Dear Clients and Friends,
Governor Lamont and the Connecticut District and State courts have issued orders modifying court operations and certain deadlines and time limitations that may affect your practice. Here’s a brief summary:
Executive Order 7G issued 3/19/20:
This order suspends filing deadlines, certain statutes of limitations, and other time limitations.
#2. Suspension of Non-Critical Court Operations and Associated Requirements
Notwithstanding any provision of the Connecticut General Statutes or of any regulation, local rule or other provision of law, I hereby suspend, for the duration of this public health and civil preparedness emergency, unless earlier modified or terminated by me, all statutory (1) location or venue requirements; (2) time requirements, statutes of limitation or other limitations or deadlines relating to service of process, court proceedings or court filings; and (3) all time requirements or deadlines related to the Supreme, Appellate and Superior courts or their judicial officials to issue notices, hold court, hear matters and/or render decisions including, but not limited to, the following:
a. All time limitations in Chapters 959, 959a, 960 and 961 of the General Statutes including, but not limited to, C.G.S. § 54-lg concerning the time of arraignments;
b. and C.G.S. § 54-82m concerning the right to a speedy trial;
c. All time limitations for rendering judgments in civil actions provided in C.G.S. § 51-183b;
d. All time limitations concerning civil process, service and return provided in Chapter 896 of the General Statutes;
e. All statutes of limitations provided in Chapter 926 of the General Statutes;
f. All time limitations concerning the automatic review of terms of probation provided in C.G.S. § 53a-29(g);
g. All time constraints for the filing of administrative appeals provided in C.G.S. § 4-183;
h. All time limitations concerning hearings and rulings pertaining to primary and election disputes provided in Chapter 149 of the General Statutes;
i. All time limitations in Title 46b of the General Statutes including, but not limited to, family, juvenile and child support matters;
j. All venue and filing requirements including, but not limited to, C.G.S. §§ 51-345, 51-348, 51-352 and 51-353, provided in Chapter 890 of the General Statutes;
k. The times and places for the sitting of the Superior Court provided in C.G.S. § 51-181;
l. The notice of sessions provided in C.G.S. § 51-182.
Connecticut District Court Order – effective March 16, 2020 until further notice
All civil trials, jury selection and other specified proceedings scheduled to begin before or on 4/10/20 are continued until further notice. The court will hear specified criminal matters and Rule 65 matters requiring prompt hearing. The judges and magistrates have discretion to schedule other matters (whether in-person or by video or teleconference) as they deem necessary. The courthouses remain open with limited staffing; the CM/ECF system remains fully operational.
State Superior (Trial) Court Order – effective March 19, 2020 until further notice
The State court system has closed all courthouses other than one in each Judicial District, which will handle only Priority 1 functions. For all intents and purposes, all civil proceedings are suspended. The e-filing system remains operational.
State Supreme and Appellate Court Order
As of March 20, 2020, all time requirements for Supreme and Appellate Court filings are suspended until further notice. The Office of the Appellate Clerk has requested that no paper briefs be filed until further notice. The Supreme Court has postponed oral arguments scheduled to be heard from March 24-April 2, 2020. These matters will be heard at a future date and time to be determined.
Our firm’s COVID-19 Resource Center contains a collection of other information about timely Connecticut legal and administrative matters that may be of interest to you and your clients.
Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if we can assist in any way.