CT Judicial Law Libraries' NewsLog

New United States Supreme Court Website

Booth, George — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:41:23 GMT

Category: FYI

Body:

Visit the newly revamped US Supreme Court website, and don't forget to update your bookmarks to the new URL (supremecourt.gov replaces supremecourtus.gov).

Published: 3/18/2010 3:42 PM

CT Office of Legislative Research Reports

Yeltema, Karen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:32:47 GMT

Category: FYI;Legal Research

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The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) has issued the following reports:

Common Law Marriages - 2010-R-0112
You asked how many states recognize common law marriage and the basic standards for forming them.

Executive Sessions - 2010-R-0130
You asked for a summary of the procedure public agencies must follow under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for conducting executive sessions.

Changes to Executive Orders - 2010-R-0139
You want to know whether a former governor's executive orders remain in effect in a new administration and whether governors typically review and repeal or amend existing executive orders soon after taking office.

Automobile Repair Laws - 2010-R-0114
You asked for a summary of Massachusetts S. B. 124, 186th Sess. (Mass 2009) and whether Connecticut has similar provisions in its automobile repair laws.

School Bus Injuries In States that Require Seat Belts on School Buses - 2010-R-0132
You asked if states that require seat belts on school buses have experienced a reduction in school bus passenger deaths or injuries since the requirement took effect.

Euthanasia of Livestock and Cruel Confinement - 2010-R-0123
You asked about regulations regarding the euthanasia of pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle in stockyards, auction facilities, and slaughterhouses. You also asked about animal welfare laws in other states, particularly those concerning cruel confinement of farm animals.

Ignition Interlock Laws - 2010-R-0141
You asked for a chart showing the states that have ignition interlock laws; the parties to whom the laws apply; how states fund the installation, maintenance, and removal of the ignition interlock devices; and each state's costs per offender.

Keno Questions - 2010-R-0144
You asked us to prepare some questions on keno for a hearing that includes representatives from the Attorney General's Office, Division of Special Revenue, and Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, among others. We have included some background information on the issue.

Published: 3/18/2010 2:42 PM

Supreme Court Advance Release Opinion - 3/17/10

Yeltema, Karen — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:32:51 GMT

Category: Property Law Opinions;Recent Decisions

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BNY Western Trust v. Roman - SC18386 (Foreclosure; foreclosure by sale; "The dispositive issue in this appeal is whether the trial court’s decision denying a motion to intervene in the action filed by a third party claiming previously to have purchased an assignment of that bid, Glacier International Depository Bank (Glacier), was a final judgment from which an appeal lies.")

Published: 3/17/2010 11:42 AM

Wednesday's Word: Contempt

Yeltema, Karen — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:34:37 GMT

Category: FYI;Legal Research

Body:

Today's term is from Connecticut Family Law Terms:

Contempt:

Contempt is a disobedience to the rules and orders of a court which has power to punish for such an offense . . . . A civil contempt is one in which the conduct constituting the contempt is directed against some civil right of an opposing party and the proceeding is initiated by him.” (emphasis added) Stoner v. Stoner, 163 Conn. 345, 359 (1972).

See: Practice Book § 1-13A et seq.

Published: 3/17/2010 8:58 AM

Advance Release Appellate Court Opinions - 3/17/10

Yeltema, Karen — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:02:41 GMT

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Ten Connecticut Appellate Court opinions are scheduled to be released today. See the Connecticut Judicial Branch website for the list of case names and links to the full text of the opinions. After today, the opinions will be available from the Appellate Court Archive.

Published: 3/17/2010 9:01 AM

Supreme Court Advance Release Opinion - 3/15/10

Yeltema, Karen — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:17:45 GMT

Category: Recent Decisions;Criminal Opinions

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State v. Martin - SC18261 (Attempt to possess one kilogram or more of marijuana with intent to sell by person who is not drug-dependent in violation of §§ 21a-278 (b) and 53a-49; possession of four ounces or more of marijuana in violation of § 21a-279 (b); vacating the sentence for possession of four ounces or more of marijuana; "The Appellate Court determined that the two convictions violated the proscription against double jeopardy contained in the fifth amendment to the United States constitution and that they, therefore, must be merged, because, but for the actions of the police, the defendant, Andre D. Martin, would not have been charged with both offenses.")

Published: 3/15/2010 11:32 AM

Appellate Court Opinions - Criminal Law (February 2010)

Booth, George — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:37:48 GMT

Category: Recent Decisions;Criminal Opinions

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Below is a list of criminal law Appellate Court opinions issued in February 2010:

AC30057 - State v. Vazquez (Assault in first degree; carrying dangerous weapon; "On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court (1) abused its discretion in denying his motion for a new trial, (2) improperly permitted the state to introduce a piece of evidence and (3) violated his due process rights by diluting the state’s burden of proof.")

AC29140 - State v. Gamble (Manslaughter in first degree with firearm; "The defendant claims that the court improperly (1) accepted the jury’s verdict finding him guilty of manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm under the theory of accessorial liability and not guilty of the same crime under the theory of principal liability, thereby (a) violating his right against double jeopardy, (b) resulting in his being convicted of the nonexistent crime of being an ‘‘accessory,’’ (c) resulting in a legally inconsistent verdict and (d) returning a verdict in violation of the principles of collateral estoppel, and (2) suggested in its jury instructions that defense counsel had made an improper closing argument, thereby improperly highlighting the defendant’s decision not to testify.")

AC29547 - State v. Mendoza (Criminal possession of firearm; "The defendant... appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of criminal possession of a firearm in violation of General Statutes § 53a-217 (a) (1). He claims that the trial court abused its discretion in permitting the state to reopen its case-in-chief and improperly denied his motion for a judgment of acquittal. In addition, the defendant alleges a double jeopardy violation.") Dissent

AC30047 - State v. Nance ("The defendant... appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered following a jury trial, of assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-59 (a) (1). The defendant claims that the trial court (1) improperly denied her motion for a mistrial after the prosecutor referred to inadmissible evidence during his cross examination of her and (2) improperly instructed the jury with regard to the essential element of intent.")

AC29549 - State v. Bozelko ("The defendant... appeals from the judgments of conviction, rendered after a jury trial in four files on fourteen counts.... On appeal, the defendant asserts that the court improperly (1) denied her motion for a mistrial, claiming that events that transpired during the trial prejudiced the jury, (2) denied her motion to proceed pro se and (3) instructed the jury about reaching a unanimous verdict. Additionally, the defendant claims that her convictions of both identity theft and illegal use of a credit card violate her constitutional right to be free of double jeopardy.")

AC29610 - State v. Kurzatkowski ("On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) there was insufficient evidence to establish assault of a peace officer, (2) the trial court improperly failed to instruct the jury on the elements of intent and causation in its charge on assault of a peace officer, (3) § 53a-167c (a) (1) did not adequately apprise him that his conduct constituted the crime of assault of a peace officer without intending to cause the peace officer physical injury and, therefore, was unconstitutionally vague, and (4) the court violated his right not to be placed in double jeopardy.")

AC29995 - State v. Dickman ("On appeal, the defendant claims that the court erred by (1) denying her motion for a judgment of acquittal because there was insufficient evidence pursuant to which the jury could have found her guilty, (2) failing to provide a definition for the terms used in § 53a-140 and (3) imposing her sentence in an illegal manner.")

AC27779 - State v. Mann ("On appeal, the defendant challenges as improper the trial court’s instructions to the jury concerning (1) his consciousness of guilt and (2) his interest in the outcome of the case when assessing his credibility, which he alleges violated both his federal and state constitutional rights.")

Published: 3/1/2010 4:12 PM

Index to Law by Subject Pages

Roy, Christopher — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:03:19 GMT

Category: FYI;Legal Research

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We now offer an index to our Law by Subject pages. In addition to searching our Law by Subject pages, you can now browse the index to find the page you need.

Published: 3/12/2010 9:58 AM

United States Supreme Court - Revised Rules

Booth, George — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:59:08 GMT

Category: FYI;Court Rules

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Revised Rules of the Supreme Court, effective February 16th, 2010, can be found in their entirety here. The Court's memorandum discussing the rule changes is available at this link.

Published: 3/12/2010 9:03 AM