"We are writing to request that the Law Revision Commission undertake a study of the current Connecticut laws concerning the right to a jury trial for misdemeanors. In Connecticut, virtually every criminal charge gives a defendant the right to a jury trial. Federal case law seems to indicate that juries are only constitutionally required when there is an incarceration for six months or more. We would like to have the Law Revision Commission examine whether we can make statutory changes so that misdemeanors such as shoplifting wouldn’t result in jury trials. The Commission should examine what other states do and also whether the Connecticut constitution prohibits these changes. In addition, [if] there is a constitutional provision barring a statutory change to the right to a jury trial, the Law Revision Commission should examine what other states do constitutionally."