About Connecticut Courts
Maintaining Order - The judicial system in Connecticut exists to
uphold the laws of the state. Our courts help to maintain order in our
society by:
-
determining the guilt or innocence of persons accused of
breaking the law;
- resolving disputes involving civil or personal rights;
-
interpreting constitutional provisions of laws enacted by the
legislature and deciding what is to be the law of the state when none exists
for certain situations. The court decision then becomes a precedent to be
applied in like situations unless later overruled or modified by the
Supreme Court or the
General Assembly; and,
-
determining whether a law violates the
Constitution of either the State of Connecticut or the United States.
Separation of Powers - Under our
constitution, the courts are one of three branches of government:
-
The Legislative Branch (the Senate and House of
Representatives) is responsible for creating new laws.
-
The
Executive
Branch
(the Governor and executive branch agencies) is responsible for
enforcing them.
-
The Judicial Branch (the courts) is responsible for
interpreting and upholding our laws.
Relationship of Connecticut Courts
to Federal Courts
In Connecticut, as throughout the United States, there
are two judicial systems. One is the state system, established under the
authority of the state constitution; the other is the federal system,
established under the United States Constitution. Connecticut courts are
courts of general jurisdiction. These courts handle most criminal matters
and a variety of civil matters, including contracts, personal injury cases,
dissolution of marriage and other legal controversies. In some instances,
decisions of state courts may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court
if a question of federal constitutional law arises.
Federal courts
have jurisdiction over matters involving federal law, and over the following
matters: cases brought by the United States, cases between two states or the
citizens of two different states, cases between a state and a foreign state
or its citizens, admiralty and maritime cases, and cases affecting
ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel.
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