(a) A judicial authority shall, upon motion of either party or upon its own motion, be disqualified from acting in a matter if such judicial authority is disqualified from acting therein pursuant to Rule 2.11 of the Code of Judicial Conduct or because the judicial authority previously tried the same matter and a new trial was granted therein or because the judgment was reversed on appeal. A judicial authority may not preside at the hearing of any motion attacking the validity or sufficiency of any warrant the judicial authority issued nor may the judicial authority sit in appellate review of a judgment or order originally rendered by such authority.
Section 1-22.Disqualification of Judicial Authority
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceLists the grounds on which a judicial authority must be disqualified from a case, including conflicts under the judicial conduct code, prior involvement in the same matter, and clarifies that a lawsuit or complaint filed against a judge doesn't automatically require disqualification.
Full Text of Section 1-22
(b) A judicial authority is not automatically disqualified from sitting on a proceeding merely because an attorney or party to the proceeding has filed a lawsuit against the judicial authority or filed a complaint against the judicial authority with the Judicial Review Council or an administrative agency. When such an attorney or party appears before the judicial authority, he or she shall so advise the judicial authority and other attorneys and parties to the proceeding on the record, and, thereafter, the judicial authority shall either disqualify himself or herself from sitting on the proceeding, conduct a hearing on the disqualification issue before deciding whether to disqualify himself or herself or refer the disqualification issue to another judicial authority for a hearing and decision.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 996.) (Amended June 25, 2001, to take effect Jan. 1, 2002; amended June 15, 2018, to take effect Jan. 1, 2019.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 1-22 sets the grounds for disqualifying a judicial authority from a matter, on motion of either party or on the judicial authority’s own motion. Disqualification is required if the judicial authority is disqualified under Rule 2.11 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, if the judicial authority previously tried the same matter and a new trial was granted, or if the judgment was reversed on appeal. A judicial authority also may not preside over a motion attacking the validity or sufficiency of a warrant that authority issued, and may not sit in appellate review of its own judgment or order.
Subsection (b) addresses a narrower situation: a judicial authority is not automatically disqualified just because an attorney or party has sued the judicial authority or filed a complaint against it with the Judicial Review Council or an administrative agency. When that attorney or party appears before the judicial authority, they must disclose it on the record. The judicial authority then must either disqualify itself, hold a hearing on whether to disqualify itself, or refer the disqualification question to another judicial authority for a hearing and decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the grounds for disqualifying a judge in Connecticut?
Grounds include disqualification under Rule 2.11 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, having previously tried the same matter where a new trial was granted, or having had the judgment reversed on appeal.
Can a judge review a warrant they issued or hear an appeal of their own ruling?
No. A judicial authority may not preside over a motion attacking the validity or sufficiency of a warrant it issued, and may not sit in appellate review of its own judgment or order.
Is a judge automatically disqualified if a lawyer sues them or files a complaint against them?
No. The judicial authority is not automatically disqualified, but the attorney or party must disclose the lawsuit or complaint on the record, and the judge must then disqualify itself, hold a hearing, or refer the issue to another judicial authority.
Who can raise the issue of judicial disqualification?
Either party may move for disqualification, or the judicial authority may raise the issue on its own motion.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-22). 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
Also known as: grounds to disqualify a judge Connecticutjudicial recusal rules Connecticutjudge sued by attorney disqualificationRule 2.11 Code of Judicial Conduct disqualificationjudge reviewing own warrant or ruling