(a) The Judicial Department of the state shall consist of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, the Superior Court, the Office of the Chief Court Administrator and their employees and divisions, the courts of probate, and, as provided in chapter 887, the Public Defender Services Commission. For the purposes of the general statutes, “Judicial Branch” means the Judicial Department.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 51-1a

  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(b) The territorial jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, and the Superior Court shall be coextensive with the boundaries of the state.

(c) The territorial jurisdiction of each court of probate shall be the probate district established for such court by statute. Each town in this state shall be a probate district or a part of a probate district.