As Connecticut starts to recover from the pandemic, and the promise of more regular jury trials inches toward reality, lawyers and litigants are presented with an entirely avoidable hurdle: not enough active judges.

The General Assembly in 2009 authorized 184 Superior Court judges. This number was not pulled out of a hat. It was the considered judgment of legislators looking at the varied needs of the courts. At last count, there were only 142 Superior Court judges actually serving, and 42 vacancies (and more anticipated with expected retirements). Of course, there are a few additional senior judges, and there are judge trial referees with limits and restrictions on the types of issues they can handle. But the judicial branch cannot reasonably, fairly and efficiently function without a quarter of its authorized Superior Court judges.