---
title: "Peter T. Zarella | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-t-zarella-3989"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Peter T. Zarella

Supreme Court of Connecticut · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut
- State: Connecticut
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Supreme Court of Connecticut, 2001-present
- Retired Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, serving from January 22, 2001, until his retirement on December 31, 2016
- 1977–1996: Private practice, including as a partner in Hartford’s Brown, Paindiris &.

### Education

- Honorary Doctor of Law from Suffolk University in 2007 The Federalist Society.
- Suffolk University Law School in — J.D. (1975)
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University in 1972
- Northwestern University — B.A.

### Additional information

- In January 2017, he joined the law firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter FOX61.
- Retired on December 31, 2016, after nearly 16 years on the Supreme Court FOX61.
- Death Penalty Case (2012): Dissented in the court’s decision abolishing Connecticut’s death penalty FOX61.
- Commissioner of Public Health (2008): Dissented in the decision legalizing same-sex marriage in Connecticut.
- City of New London (2004): Authored a dissent in the Connecticut Supreme Court’s 4–3 decision on eminent domain, later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Appointed to the court by Republican Governor John G. Rowland on January 22, 2001.
- Practitioner, 2000-2000
- Born October 13, 1949.
- Date of birth: 1949-10-13
- Kerrigan v.
- Kelo v.
- He remains active in legal scholarship, including authoring Kelo Ten Years Later in the Connecticut Law Review The Federalist Society.
- Zarella authored over 300 majority opinions and numerous concurring and dissenting opinions covering areas such as products liability, class actions, property rights, family law, and constitutional law The Federalist Society.
- Birth place: Boston

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing platform

Scope: statewide

Connecticut's Judicial Branch publishes statewide remote-proceedings information and Microsoft Teams guidance for attorneys and self-represented parties.

Evidence excerpt: Remote Proceedings Information

[Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing technology

Scope: statewide

Connecticut remote-proceeding materials identify Microsoft Teams as the platform and include video, audio, and screen-sharing functionality, subject to judge and case-specific directions.

Evidence excerpt: Microsoft Teams is a collaborative meeting application with video, audio, and screen-sharing features.

[Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### recording photography

Scope: statewide

Connecticut identifies Practice Book sections governing videotaping, photographing, and audiotaping Superior Court proceedings and separately identifies appellate coverage rules.

Evidence excerpt: Rules regarding videotaping, photographing or audiotaping Superior Court proceedings are in Connecticut Practice Book §§ 1-10A through 1-11C.

[Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### courtroom electronics

Scope: statewide

Connecticut's media FAQ states that personal computers may be used for note taking in a courtroom, subject to applicable rules and judicial control.

Evidence excerpt: Personal computers may be used for note taking in a courtroom.

[Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Connecticut states that, other than the official Judicial Branch recording, recording livestreamed proceedings is strictly prohibited.

Evidence excerpt: Other than the official recording prepared by the Judicial Branch, the recording of livestreamed proceedings is strictly prohibited.

[Public Access to Court Proceedings Disclaimer](https://jud.ct.gov/PublicAccess/Disclamer.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3989/peter-t-zarella/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3989/peter-t-zarella/)
- [Supreme Court of Connecticut current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3989/peter-t-zarella/)
- [Remote Proceedings Information](https://jud.ct.gov/remoteJustice/)
- [Media Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/media/faq.htm)
- [Public Access to Court Proceedings Disclaimer](https://jud.ct.gov/PublicAccess/Disclamer.html)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3989/peter-t-zarella/)
- [Peter Zarella - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Peter_Zarella)
- [Wikidata: Peter T. Zarella](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7177230)

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