In the event an attorney is by a court of competent jurisdiction (1) declared to be incapable of managing his or her affairs or (2) committed involuntarily to a mental hospital for drug dependency, mental illness, or the addictive, intemperate, or excessive use of alcohol, the Superior Court, upon notice from a grievance panel, a reviewing committee, the Statewide Grievance Committee or a state’s attorney and upon proof of the fact of incapacity to engage in the practice of law, shall enter an order placing such attorney upon inactive status, effective immediately, for an indefinite period and until further order of the court. A copy of such order shall be served, in such manner as the court shall direct, upon such attorney, the attorney’s conservator if any, and the director of any mental hospital in which the attorney may reside.
Section 2-57.—Prior Judicial Determination of Incompetency or Involuntary Commitment
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceWhen a court has already declared an attorney incapable of managing their affairs or involuntarily committed them, the Superior Court places that attorney on inactive status immediately upon proof of incapacity to practice law.
Full Text of Section 2-57
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 40.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 2-57 applies when a court of competent jurisdiction has already declared an attorney incapable of managing his or her affairs, or has involuntarily committed the attorney to a mental hospital for drug dependency, mental illness, or excessive alcohol use. Once that prior determination exists, the Superior Court — acting on notice from a grievance panel, a reviewing committee, the Statewide Grievance Committee, or a state’s attorney, and upon proof that the attorney is incapable of practicing law — enters an order placing the attorney on inactive status immediately.
The inactive-status order lasts for an indefinite period, until the court orders otherwise. The court directs how a copy of the order gets served on the attorney, the attorney’s conservator (if there is one), and the director of any mental hospital where the attorney may be staying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggers inactive status under Section 2-57?
A prior judicial declaration that the attorney is incapable of managing his or her affairs, or an involuntary commitment to a mental hospital for drug dependency, mental illness, or excessive alcohol use, combined with proof that the attorney can’t practice law.
How long does inactive status last under Section 2-57?
The order places the attorney on inactive status for an indefinite period, until the court orders otherwise.
Who can bring the matter to the Superior Court under Section 2-57?
A grievance panel, a reviewing committee, the Statewide Grievance Committee, or a state’s attorney can give notice that triggers the court’s inactive-status order.
How is a Section 2-57 order served?
A copy is served, in the manner the court directs, on the attorney, the attorney’s conservator if any, and the director of any mental hospital in which the attorney may reside.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 2-57). 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 incapacity prior judicial determinationinvoluntary commitment attorney inactive statusCT attorney declared incompetentlawyer inactive status mental illness