(a) The chief court administrator may require that any files and records of the Judicial Branch, the retention of which is not otherwise provided for by rule or statute, be retained either for a specific period or permanently, and may authorize the transfer of any such files and records to the records center or other proper facility for retention. Such files and records may be destroyed upon the expiration of the specific period required for their retention.
Section 7-15.—Retention Ordered by Chief Court Administrator; Transfer to State Library
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThe chief court administrator can order any Judicial Branch files not covered by another rule or statute to be kept for a set time or permanently, or transferred to a records facility or the state library.
Full Text of Section 7-15
(b) Except where prohibited by rule or statute, any files and records of the Judicial Branch may, with the written consent of the chief court administrator and upon agreement with the appropriate officials of the state library, be transferred to the state library for retention.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 403G.)
Plain-English Summary
Where no other rule or statute addresses retention, the chief court administrator may require that Judicial Branch files and records be kept for a specific period or permanently, and may authorize their transfer to the records center or another proper facility. Once the required retention period expires, those files may be destroyed.
Except where a rule or statute forbids it, Judicial Branch files and records may also be transferred to the state library for retention, with the written consent of the chief court administrator and by agreement with state library officials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides how long a file is kept if no rule specifies a period?
The chief court administrator, who may set a specific retention period or order permanent retention.
Can Judicial Branch records go to the state library?
Yes, with the written consent of the chief court administrator and agreement with state library officials, unless a rule or statute prohibits it.
What happens after the retention period the chief court administrator sets expires?
The files and records may be destroyed.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 7-15). 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: chief court administrator retention orderstate library records transfer CTdefault file retention rulerecords center transfer Connecticut