Connecticut Court Docket Search

A court docket serves many purposes in case tracking and management. In Connecticut, these dockets are generated and managed on the Connecticut Judicial Branch's official website and by the administrative office of the courthouses in various jurisdictions. However, certain third-party websites also aggregate court dockets and allow public access to them within the provisions of the Connecticut Public Records Act.

A Connecticut court docket search provides inquirers with details about the cases to be heard in a particular court in the state of Connecticut. If a case's docket or docket report is available, the case is likely to be heard in that jurisdiction. Members of the public may also perform a court docket search for clarity on the management and scheduling of a court case. Ultimately, a court docket search can provide the public with Connecticut court records, and basic case information and enable the easy identification of relevant case information.

What is a Court Docket in Connecticut?

According to the Connecticut Supreme Court, a court docket is a numerical list of cases ready for assignment. Per section 69-2 (§ 69-2) of the Practice Book that cases are considered ready for assignment when briefs and appendices of all parties have been filed or if the time for filing and replies have elapsed.

This definition of court docket implies that a docket provides the schedule of cases to be heard in a court in Connecticut, and cases can only be heard after they have been filed. Moreover, filing a case requires assigning a docket to ensure information about it is protected and accessible to interested persons.

A court docket can also store vital information about a case for future reference. Some of the information contained in it include the following:

Details of entities involved in the case, including names and address
Particular location for the court hearing
Date and time for the court hearing
Type of case to be heard
Details of the judges and attorneys involved in the case
Short description of the case

Are Court Dockets Public Records in Connecticut?

Yes, court dockets are public records in Connecticut. The 1975 Connecticut Freedom of Information Act permits interested public members to request and access public records, including court dockets, without any statement of purpose. However, there are exemptions to public records that an individual can access. These include:

Trade Secrets
Petitions
Sensitive law enforcement records
Records that expose other entities to danger and infringe on privacy
Home address records
Adoption records
Financial records and statements of assets
Medical or personnel records which infringe on personal privacy

Similarly, certain court records are not accessible to the public for confidential reasons. One such record is juvenile records. Juvenile records per the C.G.S. Act section 46B-124 regarding delinquency proceedings or any part thereof shall be available to the victim of the crime committed by such a minor. Sometimes, the court may seal part of the record and make it inaccessible to the public, while the unsealed parts can be accessed. The information obtained from accessing court dockets can also be used according to the requestor's intent given that it does not endanger any other person.

Where to Find a Court Docket in Connecticut?

Finding a court docket in Connecticut is relatively easy with the digitalization of the process, although offline requests through telephone calls are also possible. However, making requests by contacting the clerk of the custodian court is not a popular option in Connecticut, and it is advisable to utilize the website provided by the Judicial Branch of the State of Connecticut.

The website provides access to court dockets of the state's Supreme Court and Appellate Court. It also provides about civil, family, criminal, motor vehicle, housing, and small claims cases. Each available service has been divided into sections to allow easy access to court records on the website. Note that the site of the Judicial Branch only contains case records held from 1991 in the state and confidential records may be withheld by the court.

If the researcher is interested in acquiring a certified copy of the record, the custodian courthouse of the docket should be contacted. Unfortunately, this service often attracts charges based on the number of pages to be supplied by the courthouse.

Also, numerous third-party websites can be used to find a court docket in Connecticut. These websites are not affiliated with the government and implement multiple sources to provide information about the needed court docket. However, the information third-party websites provide can vary from those obtained from governmental platforms due to limitations.

How to Conduct a Connecticut Court Docket Search

Conducting a court docket search in Connecticut can generally be done in two ways. The first method involves contacting the custodian court and providing the clerk with the requested information. The researcher may need to cover some fees for the records to be sent to them, usually through the mail.

The second method involves searching online. Several websites, including governmental and non-governmental websites, offer this service. Two of the most reliable governmental websites to look up court dockets in Connecticut include:

The Connecticut Judicial Branch: The website of this department has an online database of court records in the state. The records in the database date back to 1991, making it the most comprehensive platform on the internet to search for court dockets in Connecticut. The website also has a portal to check Connecticut Probate Court records. The records date back to 2011 for those who are interested in them.
Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER): PACER is another platform for searching U.S. dockets. The national platform contains records of court cases in the U.S. The types of records here are federal court dockets and documents. Interested persons must create an account and cover the charges for using the portal before gaining full access. The fees charged depend on the activities of a user on the platform.

Furthermore, the researcher must provide basic information about the case to search. Some of the possible ways of searching for a court docket in Connecticut include the following:

Search Via Case Name

Researchers can search for a docket on the Judicial Branch of the State of Connecticut website using the case name. This method is most productive for searching for dockets in the state's Supreme Court and Appellate Court archives. The case name(s) should be entered in the provided space, and then select the court type to perform the search. Researchers can also select multiple court types to widen the search and choose a date range for a quicker search (optional).

Once all the criteria have been entered accordingly, the search button should be tapped to retrieve the needed information.

Search Via Party Name

The second method of searching a court docket is through a party name. This process is also most effective for searching court dockets in the Supreme Court and Appellate Court of Connecticut. First, the researcher should input the party's party's name in the provided box, ensuring all the names are correctly spelled. Afterward, the case's current status (open or closed) should be selected, and then tap the Search button to get the needed information.

Search Via Docket Number

The court docket number can also be used to search for it. This process is the most popular search method for dockets in Connecticut and can be utilized for any court record search. Notably, unlike some other states, the Supreme Court and Appellate Court of Connecticut use a docket number consisting of a 5-digit number. Confirm the docket number's validity before searching to avoid getting errors.

Search Via Attorney

Searching for a court docket via attorney involves using the name of the attorneys in the case or the Juris number. The Juris number consists of 6 characters and can be used alternatively to the attorney'sattorney's initials. The full name of the attorneys might not be needed in some cases but the initials. After inputting the initials or the full name, choose the court type, case status, and case date, and then hit the search button.

If any problem is experienced while searching a court docket, the date and type of case should be checked to confirm that it is not restricted. Afterward, the administrators of the website should be contacted for assistance.

What Do Court Dockets Contain in Connecticut?

The information in a Connecticut court docket depends on how updated it is. The extent of the information can also vary based on the type of case and the level of court the case was heard. However, the commonest details contained in a court docket include the following:

Docket number: Every court docket has a unique code assigned to it. This code is called a docket number and is used to identify and differentiate the docket from other dockets.
Details of involved parties: The names of the defendant(s) and plaintiff(s) are also in a court docket.
Terms of legal personnel involved in the case: A court docket shows the names of attorneys and the judge presiding over the case. Sometimes, their contact may also be included.
Filing date: A docket also signifies the first filing date of the case.
Docket proceedings: A court docket is a storage room for all the events related to a case. It shows every decision, order, and action taken to resolve a case.
Case Type: The docket also shows the type of case, such as civil, criminal, domestic, tax, etc.
Location of the court: A court docket also provides precise information about the courtroom where a case will be heard.
Pending hearings: If there is a need for adjournment, the docket will also show the date, time, and location such a hearing will take place.
Status of the case: A court docket indicates the current status of a case, that is, opened or closed. Closed cases have been finalized, and judgment has been passed on them, while open cases are ongoing and yet to be completely judged.

What is a Court Docket Number in Connecticut?

A court docket number or case number is a unique code allocated to a docket by a court clerk. The number is used to identify, differentiate, and track court cases in Connecticut. Although docket numbers in Connecticut might vary based on the type of court, there is a standard way of formatting docket numbers in the U.S., as shown below:

Division Code: The first two characters represent the division code and indicate the county where the court is located. This code usually precedes a colon and is important for case tracking and management.
Case Year: The case year succeeds the division code and the colon. It signifies the year when the case became active.
Case Type: The case type consists of two letters and represents the type of case. For instance, Cr indicates Criminal Case while Cv signifies Civil Action.
Case Number: This number denotes the actual count of cases brought to the court. It begins with 1 to the number of cases resolved in the court.

How to Conduct a Court Docket Number Lookup in Connecticut

A court docket number is essential to retrieve the information in a court docket. The process of retrieving this information is known as court docket number lookup, although certain cases might be irretrievable due to restrictions placed on them. Interested persons can perform lookups by contacting the clerk of the custodian court or via the Internet.

Conducting a court docket number lookup via the internet in Connecticut can be done on the Judicial Branch's website or third-party websites. The Judicial Branch page for this is called the Case Lookup and is updated daily. It also covers every type of court case in the state.

Basic information about the case, including the parties involved, the judge's name, and the court's name and location, might be needed to access some dockets.