Section 2-29.Grievance Panels

Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026

In one sentenceEstablishes local grievance panels in each Connecticut judicial district, sets how their members are appointed and limited to terms, and defines the panels' authority to investigate attorney misconduct.

Full Text of Section 2-29

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

(a) The judges of the Superior Court shall appoint one or more grievance panels in each judicial district, each consisting of two members of the bar who do not maintain an office for the practice of law in such judicial district and one nonattorney who resides in such judicial district, and shall designate as an alternate member a member of the bar who does not maintain an office for the practice of law in such judicial district. Terms shall commence on July 1. Appointments shall be for terms of three years. No person may serve as a member and/or as an alternate member for more than two consecutive three year terms, but may be reappointed after a lapse of one year. The appointment of any member or alternate member may be revoked or suspended by the judges or by the executive committee of the Superior Court. In connection with such revocation or suspension, the judges or the executive committee shall appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term or for any other appropriate period. In the event that a vacancy arises on a panel before the end of a term by reasons other than revocation or suspension, the executive committee of the Superior Court shall appoint an attorney or nonattorney, depending on the position vacated, who meets the appropriate condition set forth above to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term.

(b) Consideration for appointment to these positions shall be given to those candidates recommended to the appointing authority by the administrative judges.

(c) In the event that more than one panel has been appointed to serve a particular judicial district, the executive committee of the Superior Court shall establish the jurisdiction of each such panel.

(d) An attorney who maintains an office for the practice of law in the same judicial district as a respondent may not participate as a member of a grievance panel concerning a complaint against that respondent.

(e) In addition to any other powers and duties set forth in this chapter, each panel shall:

(1) On its own motion or on complaint of any person, inquire into and investigate offenses whether or not occurring in the actual presence of the court involving the character, integrity, professional standing and conduct of members of the bar in this state.

(2) Compel any person by subpoena to appear before it to testify in relation to any matter deemed by the panel to be relevant to any inquiry or investigation it is conducting and to produce before it for examination any books or papers which, in its judgment, may be relevant to such inquiry or investigation.

(3) Utilize an official court reporter or court recording monitor employed by the Judicial Branch to record any testimony taken before it.

(f) The grievance panel may, upon the vote of a majority of its members, require that a disciplinary counsel pursue the matter before the grievance panel on the issue of probable cause.

End

Amendment History

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 27B.) (Amended June 24, 2002, to take effect July 1, 2003; May 14, 2003, effective date changed to Oct. 1, 2003; Sept. 30, 2003, effective date changed to Jan. 1, 2004; amended June 26, 2020, to take effect Jan. 1, 2021.)

Plain-English Summary

Connecticut’s Superior Court judges appoint one or more grievance panels for each judicial district. Each panel has two bar members who don’t practice in that district and one non-attorney who lives there, plus an alternate. Terms run three years starting July 1, and no one can serve more than two consecutive terms without a one-year break. The judges or the executive committee of the Superior Court can revoke or suspend a member’s appointment and fill the resulting vacancy.

An attorney who practices in the same judicial district as a person under complaint can’t sit on the panel handling that complaint. Where a district has more than one panel, the executive committee decides which panel handles which matters.

Each panel can investigate, on its own initiative or on a complaint from anyone, conduct involving the character, integrity, professional standing, or conduct of members of the bar, whether or not it happened in court. Panels can subpoena witnesses and documents, and use an official court reporter to record testimony. By majority vote, a panel can require disciplinary counsel to pursue the probable-cause phase of a matter before it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who sits on a Connecticut grievance panel?

Two bar members who don’t maintain a law office in that judicial district and one non-attorney resident of the district, plus a designated alternate attorney member.

How long do grievance panel members serve?

Three-year terms starting July 1. No one may serve more than two consecutive terms, though a member can be reappointed after sitting out a year.

Can an attorney sit on a grievance panel reviewing a complaint against a colleague in the same district?

No. An attorney who maintains an office for the practice of law in the same judicial district as the respondent may not participate on that complaint’s panel.

What power do grievance panels have to gather evidence?

Panels can compel any person by subpoena to testify or produce relevant books and papers, and can use an official court reporter or recording monitor to record testimony.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 2-29). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. · Official source

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