CCJEF challenging Jepsen’s argument to Supreme Court

NORWALK, Conn. — The Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Educational Funding (CCJEF) has its own argument for the Connecticut Supreme Court.

“It would not be in the public interest or judicially efficient” for the Supreme Court to review the ruling issued by Connecticut Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher before the state legislature comes up with recommendations to fix the state’s educational cost system, CCJEF argues, in opposition to Attorney George Jepsen’s appeal of Moukawsher’s decision.

Moukawsher gave the legislature 180 days to come up with proposals to fix a system he called “irrational.”

Jepsen asked the Supreme Court for a stay of Moukawsher’s ruling on Thursday. CCJEF filed the opposition paper Monday afternoon.

The hearing in Moukawsher’s court took 60 court days, with 2000 fact admissions, CCJEF wrote.

“This case of enormous importance about a fundamental right has been pending more than a decade, as the conditions in Connecticut’s schools continue to impact thousands of students’ future,” CCJEF wrote.

The “voluminous and complex record” that lead to Moukawsher’s ruling is fresh on everyone’s minds and if the Supreme Court grants a stay there will be a substantial delay “to the clear detriment of students who would be the beneficiaries of whatever rulings and remedies the courts find appropriate,” CCJEF wrote.

Jepsen’s appeal “effectively seeks to re-open the attack on justiciability that was addressed and rejected” by the Supreme Court in 2010, CCJEF wrote.

CCJEF also requests that the Supreme Court review Moukawsher’s decision regarding Constitutionality, arguing that years could be lost if Jepsen’s claim of a Constitutional violation were not looked at in context.

CCJEF-2016 09 19 Response to Application for Certification