Connecticut § 51-1a - Composition of Judicial Department.
Full text of Connecticut Connecticut General Statutes § 51-1a — Composition of Judicial Department., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 51-1a. Composition of Judicial Department.
Sec. 51-1a. Composition of Judicial Department. (a) The Judicial Department of the state shall consist of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, the Superior Court, the Office of the Chief Court Administrator and their employees and divisions, the courts of probate, and, as provided in chapter 887, the Public Defender Services Commission. For the purposes of the general statutes, “Judicial Branch” means the Judicial Department.
(b) The territorial jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, and the Superior Court shall be coextensive with the boundaries of the state.
(c) The territorial jurisdiction of each court of probate shall be the probate district established for such court by statute. Each town in this state shall be a probate district or a part of a probate district.
(P.A. 76-436, S. 5, 681; P.A. 82-248, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 1, 82; P.A. 90-230, S. 65, 101; P.A. 03-202, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, adding “the division of criminal justice, the office of the chief court administrator, the commission on official legal publications, and, as provided in chapter 887, the public defender services commission”; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 included reference to appellate court; P.A. 90-230 deleted reference to “the division of criminal justice” from Subsec. (a); P.A. 03-202 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change, replacing reference to Commission on Official Legal Publications with reference to employees and divisions and adding provision defining “judicial branch”.
See Sec. 51-164s re Superior Court's status as sole trial court and transfer of Common Pleas and Juvenile Courts' jurisdictions to Superior Court.
Cited. 205 C. 542; 224 C. 372; 230 C. 183.
Source: official Connecticut text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut § 51-1a
What does Connecticut General Statutes § 51-1a cover?
Section 51-1a ("Composition of Judicial Department.") is part of the Connecticut General Statutes, the codified statutory law of Connecticut. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Connecticut § 51-1a?
A common citation format is "Connecticut General Statutes § 51-1a" (Connecticut). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Connecticut law?
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Sources & Verification
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