Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Council on Probate Judicial Conduct
If you disagree with a probate judge’s decision, you have the right to appeal that decision to the Superior Court. In most cases, the appeal must be taken within 30 days of the date of the probate decree, but there are important exceptions to this rule. The booklets published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator, which are available on this website, contain general information about the period for appeals in various matters, but they are not a substitute for competent professional advice. You should consult legal counsel for more specific information about the appeals process.
 
If you have a complaint about a probate judge’s ethical or professional conduct, you may wish to file a complaint with the Council on Probate Judicial Conduct. Please note that the Council is not a court of law. The state legislature created this special tribunal in 1975 to investigate complaints against probate judges.
 
The Council's user guide ​prov​​​​ides complete information about the Council and the complaint procedure. There is also a Complaint Form, PC-41​, which must be signed under the penalty of false statement. The user guide and the complaint form are both available on this website by clicking on the links.
 
The Council has five members who serve four-year terms. The probate judges elect one probate judge to serve on the Council; the Chief Justice appoints a retired state referee; and the Governor makes three appointments: one attorney and two persons who are not attorneys.
 

Attorney Christopher J. Hug is the Legal Counsel for the Council on Probate Judicial Conduct. He can be contacted by mail at 280 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103-3594 or by telephone at (860) 969-8702. Council members are as follows:
Chairman, Hon. Joseph P. Flynn, Judge Trial Referee, Ansonia
James A. Connelly, Shelton
Hon. Elisa H. Bartlett, Probate Judge, Ellington Probate Court​
Anne S. Evans, Hebron
Atty. Dennis Ferguson, West Hartford
Alternate, Hon. Barbara Gardner Riordan, Probate Judge, Tolland - Mansfield​ Probate Court
 
Complaints must be made in writing, and the law specifies the types of complaints the Council may consider. These include complaints about a judge’s violation of the law or a canon of ethics or the failure to properly perform the duties of office. The Code of Probate Judicial Conduct governs the ethical and professional activities of a judge.

​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​