Conn. Practice Book § 2-37 (2026)

Sec. 2-37. Sanctions and Conditions Which May Be Imposed by Committees (a) A reviewing committee or the Statewide Grievance Committee may impose one or more of the following sanctions and conditions in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2-35 and 2-36: (1) reprimand; (2) restitution; (3) assessment of costs; (4) an order that the respondent return a client’s file to the client; (5) a requirement that the respondent attend continuing legal education courses, at his or her own expense, regarding one or more areas of substantive law or law office management; (6) an order to submit to fee arbitration; (7) in any grievance complaint where there has been a finding of a violation of Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct or Practice Book Section 2-27, an order to submit to periodic audits and supervision of the attorney’s trust accounts to ensure compliance with the provisions of Sec- tion 2-27 and the related Rules of Professional Conduct. Any alleged misconduct discovered as the result of such audit shall be alleged in a sepa- rate grievance complaint filed pursuant to these rules; (8) with the respondent’s consent, a require- ment that the respondent undertake treatment, at his or her own expense, for medical, psychological or psychiatric conditions or for problems of alcohol or substance abuse. (b) In connection with subsection (a) (6), a party who refuses to utilize the no cost fee arbitration service provided by the Connecticut Bar Associa- tion shall pay the cost of the arbitration. (c) Failure of the respondent to comply with any sanction or condition imposed by the Statewide Grievance Committee or a reviewing committee may be grounds for presentment before the Supe- rior Court. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 27M.1.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000; amended June 15, 2012, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013.) Sec. 2-38. Appeal from Decision of State- wide Grievance Committee or Reviewing Committee Imposing Sanctions or Con- ditions (Amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009.) (a) A respondent may appeal to the Superior Court a decision by the Statewide Grievance 147 Committee or a reviewing committee imposing sanctions or conditions against the respondent, in accordance with Section 2-37 (a). A respondent may not appeal a decision by a reviewing com- mittee imposing sanctions or conditions against the respondent if the respondent has not timely requested a review of the decision by the State- wide Grievance Committee under Section 2-35 (k). Within thirty days from the issuance, pursuant to Section 2-36, of the decision of the Statewide Grievance Committee, the respondent shall: (1) file the appeal with the clerk of the Superior Court for the judicial district of Hartford and (2) mail a copy of the appeal by certified mail, return receipt requested or with electronic delivery confirmation, to the Office of the Statewide Bar Counsel as agent for the Statewide Grievance Committee and to the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel. (b) Enforcement of a final decision imposing sanctions or conditions against the respondent pursuant to Section 2-35 (i) or Section 2-35 (m), including the publication of the notice of a repri- mand in accordance with Section 2-54, shall be stayed for thirty days from the issuance to the parties of such decision. If within that period the respondent files with the Statewide Grievance Committee a request for review of the reviewing committee’s decision, the stay shall remain in effect for thirty days from the issuance by the Statewide Grievance Committee of its final deci- sion pursuant to Section 2-36. If the respondent timely commences an appeal pursuant to subsec- tion (a) of this section, such stay shall remain in full force and effect until the conclusion of all proceedings, including all appeals, relating to the decision imposing sanctions or conditions against the respondent. If at the conclusion of all proceed- ings, the decision imposing sanctions or condi- tions against the respondent is rescinded, the complaint shall be deemed dismissed as of the date of the decision imposing sanctions or condi- tions against the respondent. An application to terminate the stay may be made to the court and shall be granted if the court is of the opinion that the appeal is taken only for delay or that the due administration of justice requires that the stay be terminated. (c) Within thirty days after the service of the appeal, or within such further time as may be allowed by the court, the statewide bar counsel shall transmit to the reviewing court a certified copy of the entire record of the proceeding appealed from, which shall include the grievance panel’s record in the case, as defined in Section 2-32 (i), and a copy of the Statewide Grievance Committee’s record or the reviewing committee’s record in the case, which shall include a transcript

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