Sec. 51-47. Salaries of judges. Practice of law prohibited. Membership on board of directors of bank prohibited. Longevity payments.

(a) The judges of the Superior Court, judges of the Appellate Court and judges of the Supreme Court shall receive annually salaries as follows:

(1) On and after July 1, 2014, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, one hundred ninety-four thousand seven hundred fifty-seven dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one hundred eighty-seven thousand one hundred forty-eight dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, one hundred eighty thousand two hundred four dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred seventy-eight thousand two hundred ten dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred sixty-nine thousand two hundred forty-five dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, one hundred sixty-six thousand one hundred fifty-eight dollars; (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred sixty-two thousand seven hundred fifty-one dollars.

(2) On and after July 1, 2015, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two hundred thousand five hundred ninety-nine dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one hundred ninety-two thousand seven hundred sixty-three dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, one hundred eighty-five thousand six hundred ten dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred eighty-three thousand five hundred fifty-six dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred seventy-four thousand three hundred twenty-three dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, one hundred seventy-one thousand one hundred forty-three dollars; (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred sixty-seven thousand six hundred thirty-four dollars.

(3) On and after July 1, 2017, and prior to October 31, 2017, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two hundred six thousand six hundred seventeen dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one hundred ninety-eight thousand five hundred forty-five dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, one hundred ninety-one thousand one hundred seventy-eight dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred eighty-nine thousand sixty-three dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred seventy-nine thousand five hundred fifty-two dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, one hundred seventy-six thousand two hundred seventy-seven dollars; (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred seventy-two thousand six hundred sixty-three dollars.

(4) On and after October 31, 2017, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two hundred thousand five hundred ninety-nine dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one hundred ninety-two thousand seven hundred sixty-three dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, one hundred eighty-five thousand six hundred ten dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred eighty-three thousand five hundred fifty-six dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred seventy-four thousand three hundred twenty-three dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, one hundred seventy-one thousand one hundred forty-three dollars; (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred sixty-seven thousand six hundred thirty-four dollars.

(5) On and after July 1, 2019, (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two hundred six thousand six hundred seventeen dollars; (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, one hundred ninety-eight thousand five hundred forty-five dollars; (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, one hundred ninety-one thousand one hundred seventy-eight dollars; (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred eighty-nine thousand sixty-three dollars; (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, one hundred seventy-nine thousand five hundred fifty-two dollars; (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, one hundred seventy-six thousand two hundred seventy-seven dollars; (G) each judge of the Superior Court, one hundred seventy-two thousand six hundred sixty-three dollars.

(b) (1) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after July 1, 2014, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand one hundred nine dollars in annual salary, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand one hundred nine dollars in annual salary and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand one hundred nine dollars in annual salary.

(2) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after July 1, 2015, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand one hundred forty-two dollars in additional compensation, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand one hundred forty-two dollars in additional compensation and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand one hundred forty-two dollars in additional compensation.

(3) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after July 1, 2017, and prior to October 31, 2017, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand one hundred seventy-seven dollars in additional compensation, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand one hundred seventy-seven dollars in additional compensation and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand one hundred seventy-seven dollars in additional compensation.

(4) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after October 31, 2017, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand one hundred forty-two dollars in additional compensation, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand one hundred forty-two dollars in additional compensation and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand one hundred forty-two dollars in additional compensation.

(5) In addition to the salary such judge is entitled to receive under subsection (a) of this section, on and after July 1, 2019, a judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system shall receive one thousand one hundred seventy-seven dollars in additional compensation, each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district shall receive one thousand one hundred seventy-seven dollars in additional compensation and each Superior Court judge designated as the chief administrative judge for facilities, administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees or for the Family, Juvenile, Criminal or Civil Division of the Superior Court shall receive one thousand one hundred seventy-seven dollars in additional compensation.

(c) Each such judge shall be an elector and a resident of this state, shall be a member of the bar of the state of Connecticut and shall not engage in private practice, nor on or after July 1, 1985, be a member of any board of directors or of any advisory board of any state bank and trust company, state bank or savings and loan association, national banking association or federal savings bank or savings and loan association. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a senior judge from participating in any alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc.

(d) Each such judge, excluding any senior judge, who has completed not less than ten years of service as a judge of either the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or the Superior Court, or of any combination of such courts, or of the Court of Common Pleas, the Juvenile Court or the Circuit Court, or other state service or service as an elected officer of the state, or any combination of such service, shall receive semiannual longevity payments based on service as a judge of any or all of such six courts, or other state service or service as an elected officer of the state, or any combination of such service, completed as of the first day of July and the first day of January of each year, as follows:

(1) A judge who has completed ten or more years but less than fifteen years of service shall receive one-quarter of three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) A judge who has completed fifteen or more years but less than twenty years of service shall receive one-half of three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.

(3) A judge who has completed twenty or more years but less than twenty-five years of service shall receive three-quarters of three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.

(4) A judge who has completed twenty-five or more years of service shall receive three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.

(1949 Rev., S. 3597; 1955, S. 1965d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 15; 1959, P.A. 531, S. 19; 670, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 331, S. 12; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 26; 795; 1969, P.A. 601, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 281, S. 19; P.A. 74-183, S. 28, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 35, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 13, 72; 77-576, S. 30, 45, 65; P.A. 78-377, S. 1, 4; P.A. 79-608, S. 1, 10; P.A. 80-337, S. 1, 13; 80-483, S. 132, 186; P.A. 82-248, S. 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 1, 9; P.A. 84-399, S. 1, 17; 84-435, S. 1, 6; P.A. 85-517, S. 1, 5; P.A. 86-328, S. 2, 3; P.A. 87-198, S. 1, 6; 87-476; 87-508, S. 5, 10; P.A. 88-364, S. 65, 123; P.A. 90-328, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-226, S. 27, 28; P.A. 93-108, S. 1, 6; 93-379, S. 3, 8; P.A. 95-191, S. 2, 4; July 21 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1, S. 4, 8; P.A. 98-197, S. 2, 8; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1, S. 37, 51; P.A. 00-231, S. 8, 10; P.A. 01-186, S. 14; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 12; P.A. 13-247, S. 240; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 460; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3, S. 89; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 254.)

History: 1959 acts raised salaries of chief justice from $20,000 to $22,500; of associate judges from $19,000 to $21,500; of judges of the superior court from $18,500 to $21,000; of common pleas court judges from $15,500 to $17,000; and of judges of juvenile court from $13,000 to $15,000, and stipulated latter not to engage in private practice; 1965 act increased salary of chief justice to $30,000; associate judges to $29,000; superior court judges to $27,500; common pleas court judges to $22,500, and juvenile court judges to $20,000; 1967 acts raised salary of chief justice to $33,000, established salary of chief court administrator at $33,000, established salary of circuit court judges at $17,500 and of chief judge of circuit court at $20,000 (salary provisions for circuit court judges formerly found in repealed Sec. 51-47a), required that all judges be members of state bar and extended prohibition against private practice to apply to all judges; 1969 act raised salary of circuit court judges to $21,500 and salary of chief judge of circuit court to $23,500; 1972 act raised chief justice's salary to $40,000, chief court administrator's salary to $38,000 and associate judges' salaries to $36,000, established salary of chief judge of superior court at $35,000, raised other superior court judges' salaries to $34,500, established salary of chief judge of common pleas court at $30,000, raised other common pleas judges' salaries to $28,500, established salary of chief judge of juvenile court at $28,500, raised other juvenile court judges' salaries to $26,500, raised salary of circuit court chief judge to $28,500 and other circuit court judges' salaries to $26,500; P.A. 74-183 deleted salary provisions for circuit court judges, raised salary of chief judges of common pleas and juvenile courts to $32,500 and raised salary of other judges of juvenile court to $28,500; P.A. 76-436 deleted salary for chief judge of superior court, establishing same salary for all superior court judges, deleted salaries for common pleas and juvenile court judges and added new salary provisions to reflect merger of common pleas and juvenile courts into superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 specified that salary set for chief court administrator applies “if he is a judge of the supreme or superior court”, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 specified computation basis for third through fifth and succeeding years of service and replaced previous provisions which insured that superior court judges serving on July 1, 1978, and former common pleas and juvenile court judges would not receive reduced salaries after merger with new provisions re salaries of such judges and, effective July 1, 1979, raised chief justice's salary to $41,000, raised chief court administrator's salary to $41,000, raised associate judges salaries to $40,000, raised salary for superior court judges with five or more years of service from $34,500 to $38,500, raised salaries for judges hired on or after July 1, 1978, with one year of service from $29,700 to $34,500, for those with two years of service from $30,900 to $35,400, for those with three years of service from $32,100 to $36,500, for those with four years of service from $33,300 to $37,500; P.A. 78-377 clarified provisions re effect of P.A. 76-436 and raised salary of chief justice to $44,000 and salary of chief court administrator to $42,000, effective January 1, 1970; P.A. 79-608 raised chief justice's salary to $46,640, raised chief court administrator's salary to $44,520, raised associate justices' salaries to $42,400, raised salaries for superior court judges serving on June 30, 1978, to $40,810, raised initial salaries from $28,500 to $30,210, raised salaries to $36,500 for one year's service, to $37,630 for two years' service, to $38,600 for three years' service, to $39,750 for four years' service, and to $40,810 for five years' service; P.A. 80-337 divided section into Subsecs., revised salaries effective January 1, 1981, raising chief justice's salary to $51,093, chief court administrator's salary to $48,846, associate judges' salaries to $46,600, superior court judges' salaries (if serving June 30, 1978) to $43,873, newly appointed judges' salaries to $36,806, salaries for one year's service to $41,046, salaries for two years' service to $41,753, salaries for three years' service to $42,460, salaries for four years' service to $43,166 and for five years' service to $43,873, and added Subdivs. (2) to (4) in Subsec. (a) re future salary increases and additional payments; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 82-248 made technical revision, rewording some provisions, but made no substantive change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 added “judges of the appellate court” and revised salaries effective July 1, 1983, raising chief justice's salary to $63,600, chief court administrator's salary to $61,500, associate judge's salary to $58,300, appellate court judge's salary to $55,700 and superior court judge's salary to $53,000, and added Subdivs. (2) and (3) re future salary increases; P.A. 84-399 added Subsec. (d) re longevity payments; P.A. 84-435 added provision prohibiting judge from being member of board of directors or advisory board of any state bank and trust company, state bank or savings and loan association, national banking association or federal savings bank or savings and loan association, effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 85-517 revised salaries effective July 1, 1986, raising chief justice's salary to $75,960, chief court administrator's salary to $72,373, associate judge's salary to $69,103, the chief presiding judge's salary to $70,163, appellate court judge's salary to $65,938, the deputy chief court administrator's salary to $64,483 and superior court judge's salary to $62,878 and added Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on or after July 1, 1987; P.A. 86-328 revised salaries effective July 1, 1986, by increasing chief justice's salary to $77,960, chief court administrator's salary to $74,373, and associate judge's salary to $71,103; revised salaries effective April 1, 1987, increasing chief justice's salary to $89,460, chief court administrator's salary to $76,873, associate judge's salary to $73,603, chief presiding judge's salary to $72,663, appellate court judge's salary to $68,438, deputy chief court administrator's salary to $66,983 and superior court judge's salary to $65,378; and revised salaries effective July 1, 1987, increasing chief justice's salary to $84,483, chief court administrator's salary to $80,717, associate judge's salary to $77,283, chief presiding judge's salary to $76,296, appellate court judge's salary to $71,860, deputy chief court administrator's salary to $70,332 and superior court judge's salary to $68,647; P.A. 87-198 substituted “chief judge” for “chief presiding judge”; P.A. 87-476 deleted Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a) re salaries on and after July 1, 1985, and added Subdivs. (4), (5) and (6) re salary increases on and after July 1, 1988; July 1, 1989, and July 1, 1990; P.A. 87-508 amended Subsec. (c) to require that judges be electors and residents of this state; P.A. 88-364 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to chief “presiding” judge of appellate court; P.A. 90-328, effective July 1, 1991, amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re salary on and after July 1, 1986, April 1, 1987, July 1, 1987, and July 1, 1988, and added provisions re salary increases on and after July 1, 1991, July 1, 1992 and July, 1, 1993; and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that administrative judge of appellate system, chief administrative judge for facilities and chief administrative judge for the juvenile division shall receive an additional $1,000 in annual salary; P.A. 92-226 amended Subsec. (d) to include service as a prosecutorial official of the judicial department, or service as a defense attorney of the judicial department or the public defender services commission, or any combination of such service; P.A. 93-108 amended Subsec. (c) to permit senior judge to participate in alternative dispute resolution program approved by STA-FED ADR, Inc., effective June 3, 1993; P.A. 93-379 amended Subsec. (d) to permit credit for longevity purposes for any other state service or service as an elected officer of the state or any combination of service, effective June 30, 1993; P.A. 95-191 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re salary on and after July 1, 1989, July 1, 1990, July 1, 1991, and July 1, 1992, and adding provisions re salary increases on and after July 1, 1995, and July 1, 1996, effective July 1, 1995; July 21 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) and (2) re salary increases on and after July 1, 1993, and July 1, 1995, redesignating former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdivs. (2) and (3) re salary increases on and after October 1, 1997, and October 1, 1998, respectively, effective July 23, 1997; P.A. 98-197 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re salaries on and after July 1, 1996, and adding Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on and after October 1, 1999, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdivs. (4) and (5) re salary increases, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-231 amended Subsec. (a) to delete former Subdivs. (1) to (3), inclusive, renumber former Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (1) and (2) and add new Subdiv. (3) re salary increases on and after April 1, 2002, effective January 3, 2001; P.A. 01-186 amended Subsec. (b) by adding judge for administrative appeals, judicial marshal service or judge trial referees; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) and (2) re salaries on and after April 1, 2000 and 2001, redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) re salaries on and after April 1, 2002, as new Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdivs. (2) to (4) re salary increases for judges on and after January 1, 2005, 2006 and 2007, effective January 1, 2005; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) to (4) re salaries on and after April 1, 2002, and January 1, 2005, 2006, and 2007 and adding new Subdivs. (1) and (2) re salaries on and after July 1, 2013, and 2014, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former provisions re additional salaries and adding new Subdivs. (1) and (2) re additional salaries on and after July 1, 2013, and 2014, effective July 1, 2013; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re salaries on and after July 1, 2013, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1), adding new Subdiv. (2) re salaries on and after July 1, 2015, and adding Subdiv. (3) re salaries on and after July 1, 2016, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salary on and after July 1, 2013, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2015, and adding Subdiv. (3) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2015 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b)(3), the word “receive”, re additional compensation for administrative judge of a judicial district, was added editorially by the Revisors for clarity, pursuant to Sec. 2-56f); May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3 amended Subsecs. (a)(3) and (b)(3) by substituting “July 1, 2017” for “July 1, 2016”, effective June 2, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “and prior to October 31, 2017” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdiv. (4) re salaries on and after October 31, 2017 and adding Subdiv. (5) re salaries on and after July 1, 2019, amended Subsec. (b) by adding “and prior to October 31, 2017” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdiv. (4) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after October 31, 2017, and adding Subdiv. (5) re dollar amounts to be received in addition to salaries on and after July 1, 2019, effective October 31, 2017.

Notation

Prohibition against practice of law by judges was rule of policy prior to enactment of statute. 72 C. 437. Power to determine a salary system for compensation of judges is a legislative power; section does not violate separation of powers nor equal protection clauses of state or federal constitutions. 179 C. 552. Cited. 213 C. 54; 226 C. 475.

System adopted by state of paying salaries on biweekly basis held to result in underpayment of public officer on a statutory annual salary. 20 CS 417.