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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 7041
AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION OF THE JUDICIAL
SELECTION COMMISSION AND DECISIONS RENDERED BY SAID
COMMISSION.
SUMMARY
This bill changes the composition of the 12-member Judicial Selection
Commission. It ends the terms of the current members on December 31,
2025, and requires a new commission be appointed beginning January
1, 2026. Under current law, the commission is made up of six attorneys
and six non-attorneys. Under the bill, the new commission is made up
of eight attorneys, who each have engaged in the practice of law in
Connecticut for at least 10 years, and four non-attorneys.
The bill also makes changes to the commission’s operations, as
follows:
1. limits the time a candidate may be included on the commission’s
list of qualified candidates to 10 years;
2. increases, from two to three years, the time a commission
member who is an attorney has to wait after ending his or her
commission tenure before being considered for a judicial
nomination;
3. requires the commission, when denying a recommendation for
judicial nomination, to include in its decision a brief summary of
the reasons for the denial; and
4. requires the commission, in its annual report to the Judiciary
Committee, to include the areas of professional experience for
individuals on the list of qualified candidates and for those who
were interviewed, recommended, and denied recommendation.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes. 2025HB-07041-R000765-BA.DOCX
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EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2025
JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMISSION MEMBERS
Membership
The bill ends the terms of the commission’s current members on
December 31, 2025. However, a member serving on that date who meets
the new qualifications may be reappointed to the newly formed
commission for an additional consecutive term, which must end three
years after the member’s original appointment.
The appointments to the commission under current law and the bill,
including specified qualifications, are in the table below.
Table: Judicial Selection Commission Appointees
Appointing
Authority
Until December 31, 2025,
Under Current Law
Beginning January 1, 2026,
Under the Bill
Governor Six members:
One from each congressional
district and one at-large as
follows:
Three attorneys and three non-
attorneys
Six members:
One from each congressional
district and one at-large as
follows:
Two attorneys who have
engaged in the practice of law in
Connecticut for at least 10 years
and four non-attorneys
Senate president pro
tempore
One attorney
For each, one attorney who has
engaged in the practice of law in
Connecticut for at least 10 years
House speaker One non-attorney
Senate majority
leader
One non-attorney
House majority leader One attorney
Senate minority
leader
One non-attorney
House minority leader One attorney
As under existing law, no more than six of the members may belong
to the same political party, and none may otherwise be an elected or
appointed state official or hold statewide office in a political party.
As under current law, members must select a chairperson from
among the governor’s appointees. They must serve (1) a three-year term
and (2) until a successor is appointed and qualified, but no later than 90 2025HB-07041-R000765-BA.DOCX
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days after their term ends.
LIST OF JUDICIAL CANDIDATES
By law, the commission maintains a list of qualified candidates,
including judges seeking appointment to a different court, for the
governor’s consideration for nomination as a judge in the state’s
Superior, Appellate, and Supreme courts. The bill limits the time a
candidate may remain on the list to no more than 10 years.
Under current law, a commission member who is an attorney cannot
be considered for a recommendation to the governor during the
member’s tenure or for two years following. The bill increases this
period to three years following the end of the member’s commission
tenure.
Additionally, if the commission decides to deny a recommendation
to a candidate, the bill requires that its decision include a brief summary
of the reasons for the denial. The commission must determine the form
and manner of the statement.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 41 Nay 0 (04/07/2025)