Contact | Use |
Find
Contact the Libraries
1. How do I find a library and its hours?
Library Locations, Directions, Hours and Staff
2. How can I talk to a librarian?
Contact information for a librarian
Email a librarian
at lawlibrarians@jud.ct.gov
Use of the Libraries
1. Can I use the library to do legal research?
Yes, our libraries are open to all members of the Bar and public doing
legal research. See information on Library Locations and Hours
2. Can I access legal information from home?
Our Law Libraries' website offers links to
many legal resources available on the Internet. However, please note
that there is much
Legal Information that is not available on the Internet. Please
visit or contact one of our libraries if you do not find the information
you are looking for on the Internet.
3. Do you have computers in your library?
Yes, we have public access computers in our libraries. Computers are
available for legal research and preparing legal documents purposes. The
library also provides access to selected Online
Legal Databases for conducting legal research. Please consult our
Computer Use Rules for details on using library
computers.
4. How can the law librarian help me?
Law Librarians can provide legal and procedural information and direct
you to resources for conducting your legal research. They can provide
instruction on how to use print and electronic legal resources. Law
Librarians cannot do the research for you, prepare documents for you, or
provide legal advice.
5. How can I tell if you have a certain book in the library?
You can
search our
Catalog.
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Finding materials
1. How can I find the laws in Connecticut on a topic?
Browse or search the Connecticut General Statutes
2. How can I find the Connecticut court rules or procedures?
The current year rules of procedure for Connecticut are found in the
Connecticut Practice Book.
3. How can I find recent Decisions and Opinions?
Cases (also called decisions, opinions or memorandum of
decision) can be found on the Internet in several locations:
- Advanced released opinions of the Supreme and Appellate Courts
- You can browse the current releases or click the Archive
button to access earlier decisions. Archived decisions go back to 2000.
Advanced release opinions are not considered official decisions and do
not contain citation information.
- Other types of decisions on the Judicial Branch website include:
- Connecticut state agency posting of Administrative Decisions
4. How can I find Connecticut cases on a subject?
- Connecticut Advance
Release Opinions by Subject (Connecticut Supreme and Appellate
Court)
- Google
Scholar
is another option for locating and searching Connecticut
Supreme and Appellate Court cases on the Internet. General coverage is
back to 1950, but be sure to read all information regarding completeness
of coverage.
5. What are State regulations and how do I find them?
State regulations are the rules and requirements issued by a state
agency, as authorized by statute, and have the force of law. Regulations
provide the specific requirements to comply with the law. View
Agency
Regulations.
6. What are Municipal ordinances and how do I find them?
Municipal ordinances, also called municipal regulations, are regulations
issued by individual cities and towns, as authorized by statute, and
have the force of law. Municipal ordinances provide the city's or town's specific requirements to comply with the law. View a listing of links to
Municipal Ordinances and Charters by town.
7. How can I find information on a legal topic or procedure in Connecticut?
You can use our Law by
Subject pages. Each Law by Subject page provides links to
information available on the Internet for a specific legal topic or
procedure in Connecticut. Topics are listed in alphabetic order. You can
also use the tools at the top of the page to either sort the Law by
Subject pages by major topics or use the search box to search for a
specific topic.
8. How can I begin researching a legal topic or procedure in Connecticut?
You can use our Research Guides. Each Research Guide provides information to begin
your research on a legal topic or procedure in Connecticut. Research
Guides provide references to laws, cases, rules, and other authority
that governs the legal topic or procedure. They also include references
to other sources, such as books, encyclopedias, and articles on a topic
or procedure. Some Research Guides include references to or examples of
form templates. Research Guides provide references to both Internet and
print only resources and are a good compilation of resources for
beginning your research.
9. I need a motion for X, where can I find it?
A few select motions, also called pleadings or court forms, are available in a fill-in format on the
Judicial Branch Forms website.
But the majority of motions are not available in a fill-in format and
must be written. The Judicial Branch Law Libraries have several sources
for trying to locate examples of what a particular motion might say or
look like. These sources include: our
Research
Guides (if a Guide on that motion/topic is available), templates on
the library computers, or in form books located in the library. Library
computers may be used to write your motion. Copiers are available for
making copies of motions in books.
10. How can I find legal help?
Our Find Help page has information for finding legal aid, legal clinics, legal
advocacy groups, and attorney referral services and directories.
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