Section 2-37.Sanctions and Conditions Which May Be Imposed by Committees

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

In one sentenceThis rule lists the sanctions and conditions a reviewing committee or the Statewide Grievance Committee can impose on an attorney found to have committed misconduct, from a reprimand to mandatory treatment.

Full Text of Section 2-37

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) A reviewing committee or the Statewide Grievance Committee may impose one or more of the following sanctions and conditions in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2-35 and 2-36:

(1) reprimand;

(2) restitution;

(3) assessment of costs;

(4) an order that the respondent return a client’s file to the client;

(5) a requirement that the respondent attend continuing legal education courses, at his or her own expense, regarding one or more areas of substantive law or law office management;

(6) an order to submit to fee arbitration;

(7) in any grievance complaint where there has been a finding of a violation of Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct or Practice Book Section 2-27, an order to submit to periodic audits and supervision of the attorney’s trust accounts to ensure compliance with the provisions of Section 2-27 and the related Rules of Professional Conduct. Any alleged misconduct discovered as the result of such audit shall be alleged in a separate grievance complaint filed pursuant to these rules;

(8) with the respondent’s consent, a requirement that the respondent undertake treatment, at his or her own expense, for medical, psychological or psychiatric conditions or for problems of alcohol or substance abuse.

(b) In connection with subsection (a) (6), a party who refuses to utilize the no cost fee arbitration service provided by the Connecticut Bar Association shall pay the cost of the arbitration.

(c) Failure of the respondent to comply with any sanction or condition imposed by the Statewide Grievance Committee or a reviewing committee may be grounds for presentment before the Superior Court.

End

Amendment History

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 27M.1.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000; amended June 15, 2012, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013.)

Plain-English Summary

Acting under Sections 2-35 and 2-36, a reviewing committee or the Statewide Grievance Committee may impose one or more of eight sanctions and conditions: a reprimand; restitution; assessment of costs; an order that the respondent return a client's file; a requirement to attend continuing legal education courses at the respondent's own expense; an order to submit to fee arbitration; where there's a finding of a Rule 1.15 or Section 2-27 violation, an order to submit to periodic audits and supervision of the attorney's trust accounts (with any misconduct found through that audit handled as a separate grievance complaint); and, with the respondent's consent, a requirement to undertake treatment at the respondent's own expense for medical, psychological, psychiatric, or substance abuse conditions.

A party who refuses to use the Connecticut Bar Association's no-cost fee arbitration service must pay for the arbitration. If a respondent fails to comply with an imposed sanction or condition, that failure can be grounds for a presentment before the Superior Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sanctions can the Connecticut grievance committee impose on an attorney?

The committee can impose a reprimand, restitution, costs, an order to return a client’s file, mandatory continuing legal education, fee arbitration, trust account audits, or consented-to treatment for medical or substance abuse issues.

Does the attorney have to consent to any of these sanctions?

Yes, one: the requirement to undertake medical, psychological, psychiatric, or substance abuse treatment can only be imposed with the respondent’s consent.

What happens if an attorney does not comply with an imposed sanction?

Failure to comply with a sanction or condition can be grounds for a presentment against the attorney before the Superior Court.

Who pays for fee arbitration ordered against an attorney?

A party who refuses to use the Connecticut Bar Association’s no-cost fee arbitration service must pay the cost of the arbitration.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 2-37). 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: attorney sanctions Connecticut grievance committeereprimand restitution CT attorney disciplinetrust account audit sanction CTconsequences of attorney misconduct finding Connecticut