Judicial Selection in the States: Connecticut
Overview
The Connecticut judiciary is composed of a supreme court, an appellate court, a superior court, and a probate court. Connecticut adopted a merit plan for selecting judges in 1986. According to the plan, the judicial selection commission recommends qualified candidates to the governor for nomination. The governor's nominee must then be appointed by the general assembly. Judges serve eight-year terms and must be renominated and reappointed. The judicial selection commission also evaluates incumbent judges who seek reappointment.