Connecticut General Statutes 51-51 – Pensions for surviving spouses and children of judges, family support magistrates and administrative law judges
(a) The surviving spouse of a deceased judge or of an administrative law judge who commenced service as a judge or an administrative law judge prior to January 1, 1981, who died while holding judicial office or while holding the office of administrative law judge or who died after retirement, shall receive, annually, for the rest of his or her natural life the following allowances:
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 51-51
- Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
- Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
(1) The surviving spouse of a person who was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
(2) The surviving spouse of a Chief Court Administrator who was a judge shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Chief Court Administrator.
(3) The surviving spouse of a person who was an associate judge of the Supreme Court, shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of an associate judge of the Supreme Court.
(4) The surviving spouse of a person who was Chief Judge of the Appellate Court shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Chief Judge of the Appellate Court.
(5) The surviving spouse of a judge of the Appellate Court shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of a judge of the Appellate Court.
(6) The surviving spouse of a Deputy Chief Court Administrator who was a judge shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Deputy Chief Court Administrator.
(7) The surviving spouse of a person who was a judge of the Superior Court shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary for the office of a judge of the Superior Court.
(8) The surviving spouse of a deceased judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of the Circuit Court or of the Juvenile Court, shall receive annually, one-third of the salary for the office of Superior Court judge.
(9) The surviving spouse of a deceased administrative law judge shall receive, annually, one-third of the salary of an administrative law judge.
(b) The surviving spouse of a deceased judge of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court or the Superior Court or of a family support magistrate or of an administrative law judge who first commenced service as a judge, a family support magistrate or an administrative law judge on or after January 1, 1981, and (1) who died while holding judicial office or the office of family support magistrate or administrative law judge shall receive, annually, for the rest of his or her natural life, an allowance equal to one-third of the salary such judge, family support magistrate or administrative law judge was receiving on the date of his or her death; or (2) who died after the judge, family support magistrate or administrative law judge had retired shall receive, annually, for the rest of his or her natural life, an allowance equal to one-half of the retirement salary including any cost of living allowances the judge, family support magistrate or administrative law judge was receiving on the date of his or her death.
(c) The surviving spouse of a deceased judge or of a family support magistrate or of an administrative law judge who died after the judge, family support magistrate or administrative law judge had resigned with a vested right to a retirement salary under the provisions of § 51-49a, shall receive, annually, for the rest of his or her natural life, an allowance equal to one-half of the retirement salary the judge, family support magistrate or administrative law judge would have received had he or she lived until he or she was so eligible.
(d) If a judge, family support magistrate or an administrative law judge leaves no surviving spouse, or if the surviving spouse dies before the youngest child of such judge, family support magistrate or administrative law judge reaches the age of eighteen, the pension, if any, otherwise payable to his or her surviving spouse under this section shall be payable, until the youngest child reaches the age of eighteen, to the guardian of the child, for the support of such child and any other children of the judge, family support magistrate or administrative law judge under the age of eighteen.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a surviving spouse or child who is receiving a pension under the provisions of any special act.