Connecticut Court Case Lookup

A court case in Connecticut is established to uphold the state's laws. When the court decides on a case, it becomes a precedent for other cases. When a case has the same principles as the earlier case, the court can choose to apply the same rule unless it is modified by the Supreme Court or general assembly.

In Connecticut, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts. The trial court or Superior Court hears all legal disputes except those disputes, which only the Probate Court can decide.

The Superior court has four principal trial divisions, including civil, criminal, family, and housing. Non-juvenile matters like criminal cases, civil matters, and family cases are heard at judicial district court locations. Other cases involving juvenile matters are heard at Juvenile Court locations.

Connecticut court cases are documented by the administrative offices of the respective courts where the cases are heard. Records of these cases, also called Connecticut court records, are made available to the public on request, and a court case lookup offers a means for inquirers to access them.

Are Court Cases Public Record in Connecticut?

Yes, the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act ensures public access to all government records unless they are confidential. The records are accessible via the Clerk of the Court in control of the area where the conviction occurred. The Connecticut Judicial Branch is also responsible for maintaining an online database of all criminal court records filed at the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and Probate Court in Connecticut.

To have access to Connecticut public criminal court records, contact the Clerk of the Court during office hours. However, the clerk might require information such as the record subject's name, case number, and proof of identity before providing any confidential criminal court record in Connecticut.

How to Conduct a Connecticut Court Case Lookup

Members of the public interested in obtaining court records in Connecticut must have the required information needed on the website to initiate the search online. The website is provided to make the search for records of cases filed after January 1, 1991, at the different Connecticut Courts easier. However, all case records on juvenile delinquents may not be accessible because they are confidential under Connecticut law.

If any case report is not accessible on the website, it will be available at the local courthouses where they were filed and heard. Further instructions on how to find other forms of court records in Connecticut are on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. Note that copying and certifying court records at court locations can attract a certain fee, depending on the number of copies.

Members of the public interested in finding records of the Supreme Court and the Appellate Court online can search using the case name, party name, docket number, and Attorney.

Can I Get Connecticut Court Case Documents Online?

Yes, it is possible to get court case documents from Connecticut online. To get copies of court records, email requests for documents to: SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov or contact the Centralized Services Unit at (860) 263-2750. Include in all requests for documents the name of the case and docket number.

Files may be available to the requestor in any of the following ways:

Available at court location (charges for copy and certification may apply)
E-mail (no charges but size limitations may apply)
Available at the Centralized Services Unit (charges for copy and certification may apply).

How to Conduct a Connecticut Court Search by Name

To conduct a Connecticut Court search by name the requester will have to go to Case Name Search and input the case subject's last name correctly in the Case Name field. Sometimes, the requestor will have to use the individual's full or first name to narrow the search results with filters. Using the date range will also narrow the query, but one may leave the field empty to search the entire database.

Different sites conduct a Connecticut court search by name but may charge a fee to get the result.

What is a Court Case Number?

A court case number is a unique number assigned by the court for one to easily track or retrieve the case. It also helps one to determine the date and location the defendant filed the case. To obtain a particular case number, one will have to contact the court clerk's office.

Case numbers can be in the form of numbers, letters, or characters like a dash or hyphen, and the court may attach specific meanings to these numbers. Any person with a case number must retain it in case of subsequent admissions for a court case.

How to Read a Court Case Number

The superior court in Connecticut may assign case numbers using different methods, but in the traditional format, the case numbers are in four parts:

Usually, the first two digits represent the year of the case filing
The third digit represents the type of case involved (For example, CIV is for civil cases)
The next series of numbers represent the randomly assigned sequence number assigned by the court. Most of these sequence numbers begin from 00001 and are four or five in number
The judge's initials are usually included at the end and represent a check digit that can confirm if the previous digits are correct.

For example, 22-CIV-21895-JD assigned to one Jane Doe is number 21,895 in the civil cases filed in 2022.

Note that all courts don't use the same system to assign case numbers. The case number format used in Connecticut may differ from the format used in other states. To confirm, check the individual county court website for details on how to read case numbers.

How to Conduct a Case Number Search in Connecticut

To conduct a case number search in Connecticut, one may have to visit the court to use the search computers, which requires no charges for a member of the public. The requester just needs to go to 'search by case number' and enter the number before hitting the search icon. Any individual can also obtain the case number by searching the parties on Connecticut's judicial branch website.

How to Remove Court Cases From Public Record in Connecticut

To remove or erase the criminal history record of an individual or court cases from the public record in Connecticut, the case must be eligible. Connecticut has a responsibility to automatically pardon charges for criminal offenses if:

Charged with a crime but found not guilty
The charges against the individual have dropped at least 13 months ago and there has been no prosecution
The case was dismissed.

Expungement or absolute pardon means that all police and court records about the case will be removed, the state may not disclose the offense to anyone including law enforcement, and the state must destroy the court records.

To apply for the removal of your court case from the public record in Connecticut, the application may have to get to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for a Certificate of Employability.

If a person is convicted of nonviolent offenses that do not include victims of interest, they may qualify for an Expedited Review. With an Expedited Review, one is granted an absolute pardon without being present. During this review, the Board of pardons may choose to grant an absolute pardon, deny your application, or post your application for a full panel hearing.

It is compulsory to apply for an absolute pardon for all offenses, as one can apply to have an entire criminal history record erased. If a person's application for an absolute pardon is unsuccessful, they may be eligible for a 'Provisional Pardon' or a 'Certificate of Employability'.

How to Check a Court Case Status in Connecticut

According to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act enacted in 1975, any member of the public can check the status of a court case or request court records without a statement of purpose. There are no restrictions on how the public can use these records once retrieved. However, to access the records to confirm the status of a court case, one must provide a case number or the subject's name. Alternatively, obtaining any information will require the requester to visit or write to the court in Connecticut.

How to Find Supreme Court Decisions in Connecticut

In Connecticut, the decisions of the Supreme Court can also be categorized as public records and can be accessible to the members of the public. The decisions of the Supreme court in Connecticut can be found in the Opinion section of the court's website. The website also has a feature that allows the public to search the database with case names, case numbers, or attorney names.

What Percentage of Court Cases Go to Trial in Connecticut?

Millions of cases are filed to the Superior courts in Connecticut to settle legal matters and disputes, but not all of these cases make it to the trial stage. Over the years, the number of criminal trials that take place in courts has significantly reduced. Currently, 2% of federal criminal cases go to trial, and it also applies to cases at the state level.

Most cases are usually settled when the defendants agree to plead guilty to certain charges in exchange for reduced sentences or other charges dropped. Around 94% of state-level felony convictions and 97% of federal felony convictions are responsible for these plea bargains. The criminal justice system in the United States may agree that everyone deserves to be treated fairly, but the way the system works is anything but fair.

For further details on the statistics of the civil cases in Connecticut, a table on the judiciary court branch website has a lot to reveal to the public.

How Long Does a Court Case Last in Connecticut?

Connecticut legislature records no specified time frame for handling court cases as each case is unique and different from the next one. A complex case may take a few days, weeks, or even months, especially for a criminal case that involves a lot of investigation and court reports.

How to File a Case in Court in Connecticut

A filing process in Connecticut usually begins the legal process in court. It requires the individual to visit a court clerk and pay a filing fee by cash, check, or credit card, and submit the necessary documents for filing.

In Connecticut, filing a civil case requires the individual or plaintiff to submit a complaint and fill out a Summons, Civil Actions (JD-CV-1). The court clerk inspects the document to ensure it complies with the court's rules and verifies that the case number and caption are for a valid case. Once the clerk signs the summons, the signed original and complaint are returned to the defendant or plaintiff.

The plaintiff or defendant delivers the original summons and complaint to a State Marshal who will serve the defendant. The State Marshal will charge a fee for delivering the paperwork. However, if the defendant is unable to afford the fee, they can request the fee from the court to pay the fee for you.

The Application for Waiver of Fees form (JD-CV-120) must be filed for the court to review before delivering the paperwork to the State Marshal.

Once the State Marshal has delivered the paperwork to the defendant, the original paperwork must be returned to the Clerk's Office along with the required filing fee. In a case where the court grants the request for a fee waiver, an Application for Waiver of Fees form will be used instead.

What Does It Mean if a Court Case Was Resolved Before the Trial Date?

If a case was resolved before the trial date, it means that the court moved a motion to dismiss without a bench or jury trial. Such motion may be based on one or more of the following legal deficiencies:

Lack of Personal Jurisdiction: In this case, the court does not have the right to make decisions concerning the defendant personally. There will be no jurisdiction over the defendant if the defendant does not have sufficient minimum contact with the location where the lawsuit was filed.
Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction: Here, the court has no authority to rule over the controversy.
Insufficient Service of Process: A motion for dismissal can be moved if there is a technical defect in the summons and complaint. Service can sometimes be inadequate, so the lawyer needs to know how the defendant was served to help the lawyer determine whether the case may be dismissed or not.
Failure to File a Claim for the Relief to be Granted: Sometimes, the lawyer may conclude that the facts stated in the complaint do not warrant a legal claim for relief. The law may conclude that the defendant has no responsibility to watch over the plaintiff under the circumstances described in the complaint. Without a legal responsibility, it will be difficult to hold the defendant responsible for the plaintiff's injuries.
Improper Court Location: States laws are responsible for setting up places within the state for suing a defendant. However, if the defendant is not sued in one of those places, the venue of the lawsuit is deemed inappropriate. Even if the court has personal jurisdiction over the defendant, the venue will remain legally improper.