecticut counties Judicial selection in Connecticut External links State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, "Divisions of Superior Court" Court Reference.com, "Connecticut Court Records" Footnotes Connecticut courts Federal courts: Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Connecticut • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Connecticut State courts: Connecticut Supreme Court • Connecticut Appellate Court • Connecticut Superior Court • Connecticut Probate Courts State resources: Courts in Connecticut • Connecticut judicial elections • Judicial selection in Connecticut