Section 2-51.Costs and Expenses

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

In one sentenceThis rule lets a Connecticut court tax costs against an attorney found guilty of a disciplinary charge and allow reasonable expenses of the proceeding, whatever its outcome, as part of the court's own expenses.

Full Text of Section 2-51

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Costs may be taxed against the respondent in favor of the state, if the respondent be found guilty of the offense charged in whole or in part, at the discretion of the court. The court may also, upon any such complaint by the state’s attorney or by the Statewide Grievance Committee, as the case may be, audit and allow (whatever may be the result of the proceeding) reasonable expenses to be taxed as part of the expenses of the court.

End

Amendment History

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 34.)

Plain-English Summary

Section 2-51 covers who pays for a disciplinary proceeding. If the respondent attorney is found guilty of the charged offense, in whole or in part, the court has discretion to tax costs against that attorney in favor of the state. Separately, on a complaint brought by the state's attorney or the Statewide Grievance Committee, the court may audit and allow reasonable expenses of the proceeding, to be taxed as part of the expenses of the court — regardless of how the proceeding turns out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Connecticut attorney be ordered to pay costs after a disciplinary finding?

Yes. If the court finds the respondent guilty of the charged offense, in whole or in part, it may tax costs against the attorney in favor of the state, at its discretion.

Are expenses recoverable even if the attorney isn’t found guilty?

The court may audit and allow reasonable expenses of the proceeding as part of the court’s own expenses regardless of the result, on a complaint by the state’s attorney or the Statewide Grievance Committee.

Is taxing costs against a disciplined attorney mandatory?

No. The rule gives the court discretion, not a requirement, to tax costs when the respondent is found guilty.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 2-51). 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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