(a) The Supreme Court shall sit in panels of five, six or seven judges, pursuant to rules adopted by said court.

(b) Each party in any case before the Supreme Court has a right to be heard by a panel consisting of at least five associate judges or the Chief Justice and four associate judges. The Chief Justice or an associate judge of the Supreme Court who elects to retain office but to retire from full-time active service, pursuant to subsection (b) of § 51-198, may participate in any panel if the Chief Justice or at least one associate judge is disabled, disqualified or unavailable.

(c) If a panel cannot be constituted from the seven members of the Supreme Court and any senior judges of the Supreme Court due to the disability, disqualification or unavailability of one or more members, the Chief Justice or, in the case of his or her disability or disqualification, the most senior associate judge qualified may summon one or more judges of the Superior Court, and one or more judges and senior judges of the Appellate Court to constitute a panel, who shall attend and act as judges of the Supreme Court for the time being.

(d) The Chief Justice or any judge shall not sit to review a decision he or she made below.