(a) No party or attorney shall bring or defend an action, or assert or oppose a claim or contention, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous. Good faith arguments for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law shall not be deemed frivolous.
Section 1-25.Actions Subject to Sanctions
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule bars parties and attorneys from bringing frivolous claims or defenses and lets a judge, after a hearing on its own motion, sanction abusive filings, willful rule violations, or the filing of irrelevant or private materials.
Full Text of Section 1-25
(b) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the judicial authority, solely on its own motion and after a hearing, may impose sanctions for actions that include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Filing of pleadings, motions, objections, requests or other documents that violate subsection (a) above;
(2) Wilful or repeated failure to comply with rules or orders of the court, including Section 4-7 on personal identifying information;
(3) After prior direction from the court, the filing of any materials or documents that: (A) are not relevant and material to the matter before the court or (B) contain personal, medical or financial information that is not relevant or material to the matter before the court.
(c) The judicial authority may impose sanctions including, but not limited to, fines pursuant to General Statutes § 51-84; orders requiring the offending party to pay costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees; and orders restricting the filing of papers with the court.
(d) Offenders subject to such sanctions may include counsel, self-represented parties, and parties represented by counsel.
Amendment History
(Adopted June 13, 2014, to take effect Jan. 1, 2015.) Sec. sion Process Law Examination Admission; Conditions of Admission Absentia sion; Removal or Modification of Conditions concerning Conditions of Admission Admission Requirements for Admission Consultants Bar of the State of Connecticut dictions Jurisdictions Continuing Legal Education; Administrative Suspension Limitation Reviewing Committee Sec. Request for Review by Committees Committee or Reviewing Committee Imposing Sanctions or Conditions Crimes in Connecticut Crimes in Another Jurisdiction Funds and Garnishments of Lawyers’ Trust Accounts and To Restrain Unauthorized Practice Orders Petitions ing Committee and Grievance Panel plinary Investigation Resignation Disbarment, Resignation, Placement on Inactive Status or Reinstatement Involuntary Commitment untary Commitment ary Proceeding tion for Reinstatement Attorney’s Interests panies mittee For previous Histories and Commentarie corresponding to the years o
Plain-English Summary
Under this rule, no party or attorney may bring or defend a claim, or take a position on one, unless there is a non-frivolous basis in law and fact for it. The rule specifically protects good-faith arguments to extend, change, or overturn existing law — those are never frivolous just because they challenge current law.
A judge may impose sanctions, but only on the judge's own motion and only after a hearing. The rule lists examples of sanctionable conduct: filing papers that violate the frivolousness standard; willfully or repeatedly disobeying court rules or orders, including the rule on personal identifying information; and, after the court has already warned a party, filing materials that are not relevant to the case or that contain personal, medical, or financial information that has no bearing on the matter.
Sanctions can include fines under General Statutes § 51-84, orders to pay the other side's costs and expenses (including attorney's fees), and orders restricting future filings. The rule makes clear that anyone can be sanctioned this way — counsel, a self-represented party, or a party who has a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a party be sanctioned just for making a novel legal argument?
No. The rule expressly protects good-faith arguments for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law — those are not considered frivolous.
Who can start a sanctions proceeding under this rule?
Only the judicial authority, acting on its own motion, and only after holding a hearing. The rule does not describe a party-initiated sanctions motion.
What kind of penalties can a court impose under this rule?
The court may impose fines under General Statutes § 51-84, order payment of the other side’s costs and expenses including attorney’s fees, or restrict how a party may file papers with the court.
Does this rule apply to self-represented parties?
Yes. The rule states that offenders subject to sanctions may include counsel, self-represented parties, and parties who are represented by counsel.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-25). 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: frivolous claims sanctionsattorney sanctions for filingscourt sanctions on its own motionsanctions for abusive litigation