Much has been written lately about the failure of a certain trial judge to act in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 53-183 by failing to issue her decisions within the time allotted in four termination of parental rights actions filed by the Department of Children and Families. We all understand that judges are required by law to render their decisions within 120 days of the conclusion of trial unless the parties waive that requirement. What we should not lose sight of, however, is that lawyers must not acquiesce as a matter of course when trial judges seek extensions of the deadline for decision, and certainly must not tolerate extension on extension on extension thwarting the purposes for which such deadlines have been set.
Lawyers too often avoid confrontation with trial judges out of fear that the judges will punish the client for such behavior. This is an excuse, not a defensible reason, and one that impugns the integrity of the judge. That is not to say that we should expect every judge to be gracious about being reminded of his or her statutory obligation, but it is simply wrong to assume that judges retaliate.
