House Bill No. 7041 proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the Judicial Selection Commission in Connecticut, set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The bill repeals the existing statute and establishes a new structure consisting of twelve members, with a maximum of six from the same political party, while eliminating the previous requirement for an equal number of attorneys and non-attorneys. Instead, the new law mandates that attorney members must have at least ten years of legal practice. The terms of service for commission members will be three years, with restrictions on consecutive terms, and the commission will be responsible for evaluating incumbent judges seeking reappointment, including establishing criteria for evaluation and conducting hearings.

Additionally, the bill introduces several operational changes, such as requiring the commission to make decisions on reappointment recommendations within twenty days of a hearing, allowing judges to request rehearings, and granting the commission the authority to issue subpoenas during inquiries. It also stipulates that judges nominated by the Governor must come from a list compiled by the commission, which cannot keep candidates on the list for more than ten years. House Amendment "A" modifies the bill by applying the new composition requirements to appointments made after July 1, 2025, equalizing the governor's appointments of attorneys and non-attorneys, and allowing candidates to request a summary of reasons for non-consideration for nomination. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of the judicial selection process in Connecticut.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 51-44a
JUD Joint Favorable: 51-44a
File No. 765: 51-44a
File No. 952: 51-44a