The judicial authority should defer criminal contempt proceedings when: (1) the misconduct does not rise to an obstruction to the orderly administration of justice; (2) the judicial authority has become personally embroiled; (3) the misconduct did not occur in the presence of the court; and (4) the judicial authority does not instantly impose summary criminal contempt upon the commission of the contumacious act.
Section 1-17.—Deferral of Proceedings
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule lists four situations in which a judicial authority should defer criminal contempt proceedings instead of imposing summary punishment right away.
Full Text of Section 1-17
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 989.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 1-17 sets out when the judicial authority should defer criminal contempt proceedings rather than deal with the conduct summarily. Deferral is appropriate when: the misconduct doesn't rise to an obstruction of the orderly administration of justice; the judicial authority has become personally embroiled; the misconduct didn't occur in the presence of the court; or the judicial authority doesn't instantly impose summary criminal contempt upon the commission of the contumacious act.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a Connecticut judge defer criminal contempt proceedings?
Deferral is appropriate when the misconduct doesn’t obstruct the orderly administration of justice, the judicial authority has become personally embroiled, the misconduct didn’t occur in the court’s presence, or the judge doesn’t instantly impose summary contempt when the act occurs.
What does it mean for a judge to become “personally embroiled”?
The rule lists this as one of the four grounds for deferring criminal contempt proceedings, but it does not define the phrase further.
What happens to criminal contempt proceedings that are deferred under this rule?
This section only states when deferral should occur; Section 1-18 describes how a deferred criminal contempt is then prosecuted by information.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-17). 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
Also known as: deferring criminal contempt connecticutwhen to defer contempt proceedingsconnecticut contempt not in presence of courtct practice book 1-17