(a) Any person or court officer misbehaving or disobeying any order of a judicial authority in the course of any judicial proceeding may be adjudicated in contempt and appropriately punished.
Section 1-13A.Contempt
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule lets a judicial authority adjudicate and punish contempt for misbehaving or disobeying a court order during a judicial proceeding, and divides contempt into criminal (summary or nonsummary) and civil forms.
Full Text of Section 1-13A
(b) Contempt may be either criminal or civil. When criminal, it may be summary or nonsummary criminal contempt.
Amendment History
(Adopted June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 1-13A allows a judicial authority to adjudicate and appropriately punish any person or court officer who misbehaves or disobeys an order of a judicial authority during a judicial proceeding, treating that conduct as contempt.
The rule then splits contempt into two categories: criminal and civil. Criminal contempt, in turn, can be handled either summarily or nonsummarily — a distinction the rules that follow this section spell out in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as contempt of court in Connecticut?
Under Section 1-13A, misbehaving or disobeying an order of a judicial authority during a judicial proceeding can be adjudicated as contempt and appropriately punished.
What are the two types of contempt in Connecticut courts?
Contempt is either criminal or civil. Criminal contempt can be further handled summarily or nonsummarily.
Who can be held in contempt under this rule?
The rule applies to any person or court officer who misbehaves or disobeys a judicial authority’s order during a judicial proceeding.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-13A). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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