The trial and all related proceedings upon which nonsummary contempt proceedings are based shall be heard by a judicial authority other than the trial judge or the judicial authority who had either issued the order which was later disobeyed or deferred criminal contempt proceedings under Section 1-17.
Section 1-19.—Judicial Authority Disqualification in Nonsummary Contempt Proceedings
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRequires that a nonsummary contempt trial be heard by a different judicial authority than the one who issued the disobeyed order or deferred the contempt proceedings.
Full Text of Section 1-19
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 992.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 1-19 keeps the judge who was involved in the underlying dispute out of the nonsummary contempt trial. The trial and all related proceedings must go before a judicial authority other than the one who either issued the order that was allegedly disobeyed or deferred the criminal contempt proceedings under Section 1-17.
The point is to separate the judge who has a personal stake in seeing an order enforced from the judge who decides whether contempt occurred. A fresh judicial authority hears the matter instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the judge whose order was disobeyed preside over the contempt trial?
No. Section 1-19 requires that a different judicial authority hear the nonsummary contempt trial and related proceedings.
Why does Connecticut require a different judge for nonsummary contempt?
The rule keeps the judge who issued the original order, or who deferred the contempt proceeding under Section 1-17, separate from the judge who decides guilt, so the case gets a fresh look.
Does this disqualification rule apply to summary contempt too?
The text of Section 1-19 applies specifically to the trial and related proceedings underlying nonsummary contempt proceedings.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-19). 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: different judge for contempt trial Connecticutjudicial disqualification nonsummary contemptwho hears nonsummary contempt trialrecusal contempt case Connecticut