Opinion ID: 2397396
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Ripeness and the Political Question Doctrine

Text: We address the defendant's final two claims concerning subject matter jurisdiction together because they both raise issues of justiciability that are related analytically. The defendant contends that the plaintiff's challenge to the defendant's issuance of the subpoena is nonjusticiable because the claim: (1) is not yet ripe for adjudication and, therefore, does not present the actual and existing controversy necessary for judicial resolution; and (2) presents a political question that this court is precluded from reviewing. We reject both claims. We first set forth the fundamental principles that underlie justiciability. Because courts are established to resolve actual controversies, before a claimed controversy is entitled to a resolution on the merits it must be justiciable. State v. Nardini, 187 Conn. 109, 111, 445 A.2d 304 (1982). Justiciability requires (1) that there be an actual controversy between or among the parties to the dispute... (2) that the interests of the parties be adverse ... (3) that the matter in controversy be capable of being adjudicated by judicial power ... and (4) that the determination of the controversy will result in practical relief to the complainant. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Seymour v. Region One Board of Education, 261 Conn. 475, 481, 803 A.2d 318 (2002). As we have recognized, justiciability comprises several related doctrines, namely, standing, ripeness, mootness [14] and the political question doctrine, that implicate a court's subject matter jurisdiction and its competency to adjudicate a particular matter. Esposito v. Specyalski, 268 Conn. 336, 346-48, 844 A.2d 211 (2004). Finally, because an issue regarding justiciability raises a question of law, our appellate review is plenary. Id., at 348, 844 A.2d 211.