Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-348

Current with legislation from 2024 effective through May 11, 2024.

Section 51-348 - Geographical areas. Venue. Courthouse use. Venue for action pertaining to violation of state or municipal code. Hearing of infractions and violations by magistrate

(a) The geographical areas of the Court of Common Pleas established pursuant to section 51-156a, revised to 1975, shall be the geographical areas of the Superior Court on July 1, 1978. The Chief Court Administrator, after consultation with the judges of the Superior Court, may alter the boundary of any geographical area to provide for a new geographical area provided that each geographical area so altered or so authorized shall remain solely within the boundary of a single judicial district.

(b) Such geographical areas shall serve for purposes of establishing venue for the following matters:

(1) The presentment of defendants in motor vehicle matters, except as provided in subsection (e) of this section;

(2) the arraignment of defendants in criminal matters; and

(3) such other matters as the judges of the Superior Court may determine by rule.

(c) For the prompt and proper administration of judicial business, any matter and any trial can be heard in any courthouse within a judicial district, at the discretion of the Chief Court Administrator, if the use of such courthouse for such matter or trial is convenient to litigants and their counsel and is a practical use of judicial personnel and facilities, except juvenile matters may be heard as provided in section 46b-122. Whenever practicable family relations matters shall be heard in facilities most convenient to the litigants.

(d) In any judicial district in which housing matters are heard on a separate docket under section 51-348b, venue for an action pertaining to one or more violations of any state or municipal health, housing, building, electrical, plumbing, fire or sanitation code, including violations occurring in commercial properties, or of any other statute, ordinance or regulation concerned with the health, safety or welfare of any occupant of any housing shall be in the housing session for the judicial district, except that venue for such an action concerning premises located in Milford, Orange or West Haven shall be in the judicial district of New Haven. In all other judicial districts, venue for such actions, if placed on the criminal docket, shall be in the geographical area where the premises are located.

(e) Venue for infractions and violations that may be heard and decided by a magistrate pursuant to section 51-193u shall be at Superior Court facilities designated by the Chief Court Administrator to hear such matters.

(f) In any other matter, an action shall be made returnable to the geographical area as is prescribed by statute.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-348

(P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 671, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 7, 65; P.A. 78-365, S. 5, 13; 78-379, S. 17, 27; P.A. 79-631, S. 10, 111; P.A. 80-448, S. 6, 8; P.A. 81-419, S. 9; P.A. 82-461, S. 7; P.A. 86-359, S. 41, 44; P.A. 88-230, S. 11, 12; P.A. 89-141, S. 5-7; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4 -6; P.A. 97-40, S. 15, 16, 18; P.A. 99-215, S. 8; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 60, 131; P.A. 02-132, S. 76; P.A. 14-207, S. 5; P.A. 17-99, S. 15.)

Amended by P.A. 17-0099, S. 15 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 6/30/2017.

Amended by P.A. 14-0207, S. 5 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2014.

Cited. 36 CS 47; 39 Conn.Supp. 347.