• Child Protection Session
• Complex Litigation Docket
• Community Court in Hartford
• Domestic Violence Dockets
• Housing Session
• Land Use Litigation Docket
• Regional Family Trial Docket
• Tax and Administrative Appeals Session

A session of the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, located in the Middlesex Judicial District Superior Court, 1 Court Street, Middletown. It serves as a statewide juvenile trial court, accepting child protection cases referred by local juvenile court judges. The referral criteria include: age of the case, significance of the action (termination of parental rights is the most important), and complexity of the case. If the case is accepted, the Department of Children and Families provides transportation to Middletown to parents who need it.

Complex Litigation Docket. Dockets for civil cases with multiple litigants and/or legally challenging issues or multi-million dollar claims for damages currently available in Hartford, Stamford and Waterbury. Cases accepted are assigned to an individual judge, who presides over all aspects of the case.

See Facts About the Connecticut Judicial Branch Complex Litigation Docket (PDF)

• Notice to Attorneys re: Complex Litigation Docket - Effective February 1, 2010
• Notice to Attorneys re: Complex Litigation Docket, Superior Court, Civil Division - Effective January 5, 2009, Rev. October 1, 2009
• Parties may file an Application for Case Referral-Complex Litigation Docket (CLD) (JD-CV-39) (PDF) - to request designation as complex litigation and assignment to the docket. The party filing the application to request the matter be designated as a complex litigation case shall pay the sum of three hundred thirty-five dollars ($335.00) at the time the request is filed.
• Any objection to the transfer of a case to the Complex Litigation Docket must be filed within 15 calendar days after the filing of the application. Attorneys not excluded from e-filing must select "Objection to Transfer to Complex Litigation" when naming the objection in e-filing. Attorneys excluded from e-filing and self-represented parties must file the objection with the Clerk in the judicial district in which the case is pending and must title it "Objection to Transfer to the Complex Litigation Docket."
• The Chief Administrative Judge of the Civil Division has discretion to schedule a hearing to consider whether referral to the Complex Litigation Docket is appropriate.

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1. What is Community Court?
2. What crimes are handled in Community Court?
3. What jurisdictions does the Hartford Community Court represent?
4. What kinds of sentences are ordered?
5. What groups have partnered with the Hartford Community Court?
6. How can I get more information about the Hartford Community Court?
7. Fifth Anniversary Celebration
8. Community Court Newsletters
9. Directions to Hartford Community Court
10. Evaluation of the Hartford Community Court - PDF

What is Community Court?
Opened on November 10, 1998, the State of Connecticut Superior Court Community Court Session in Hartford is a collaborative effort between the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch and local authorities that seeks to address the "quality of life" crimes that contribute to the deterioration of local neighborhoods. Committed to the concept of restorative justice, the Community Court in Hartford utilizes a combination of court-supervised community service and social services to promote responsibility among defendants for their actions while simultaneously offering a helping hand to address the social issues that may be contributing to their behavior.

In its first 17 years*, the Hartford Community Court has handled over 130,000 cases. Over 90% of community court cases are disposed of within 3 months. Its social services team has made over 32,000 human services referrals. Hartford Community Court defendants have provided over 511,000 hours of community service throughout Hartford’s Neighborhoods.
* November 10, 1998 through August 31, 2015.

What crimes are handled in Community Court?
The Community Court deals with a wide array of crimes including simple possession of marijuana, breach of peace, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, larceny (shoplifting), disorderly conduct, threatening, prostitution, solicitation of prostitutes, illegal liquor possession by a minor, public nuisance, public drunkenness, excessive noise, and illegal vending. Most defendants are issued a summons and/or are arrested and are required to appear at Community Court within two business days of being arrested.

Jurisdiction
The Community Court in Hartford is a special session of the Hartford Judicial District Superior Court. In addition to Hartford, the Community Court accepts cases from the towns of Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, Farmington, and West Hartford.

What kinds of sentences are ordered?
Most defendants are ordered to perform community service, in lieu of being sent to jail and/or fines. For example, defendants may work on street clean-up crews or help deliver food to the needy. The Court also requires all defendants to meet with a member of the Community Court Social Services Team. The Community Court's on-site social services staff consists of representatives from the City of Hartford Department of Human Services, the State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Capitol Region Mental Health Center. The court sanctions and monitors defendants mandated for further medical treatment by the Social Services Team.

Partnerships
The Community Court Session in Hartford has provided a forum for collaboration among those who seek to restore the quality of life in our communities. In addition to State of Connecticut Judicial Branch staff, on-site personnel include members of the City of Hartford's Department of Health and Human Services, and the State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Contracted staff from Community Partners in Action, the Hartford Area Mediation Program, and Paul & Lisa, Inc. also play significant roles in the daily operations of the Community Court. Support from community members, local police departments, and numerous nonprofit agencies throughout Greater Hartford have also contributed to the unique dynamics of the Court.

How can I get more information about the Hartford Community Court?
You may contact the Hartford Community Court Officer at:

Fax: (860) 756-7025
E-mail: Hartford.Commcourt@jud.ct.gov
Directions

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Dockets that handle domestic violence cases using a vertical case management approach. Teams comprised of prosecutors, family relations counselors, domestic violence victim advocates, and representatives of law enforcement coordinate case processing through regular meetings. Defendants are required to return to court frequently to ensure that they are following court orders.

 A special session of the Superior Court has been established in the Hartford Judicial District at 95 Washington Street for the adjudication of specifically identified land use cases.

The following types of land use cases will be considered for transfer: 

• Planning / Zoning;
• Inland/Wetlands/Environmental Enforcement and;
• Miscellaneous land use litigation
• *Affordable Housing Appeals (will be transferred to the land use docket and reassigned as appropriate)

Counsel or self-represented parties may file an application for referral using form JD-CV-129, Application for Case Referral – Land Use Litigation Docket.  Cases that are accepted for transfer will be transferred in full to the Land Use Litigation Docket.

Please note that the following land use case types will not be accepted for transfer to the docket at this time:

• ZBA Variances;
• Easements and;
• Quiet Title

Standing Order for the Transfer of Affordable Housing Appeals
Application for Case Referral - Land Use Litigation Docket, JD-CV-129 - PDF
Request for Adjudication, Complex Litigation Docket, JD-CL-077 - PDF

If you have any questions please contact Abby Bowker at 860-548-2851 or Abby.Bowker@jud.ct.gov or Rose Ann Rush at 203-965-5288 or RoseAnn.Rush@jud.ct.gov

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Regional Family Trial Docket

A special docket in the Middlesex Judicial District, 1 Court Street, Middletown, which handles contested custody and visitation matters referred to it from any Judicial District in the state. One judge presides over and manages the docket. The goal is to handle contested cases involving children quickly and without interruption. Cases are referred to the Regional Family Trial Docket by the family presiding judge when they meet the program criteria: child focused issue; ready for trial; family relations case study completed and not more than nine months old; and an attorney has been appointed for the children.  

Tax and Administrative Appeals Session

A special session of the Superior Court established to hear state and municipal tax appeals and appeals from state administrative agencies under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act (C.G.S. sec. 4-166 et seq.). It is located at New Britain Superior Court, 20 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. More information...

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