The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.

Law Library Hours: December 5th to December 13th

   by Roy, Christopher

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6110

The regularly scheduled hours for the law libraries are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless noted below.

Thursday, December 5th

  • Hartford Law Library closes at 11:30 a.m.
  • Putnam Law Library closes at 3:00 p.m.

Friday, December 6th

  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • New Britain Law Library closes at 3:00 p.m.
  • Rockville Law Library is closed from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Torrington Law Library will be closed from 11:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Monday, December 9th

  • New London Law Library closes at 2:30 p.m.
  • Putnam Law Library is closed.

Tuesday, December 10th

  • New London Law Library opens at 10:30 a.m.
  • Waterbury Law Library is closed from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, December 11th

  • Putnam Law Library closes at 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 12th

  • New Britain Law Library opens at 10:30
  • Torrington Law Library is closed.

Friday, December 13th

  • Middletown Law Library closes at 4:00 p.m.
  • New Britain Law Library closes at 2:00 p.m.
  • Rockville Law Library is closed.
  • Torrington Law Library is closed.

Recent Office of Legislative Research Reports

   by Zigadto, Janet

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6109

The Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research (OLR) has recently published the following new reports:

Summary of State Gun Laws - 2024-R-0163 - Summarizes Connecticut’s gun laws. This report updates OLR Report 2020-R-0025.

Medicaid Eligibility - 2024-R-0174 - Describes current Medicaid income eligibility requirements in Connecticut. It updates OLR Report 2022-R-0066.

State Law That Governs Local Board of Education Budget Preparation, Approval, and Modification - 2024-R-0176 - Summarizes the state law that governs local board of education (BOE) budget preparation, approval, and modification at the local level, including any oversight mechanisms.

Updated: Fixed Property Tax Assessments Under CGS § 12-65b - 2024-R-0103 - Summarizes CGS § 12-65b, as amended by PA 24-143, § 6 (effective October 1, 2024), which allows municipalities to fix the personal and real property (including air space) tax assessments for a range of development projects. This report updates OLR Report 2022-R-0002.

OLR Backgrounder: A Guide to Connecticut's Personal Income Tax - 2024-R-0130 - Provides an overview of Connecticut’s personal income tax, including the tax rates, exemptions, credit amounts, and thresholds in effect for the 2024 tax year. It updates OLR Report 2022-R-0108.

Credit Reporting & Utility Service Customer's Delinquency - 2024-R-0179 - Can utility companies report to credit rating agencies information about a residential customer’s delinquency? This report updates OLR Report 2017-R-0183.

Issue Brief: CGS § 8-30g The Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Procedure - 2024-R-0147 - What is the affordable housing land use appeals procedure and what is its purpose? What types of developments trigger the law’s protection and under what circumstances are municipalities subject to it? What types of dwelling units count toward the 10%? When is a municipality eligible for a moratorium? How can municipalities defend an appeal brought under the procedure? This report updates OLR Report 2022-R-0254.

Connecticut Law Journal - December 3, 2024

   by Agati, Taryn

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6108

The Connecticut Law Journal, Volume LXXXVI, No. 23, for December 3, 2024 is now available.

Contained in the issue is the following:

  • Table of Contents
  • Volume 350: Connecticut Reports (Pages 692 - 753)
  • Volume 350: Orders (Pages 922 - 924)
  • Volume 350: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Reports
  • Volume 229: Connecticut Appellate Reports (Pages 371 - 392)
  • Volume 229: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Appellate Reports
  • Miscellaneous Notices

Law Library Hours: November 26th to December 6th

   by Roy, Christopher

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6107

The regularly scheduled hours for the law libraries are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless noted below.

Tuesday, November 26th

  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • Torrington Law Library closes at 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 27th

  • New London Law Library is closed.

Thursday, November 28th

  • All Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries are closed in observance of the holiday.

Friday, November 29th

  • Danbury Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • New Britain Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
  • New Haven Law Library is closed.
  • New London Law Library is closed.
  • Putnam Law Library is closed.
  • Stamford Law Library is closed.
  • Waterbury Law Library is closed.

Monday, December 2nd

  • New Britain Law Library closes at 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 3rd

  • Danbury Law Library opens at 10:00 a.m.
  • Waterbury Law Library opens at 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, December 4th

  • Danbury Law Library is open 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • New Britain Law Library closes at 12:15 p.m.

Friday, December 6th

  • New Britain Law Library closes at 3:00 p.m.

Connecticut Law Journal - November 26, 2024

   by Agati, Taryn

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6106

The Connecticut Law Journal, Volume LXXXVI, No. 22, for November 26, 2024 is now available.

Contained in the issue is the following:

  • Table of Contents
  • Volume 350: Connecticut Reports (Pages 557 - 692)
  • Volume 350: Orders (Pages 918 - 921)
  • Volume 350: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Reports
  • Volume 229: Connecticut Appellate Reports (Pages 239 - 371)
  • Volume 229: Memorandum Decisions (Pages 901 - 901)
  • Volume 229: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Appellate Reports
  • Miscellaneous Notices
  • Notices of Connecticut State Agencies

Juvenile Law Appellate Court Slip Opinion

   by Greenlee, Rebecca

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6105

AC 47367 - In re Jaelynn K.-M. ("The respondent mother, Jessica K., appeals following the trial court’s judgments terminating her parental rights with respect to her children, twins Jayden and Jaelynn. On appeal, the respondent claims that the trial court violated her due process rights under the fourteenth amendment to the federal constitution with respect to the termination trial in (1) constructively depriving her of her right to counsel, (2) denying her assigned counsel’s request for a continuance, and (3) finding that the respondent and her counsel had adequate notice of the proceeding. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.")

Tort Law Appellate Court Opinions

   by Agati, Taryn

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6104

AC46477 - Robinson v. V. D. ("The defendant, V. D., appeals from the judgment of the trial court denying his special motion to dismiss the underlying civil action pursuant to General Statutes § 52-196a, our state's anti-SLAPP statute. The civil action filed by the plaintiffs, Michael Robinson and Mary Robinson, seeks compensatory damages and injunctive relief for defamation, invasion of privacy by false light, statutory and common-law vexatious litigation, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The defendant claims that (1) the court improperly denied his special motion to dismiss the action on the ground that his alleged conduct did not relate to an exercise of a protected right in connection with a matter of public concern and, thus, fell outside the scope of § 52-196a, and, (2) even if he is not entitled to a dismissal of the action pursuant to § 52-196a, the trial court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this action because the defendant is entitled to absolute immunity under the litigation privilege for his alleged conduct, all of which occurred in the course of judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings. In addition to disputing the defendant's claims, the plaintiffs raise as an alternative ground for affirming the denial of the special motion to dismiss that § 52-196a violates both the state and federal constitutions. We conclude that the question of whether the plaintiffs' action is barred by absolute immunity under the litigation privilege implicates the trial court's subject matter jurisdiction and, thus, must be considered prior to addressing the merits of the special motion to dismiss. We agree with the defendant that, with the exception of those counts sounding in vexatious litigation, the complaint is barred by absolute immunity. With respect to the remaining vexatious litigation counts, we affirm in part and reverse in part the court's decision to deny the special motion to dismiss, we reject the plaintiffs' alternative ground for affirmance, and we remand the matter for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.")

AC46645 - Vu v. N. L. ("The plaintiff, Nhan Vu, appeals from the judgment of the trial court denying his motion to open the judgment of dismissal rendered in favor of the self-represented defendant, N. L. On appeal, the plaintiff claims that the court abused its discretion in denying his motion to open. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

Criminal Law Appellate Court Opinions

   by Townsend, Karen

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6103

AC45710 - State ex rel. Dunn v. Burton (“On appeal, the defendant raises a number of claims, which we distill to the following: (1) the court lacked jurisdiction over the verified petition filed by Jeremiah Dunn, the chief animal control officer of the plaintiff, to vest temporary custody of the goats with the department, (2) the court improperly denied her motion to suppress, which attacked the process by which the warrant to search her property and seize the goats was issued pursuant to General Statutes (Supp. 2022) § 22-329a (b), (3) she was ‘‘denied due process when she was not allowed to present [her] motion to suppress for adjudication,’’ (4) she was entitled to notice and a hearing prior to the seizure of her goats pursuant to General Statutes § 19a-341, (5) the court improperly determined that the goats were subjected to neglect and cruel treatment, (6) the court improperly determined that the defendant failed to comply with its order to relinquish ownership of the goats by April 16, 2021, or pay a surety or cash bond in the amount of $32,000 by that date, (7) § 22-329a is unconstitutional on its face and as applied in this case, and (8) the court improperly dismissed the defendant’s counterclaim on the ground that the claims raised in the counterclaim were barred by either sovereign immunity or the prior pending action doctrine. We affirm the judgments of the court.”)

AC46414 - State v. Pringle (Practice Book § 43-22 motion to correct an illegal sentence; assault 1st degree, promoting prostitution 2nd degree; possession of narcotics with intent to sell; sale of narcotics; tampering with witness; Alford Doctrine; “On appeal, he makes several arguments supporting his claim that the court improperly denied his motion to correct an illegal sentence. We dismiss the appeal as moot.”)

AC46657 - State v. Bryan (Practice Book § 43-22 motion to correct an illegal sentence; persistent dangerous felony offender; “The defendant first claims that the court erred in denying his motion because his guilty plea to being a persistent dangerous felony offender pursuant to General Statutes § 53a-402 was defective or, in the alternative, that the court should have dismissed his motion for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, rather than denying it on the merits. Second, the defendant claims, for the first time on appeal, that the sentencing court improperly failed to specify which portion of his sentence was attributable to the enhancement imposed pursuant to § 53a-40. With respect to the first claim, we conclude that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the defendant’s claim and, accordingly, that the court should have dismissed the motion to correct. We further conclude that the defendant is not entitled to review of his unpreserved second claim. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand with direction to dismiss the defendant’s motion to correct.”)

Juvenile Law Appellate Court Slip Opinion

   by Greenlee, Rebecca

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6102

AC 47605 - In re Zarirai S. ("The respondent mother, Crystal S., appeals from the judgments of the trial court rendered in favor of the petitioner, the Commissioner of Children and Families, terminating her parental rights with respect to her minor children, Z and L. On appeal, the respondent claims that the court improperly determined that she had failed to achieve a sufficient degree of rehabilitation because (1) the court’s determination was not supported by the evidence, (2) the court impermissibly compared the parenting of the respondent with that of the children’s foster parents, and (3) the court failed to apply the proper legal standard by ‘‘add[ing] a requirement of a ‘guarantee’ that the [respondent] must be able to rehabilitate within six months.’’ We affirm the judgments of the trial court.")

Law Library Hours: November 20th to November 29th

   by Roy, Christopher

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6100

Wednesday, November 20th

  • Middletown Law Library opens at 10:00 a.m.
  • Putnam Law Library is closed.
  • Stamford Law Library is closed.
  • Waterbury Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 21st

  • New Britain Law Library is closed from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Danbury Law Library is closed from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • Putnam Law Library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Waterbury Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.

Friday, November 22nd

  • Hartford Law Library opens at 10:00 a.m.
  • Middletown Law Library opens at 10:00 a.m.
  • Putnam Law Library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Torrington Law Library opens at 10:00 a.m.

Monday, November 25th

  • Middletown Law Library is closed from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • Torrington Law Library opens at 9:15 a.m.

Tuesday, November 26th

  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • Torrington Law Library closes at 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 27th

  • New London Law Library is closed.

Thursday, November 28th

  • All Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries are closed in observance of the holiday.

Friday, November 29th

  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • New Britain Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
  • New Haven Law Library is closed.
  • New London Law Library is closed.
  • Putnam Law Library is closed.
  • Stamford Law Library is closed.
  • Waterbury Law Library is closed.

Connecticut Law Journal - November 19, 2024

   by Agati, Taryn

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6099

The Connecticut Law Journal, Volume LXXXVI, No. 21, for November 19, 2024 is now available.

Contained in the issue is the following:

  • Table of Contents
  • Volume 350: Connecticut Reports (Pages 457 - 556)
  • Volume 350: Orders (Pages 916 - 918)
  • Volume 350: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Reports
  • Volume 229: Connecticut Appellate Reports (Pages 137 - 238)
  • Volume 229: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Appellate Reports
  • Miscellaneous Notices

Election Law Supreme Court Slip Opinion

   by Agati, Taryn

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=6098

SC21049 - Whitnum Baker v. Secretary of the State ("This is an original jurisdiction proceeding before a panel of this court pursuant to General Statutes § 9-323, in which the plaintiff, L. Lee Whitnum Baker, sought an emergency hearing to challenge a ruling of an election official, the secretary of the state, in connection with an election for federal office. The plaintiff challenges the defendant's decision to reject her registration as a write-in candidate for the office of United States Representative for the Third Congressional District of Connecticut on the ground that it was untimely filed in violation of General Statutes (Supp. 2024) § 9-373a, which, in connection with General Statutes § 9-265, governs write-in candidacies. In this action, the plaintiff seeks an injunction directing the defendant to accept her registration as a write-in candidate under § 9-373a. She claims that her untimely filing was the result of following guidance from a form cover letter promulgated by the defendant's office that did not update its block quotation of § 9-373a to reflect the earlier filing deadlines contained in the current statutory revision, which was amended in 2023 to accommodate the new early voting program under General Statutes (Supp. 2024) § 9-163aa. In response, the defendant asks us to dismiss this action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under § 9-323.

We held a hearing on the plaintiff's complaint on Thursday, November 7, 2024. After that hearing, we concluded that we have subject matter jurisdiction over this proceeding, and reserved judgment on the merits. We now conclude that this case does not present the type of "extraordinary circumstance," as contemplated by Butts v. Bysiewicz, 298 Conn. 665, 676 n.7, 5 A.3d 932 (2010), that would warrant equitable relief from the operation of a mandatory statutory provision based on erroneous information given to the plaintiff by an election official. The plaintiff has failed to prove entitlement to relief under the doctrine of equitable estoppel because (1) notwithstanding the defendant's erroneous quotation of an outdated version of § 9-373a on the cover letter provided to the plaintiff, both the cover letter and the registration form itself clearly and unambiguously provided the correct deadline, and (2) the plaintiff failed to exercise any due diligence in resolving the apparent inconsistency. Accordingly, we deny the plaintiff's request for injunctive relief and render judgment for the defendant.")