(a) No lawyer who is a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court shall practice law in any state or federal court.
Section 2-66.Practice by Court Officials
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceBars sitting judges from practicing law, requires full-time public defenders and state's attorneys to give up private practice, and stops clerks and prosecutors from appearing as counsel in cases that touch their office's work.
Full Text of Section 2-66
(b) The chief public defender, the deputy chief public defender, public defenders, assistant public defenders, deputy assistant public defenders, the chief state’s attorney, the deputy chief state’s attorney, state’s attorneys, assistant state’s attorneys and deputy assistant state’s attorneys who have been appointed on a full-time basis will devote their full time to the duties of their offices, will not engage in the private practice of law, either civil or criminal, and will not be connected in any way with any attorney or law firm engaged in the private practice of law.
(c) No state’s attorney or assistant state’s attorney, no partner or associate of a law firm of which any of the aforementioned court officials is a partner or associate, shall appear as counsel in any criminal case in behalf of any accused in any state or federal court.
(d) No chief clerk, deputy chief clerk, clerk, deputy clerk or assistant clerk who has been appointed on a full-time basis shall appear as counsel in any civil or criminal case in any state or federal court. Such persons may otherwise engage in the practice of law as permitted by established Judicial Branch policy.
(e) No chief public defender, deputy chief public defender, public defender, assistant public defender or deputy assistant public defender shall appear in behalf of the state in any criminal case.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 47.)
Plain-English Summary
This rule keeps court officials from mixing their public duties with private legal work. Judges of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, or Superior Court cannot practice law in any state or federal court while serving on the bench.
Full-time public defenders and state’s attorneys — along with their deputies and assistants — must devote all their working time to their office. They cannot take on private civil or criminal cases, and they cannot be connected with any law firm that does. The rule also blocks state’s attorneys, and any partner or associate of a firm tied to one of these officials, from representing a criminal defendant in state or federal court. Full-time clerks cannot appear as counsel in civil or criminal cases, though they may otherwise practice law as Judicial Branch policy allows. And public defenders cannot switch sides to represent the state in a criminal case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Connecticut judge also practice law?
No. Any lawyer serving as a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, or Superior Court cannot practice law in any state or federal court while holding that position.
Can a full-time public defender take private clients?
No. Full-time public defenders, assistant public defenders, and deputy assistant public defenders must devote their full time to their office and cannot engage in private civil or criminal practice.
Can a court clerk represent someone in court?
A full-time chief clerk, deputy clerk, or assistant clerk cannot appear as counsel in any civil or criminal case in state or federal court, though the rule allows other law practice consistent with established Judicial Branch policy.
What happens if this rule is violated?
The rule itself does not set a penalty for judges or full-time prosecutors and defenders, but a bank-payment violation under a related section can trigger grievance proceedings against an attorney.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 2-66). 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: judges practicing law Connecticutpublic defender private practice rulestate's attorney conflict of interestcourt clerk practicing lawfull-time prosecutor outside work