Section 12-574-F52 - Judges(a)Appointment and number. There shall be three (3) court judges on the playing court during the game at all times; a front court judge and a back court judge and a chief (center) court judge all appointed by the association. The association shall appoint and have licensed no less than two alternate judges who shall be available to act as court judges if illness or injury should occur to any of the court judges. The alternate appointed judges cannot be members from the active or inactive official player roster.(b)Division judges. The executive director shall appoint division judges who are responsible for the official score-keeping of all games, including supervising the officiating of the games. The division judge shall report all questionable decisions and actions of the court judges or players which is observed. The division judge reports to the facility supervisor or designee. The division judge may sit as a member of the board of administrative judges.(c)Stations, signals, whistle. The chief court judge and a front and back court judge shall be stationed on the playing court prior to the start of each game. The front and back court judges' duty shall be to report by signal or otherwise to the chief court judge any irregularities or fouls made while a game is in progress. All judges shall be equipped with a whistle or other audible signaling device to be used to immediately signify when a foul has occurred. The court judges shall signify all fouls and points of play according to a standard set of signals approved by the division. Decisions by the court judges shall be easily recognizable and quickly communicated to the general public. To stop the game after the whistle is blown or other audible signal is made, the standard signals as officially posted shall be employed. All standard signals utilized by the judges shall be reproduced in legible type and permanently displayed in readily visible locations in the fronton. The daily jai alai programs sold to the public by the jai alai association shall contain a prominent statement indicating that such signals are posted.(d)Court judges' authority. The court judges' authority extends over the rules of the game, as enumerated in section 12-574-F55 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, and involves the calling of fouls and interference, the citation of players for game infractions, and the recommendation of penalties therefore to the board of administrative judges.(e)Decisions final. The final decision of any court judge is not subject to appeal or review after the official award of a point.(f)Rulings. If a court judge notices an infraction within his jurisdiction, he must immediately signal it. The chief court judge will make the final decision if necessary after consulting with the front and back judges. (1) The rulings of the court judges shall be final relative to the playing of the game.(2) Any player who plainly exhibits displeasure at a judge's decision will be cited for a game infraction.(3) In any play involving alleged errors of rotation, the chief court judge may at his own discretion or upon the request of the division judge, prior to the official award of a point, review the videotapes of any portion of the play in question for guidance in making a final decision on such play. If it becomes clear to the chief court judge that an error of rotation has occurred, he shall immediately have the point replayed beginning at the first occurrence of the error in rotation.(4) In any play involving alleged improper return by a member of the same team, the chief court judge, may at his own discretion or upon the request of the division judge, prior to the official award of a point, review the videotapes of any portion of the play in question for guidance in making a final decision on such play. If it is clear to the chief court judge that an improper return has occurred, he shall immediately award the point to the opposing post position.(5) No game shall be declared official except by the division judge acting as official scorer. In the event there should arise any question concerning the proper declaration of an official game, the division judge may communicate with the chief court judge or the players' manager or assistant players' manager prior to the declaration of an official game.(g)Remain on court, posting number. The court judges shall not leave the court until the official win, place and show is posted on the payoff board at the end of each game. It is the chief court judge's responsibility to see that the proper numbers are posted and to signify to the division judge his agreement as to the posted results. A player shall respectfully bring to the attention of the judges through the players' manager or assistant players' manager any matter within his knowledge which may have been overlooked by the judges during a play.(h)Qualifications for court judges.(1) Those appointed as judges or alternate judges shall be of unquestioned integrity, familiar with the game of jai alai and sections 12-574-F50 to 12-574-F56, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and shall not be under contract as a player at the fronton. Scratched or injured players shall not act as court judges. Court judges shall be in excellent physical condition and shall be required to pass an annual physical and visual examination and possess corrected vision for 20/30 or better while officiating.(2) In addition to the qualifications listed above the chief court judge shall be able to speak English.(i)Judges separate facilities. Each association shall furnish facilities separate from players and the public for use by the judges for offices, lounging and clothes change. Judges shall not socialize with players at any time during a performance and shall limit their relations with players to those required by the judges' official duties.(j)Conduct. While on the court, judges shall at all times conduct themselves in a professional manner consistent with the best interests of jai alai.(k)No communication. Court judges shall not be permitted to contact, talk to or signal to any patron at any time during a performance.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 12-574-F52
Adopted effective October 3, 2001