Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 872a - Removal, Suspension and Censure of Judges
Section 51-51n. - Authority of council.

(a) The Judicial Review Council may, after a hearing pursuant to subsection (c) of section 51-51l, (1) publicly censure the judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate, (2) suspend the judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate for a definite term not to exceed one year, (3) refer the matter to the Supreme Court with a recommendation that the judge or family support magistrate be suspended for a period longer than one year, (4) refer the matter to the Supreme Court with a recommendation that the judge or family support magistrate be removed from office or to the Governor with a recommendation that the administrative law judge be removed from office or (5) exonerate the judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate of all charges.

(b) If public censure is recommended, the chairman shall prepare and forward the censure in writing to the judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate being censured, the Chief Justice, the Chief Court Administrator and the joint standing committee on judiciary, at least ten days prior to the publication of the censure. The censure shall be a public record as defined in section 1-210. An appeal from the decision of the council for public censure shall automatically stay the publication of the censure.
(c) If the council exonerates a judge, an administrative law judge or a family support magistrate, a copy of the proceedings and report of the council shall be furnished to the judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate.
(P.A. 77-494, S. 8, 18; P.A. 82-248, S. 42; 82-338, S. 6; P.A. 86-402, S. 5, 13; P.A. 89-360, S. 34, 45; P.A. 92-160, S. 13, 19; P.A. 21-18, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 82-248 reworded section and changed “such” to “the”; P.A. 82-338 eliminated provisions re private censure of judge, added provision permitting council to issue admonishment recommending change in judicial conduct or practice, and eliminated provision to make proceedings and exoneration report public upon written request of the judge; P.A. 86-402 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re issuance of admonishment by council for conduct creating appearance of impropriety or constituting unfavorable judicial practice; P.A. 89-360 added references to family support magistrates; P.A. 92-160 applied provisions to compensation commissioners; pursuant to P.A. 21-18, “compensation commissioner” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “administrative law judge” throughout and conforming changes made in Subsec. (c), effective October 1, 2021.
Cited. 193 C. 180; 222 C. 799; 240 C. 157.
Cited. 42 CS 129.

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