A CHRO case lookup in Connecticut takes two paths depending on where your case sits. If the case has been certified for a public hearing or already resolved by a Human Rights Referee, you can check it on the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities website. If it is still under investigation, in mediation, or awaiting a determination, you need to contact the regional office that received the original complaint. There is no single public portal that shows every active case in real time.
Checking a Case Online
The CHRO publishes two things the public can search without calling anyone.
The first is the archive of Human Rights Referee decisions. Once a case goes through a full public hearing and the referee issues a written decision, that decision becomes part of the public record. The archive is searchable by case number or party name and includes the full reasoning and the referee’s order.1Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Human Rights Referee Decisions
The second is the Office of Public Hearings Calendar. A case shows up here only after it has cleared investigation with a finding of reasonable cause and is heading toward (or sitting in) a contested hearing. Fact-finding conferences and mediation sessions do not appear on this calendar, and scheduled dates can change. The CHRO asks that you call (860) 418-8770 to confirm anything you see listed.2CT.gov. Office of Public Hearings Calendar
If your case is not in either of those places, it is still with a regional office, and the website will not tell you anything useful about it.
Contacting the Regional Office That Has Your Case
The CHRO runs four regional offices, and status updates on pending complaints come from the office where the complaint was filed. If you are a party or an attorney of record, staff can tell you the current stage, who is assigned to the investigation, and any upcoming deadlines.3CT.gov. Contact Us
- Capitol Region (Hartford): 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 2, Hartford, CT 06103 — (860) 566-7710
- Southwest Region (Bridgeport): 350 Fairfield Avenue, 6th Floor, Bridgeport, CT 06604 — (203) 579-6246
- West Central Region (Waterbury): 55 West Main Street, Suite 210, Waterbury, CT 06702 — (203) 805-6530
- Eastern Region (Norwich): 100 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360 — (860) 886-5703
Call volume is high. Having your identifying information ready at the start of the call shortens everything that follows.
What to Have Ready Before You Check
The single most useful item is the CHRO case number, a seven-digit code assigned when the complaint is filed. The agency tracks every document and action under that number.1Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Human Rights Referee Decisions
Without the case number, you can still locate a case using the full names of the complainant and respondent as they were spelled on the original filing, plus the approximate date the complaint was filed or the date of the alleged discriminatory act. The CHRO internally identifies cases as the first-named complainant versus the first-named respondent, so matching that format helps.4State of Connecticut Portal. CHRO Appearance Form – Discrimination Case
What You Can See if You Are Not a Party
Investigation files are closed to the general public while a case is pending. The parties and their attorneys can inspect and copy documents in the commission’s case file, and even they are bound by state regulations on the use of confidential and protected information.5Connecticut eRegulations. Sec. 46a-54-89a Disclosure of Documents
If you are not a party, witness statements, interview notes, and submitted evidence are generally off limits until the case closes. After that, the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act controls what non-parties can request.
What the Status Terms Mean
When someone at the CHRO tells you where your case stands, the label carries a specific meaning.
Pending investigation. An investigator is gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and evaluating whether the facts support the claim. Most cases spend the bulk of their time here.
Mediation or conciliation. A neutral facilitator is working with both sides toward a voluntary settlement. The CHRO can schedule a mandatory mediation session, and skipping it without good cause can lead to dismissal. Statements made during mediation or conciliation cannot be used as evidence later.6Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 46a – Section 46a-94a7Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 46a – Section 46a-84
Finding of no reasonable cause. The investigator concluded the evidence does not support a belief that discrimination occurred. The case is dismissed at the agency, but the complainant has fifteen days from the mailing of the finding to submit a written request for reconsideration to the executive director.8Connecticut eRegulations. Title 46a Human Rights – Sec. 46a-54-62a Requests for Reconsideration Procedures
Finding of reasonable cause. The investigator believes the facts are strong enough that a reasonable person could conclude discrimination took place. Under Connecticut law, reasonable cause means a bona fide belief that the material facts support the allegations. The case then moves to conciliation or a public hearing.9Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 46a – Section 46a-83
Certified to public hearing. Conciliation failed and the case has been referred to the Office of Public Hearings for a contested administrative trial before a Human Rights Referee. Both sides submit evidence, testify, and face cross-examination. If the respondent fails to file a written answer within fifteen days of being served or fails to appear, the referee can enter a default order granting relief to the complainant.7Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 46a – Section 46a-84
Deadlines That Keep Running While You Check
Checking your case does not pause any clock attached to it. Complaints must be filed within 300 days of the alleged discriminatory act.10CT.gov. How to File a Discrimination Complaint A request for reconsideration after a finding of no reasonable cause has to be in writing and submitted within fifteen days of the mailing date, with proof that a copy went to the respondent and the respondent’s attorney.8Connecticut eRegulations. Title 46a Human Rights – Sec. 46a-54-62a Requests for Reconsideration Procedures
A complainant who wants to take the case to court first needs a release of jurisdiction from the CHRO. The release can be requested jointly at any time, or unilaterally by the complainant once the case has been pending for 180 days or has gone through the case assessment review, whichever happens first.11Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 46a – Section 46a-101 Without that release, a lawsuit under Connecticut’s anti-discrimination statutes cannot proceed.
After a final order from a Human Rights Referee, any party can appeal to the Connecticut Superior Court under the procedures in Section 4-183 of the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, which carries its own filing deadline.6Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 46a – Section 46a-94a If you want to confirm an exact appeal deadline before you call about status, verify it with the court clerk or an attorney.
One more deadline shows up when a case was dual-filed. The CHRO shares work with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under a work-sharing agreement, so a charge filed with one that also falls under the other’s jurisdiction is automatically dual-filed. If you disagree with a CHRO determination on a dual-filed case, a written request asking the EEOC to review it has to arrive within fifteen days of your receiving the decision; after that, the EEOC will not review.12U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs) and Dual Filing