The state of Connecticut officially refers to the Connecticut court records as court files. Court files include any written testimony, orders, exhibits and pleadings that take place during a hearing or a trial in court. All court files do not contain all of these different kinds of documents.
Court files involving civil or family matter contain documents such as memorandum of decisions, military or other affidavits, executions issued and returned, responsive pleadings, cross complaints, amendments and third party allegations, judgment file or entry of the judgment and all modifications of judgment, the complaint with amendment or substituted complaint.
Court files involving criminal matter contain documents such as arrest warrants, summons and complaints, infraction or violation complaint, official receipts, notice of rights, transaction sheet and orders regarding probation. The citizens of Connecticut have the legal right to access Connecticut court records, view or examine them. But all court records are not open to the general public. The Connecticut courts may officially seal certain court files or the contents of a file may be rendered confidential by a statute.
Items that are automatically sealed by statutes are usually communications and records between a psychologist or psychiatrics and his/her patient, between a victim of sexual assault and his counselor, physician or healthcare provider and patient, marital counselor and the person consulting a counselor, social worker and the person consulting the social worker. The general public cannot access such files unless authorized by the Connecticut courts or when the sealing order expires.
Similarly, court records involving cases that pertain to juveniles as a central subject are categorized as confidential. But there are certain exceptions. For example, in the case of juvenile delinquency, records of the proceedings of the case are available to the victim of the crimes as well as the defendant (C.G.S. 46b-124).
Connecticut courts include- Connecticut Supreme Court, Connecticut Appellate Court, Connecticut Superior Court and Connecticut Probate Court. Additionally the state of Connecticut also has a Federal court- United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Supreme Court of the state of Connecticut is the highest court in that state. The Governor appoints the justices which are then approved by the General Assembly of Connecticut. Justices retire at the age of seventy but they can continue to hear cases as Senior Justices. It is headed by a chief justice and contains six Associate Justices. Appellate Court of Connecticut is the court of first appeals and hears all cases that arise from the Superior Courts of Connecticut. It is composed of nine Appellate Court Judges.
Superior Court of Connecticut is the lowest court in the state. It hears and passes judgment on all matters excluding those handled by the Probate Court. The state of Connecticut is divided into fifteen judicial districts and fourteen juvenile districts to serve the purpose of the Superior court. The Superior Court also has four trial divisions that include civil, family, criminal and housing divisions.
Probate courts of Connecticut are referred to as family courts or neighborhood courts. The proceedings of the probate court are informal and are easily accessible. Probate courts handle a wide range of cases involving highly sensitive issues such as those involving the elderly and children, people with disabilities, and trusts and estates.
