To do a CHRO case lookup in Connecticut, use the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities website for cases that have reached a public hearing or final decision, and call the regional office where the complaint was filed for anything still under investigation. There is no single portal that shows every active and closed case in real time, so the method depends on what stage your case is in.
What You Can Look Up Online
The CHRO publishes two things on its CT.gov pages that the public can access directly.
The first is the archive of Human Rights Referee decisions. Once a case goes through a full public hearing, the referee’s written decision becomes part of the public record. Those decisions are searchable by case number or party name and include the full reasoning and order.1Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Human Rights Referee Decisions
The second is the Office of Public Hearings Calendar, which lists cases certified for a contested hearing. If your case appears there, it has passed the investigation stage with a finding of reasonable cause and is headed toward, or already inside, a formal hearing. The calendar does not include fact-finding or mediation conferences, and dates can change. The CHRO recommends calling (860) 418-8770 to confirm any scheduled event.2CT.gov. Office of Public Hearings Calendar
Cases still under investigation do not appear on either resource. For those, you need to call.
How to Get a Status Update on a Pending Case
The CHRO runs four regional offices, and status updates come from the office where the complaint was originally filed. If you are a party to the case or a legal representative, staff can tell you the current stage of the investigation, the assigned investigator, 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
Staff handle a high volume of calls. Having your case number ready before you dial makes the conversation much faster.
What Information You Need to Have
The most important piece of identifying information is the CHRO case number. It is a seven-digit numerical code assigned when the complaint is filed, and the agency uses it to track every document and action in the file.1Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Human Rights Referee Decisions
If you do not have the case number, staff can usually find the case with the full names of the complainant and respondent, spelled as they appear on the original filing, along with the approximate filing date or the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Internally, the CHRO identifies cases by the first-named complainant versus the first-named respondent, matching the format on its appearance form.4State of Connecticut Portal. CHRO Appearance Form – Discrimination Case
What Non-Parties Can and Cannot See
CHRO investigation files are not open to the general public while a case is pending. The parties and their attorneys can inspect and copy documents in the case file, but they still have to comply with Connecticut regulations that restrict the use and disclosure of confidential and protected information.5Connecticut eRegulations. Sec. 46a-54-89a Disclosure of Documents
If you are not a party, you generally cannot access investigation materials such as witness statements, interview notes, or submitted evidence until the case reaches a final disposition. After a case closes, Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act governs what non-parties can obtain from the agency.
What the Status Terms Actually Mean
When staff give you a status, they will use specific administrative language. Here is what each stage means in practice.
- 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 to reach a voluntary settlement. Mediation can be mandatory, and skipping it without good cause can result in dismissal of the complaint. Anything said 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 effectively dismissed, 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 holds a bona fide belief that the material facts support the complaint’s allegations. The case then moves toward 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. 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 Do Not Wait for Your Lookup
Several CHRO deadlines run on their own clocks, whether or not you have finished checking your status. Discrimination complaints must be filed within 300 days of the alleged discriminatory act.10CT.gov. How to File a Discrimination Complaint After a finding of no reasonable cause, a complainant has 15 days to request reconsideration.8Connecticut eRegulations. Title 46a Human Rights – Sec. 46a-54-62a Requests for Reconsideration Procedures A release of jurisdiction, which is required before filing a discrimination lawsuit in court, can be requested after the case has been pending 180 days or after the case assessment review, whichever comes first.11Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 46a – Section 46a-101 If you want the EEOC to review a CHRO determination on a dual-filed charge, that written request must arrive within 15 days of receiving the decision, and after that window closes the EEOC will not conduct a review.12U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs) and Dual Filing
If your lookup reveals that one of those clocks has already started, act on it before you keep chasing status. Deadlines are firm at every level of the process.