Connecticut Mock Trial Rules

Northeast

CT · Capital: Hartford

Evidence Rules

Connecticut Code of Evidence

Citation: Conn. Code Evid. § [section]

Key Differences from Federal Rules of Evidence

Adopted in 2000 as a unified code replacing prior common-law evidence rules
Section 4-3 provides a broader residual hearsay exception than FRE 807
Section 7-4 allows courts wider discretion in admitting expert testimony compared to FRE Daubert standard
Connecticut retains the DeBeradinis rule for prior inconsistent statements under Section 6-10

Notable Rules

Rule	Description
Conn. Code Evid. § 4-3	Residual exception to the hearsay rule, broader than the federal counterpart, allowing admission when interests of justice require
Conn. Code Evid. § 7-2	Expert testimony standard based on Porter/Daubert hybrid, requiring scientific reliability and relevance
Conn. Code Evid. § 4-8	Allows statements of present sense impression with a slightly expanded timeframe compared to FRE 803(1)

Trial Procedure

Civil Procedure

Connecticut General Statutes, Title 52 (Civil Actions)

Criminal Procedure

Connecticut General Statutes, Title 54 (Criminal Procedure)

Key Features

Connecticut uses a mandatory pretrial settlement conference process in civil cases
Summary jury trials are available as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism
The state employs a case management system with firm trial dates set early in litigation

Jury Rules

Civil Jury Size

Criminal Jury Size

Unanimity Required

Civil juries consist of 6 members with no alternates under standard practice
Criminal juries require unanimous verdicts for all felony and misdemeanor charges
In civil cases, a 5/6 supermajority verdict is sufficient for a valid judgment

Special Features

Unified Code of Evidence

Connecticut adopted its Code of Evidence in 2000, consolidating centuries of common-law precedent into a single codified framework distinct from the FRE

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