(a) Each rule hereinafter adopted shall be promulgated by being published once in the Connecticut Law Journal. Such rule shall become effective at such date as the judges of the Superior Court shall prescribe, but not less than sixty days after its promulgation. The judges may waive the sixty day provision if they deem that circumstances require that a rule or a change in an existing rule be adopted expeditiously.
Section 1-9.Publication of Rules; Effective Date
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule explains how new or amended Superior Court rules get adopted: publication in the Connecticut Law Journal, a public comment period, a waiting period before taking effect, and limited ways to speed up the process.
Full Text of Section 1-9
(b) Prior to such adoption the proposed revisions to the rules or a summary thereof shall be published in the Connecticut Law Journal with a notice stating the time when, the place where and the manner in which interested persons may present their views thereon.
(c) Upon recommendation by the Rules Committee, the judges of the Superior Court may, by vote at a meeting or by mail vote as set forth in subsection (d), waive the provisions of subsection (b) if they deem that circumstances require that a rule or a change in an existing rule be adopted expeditiously, provided that the adoption of any rules or changes in existing rules in connection with such waiver shall be on an interim basis until a public hearing has been held and the judges have thereafter acted on such revisions and such action has become effective. With respect to such rules adopted on an interim basis, the judges shall prescribe the effective date thereof following publication in the Connecticut Law Journal.
(d) For a mail vote under subsection (c) to be effective, a written notice setting forth the proposed rule or change in an existing rule, together with a statement as to the effective date thereof, shall be mailed or electronically transmitted to all the judges of the Superior Court. In the event that no objection from any judge is received, by mail or electronically, by the counsel to the Rules Committee within the time specified in such notice, such rule or change shall become effective on the date specified in the notice until further action is taken at the next meeting of the judges.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 7.) (Amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 1-9 lays out the process for adopting Superior Court rules. Under subsection (a), each new rule is promulgated by publishing it once in the Connecticut Law Journal. The judges of the Superior Court set the effective date, which must be at least sixty days after promulgation — unless the judges waive that sixty-day wait because circumstances call for faster action.
Subsection (b) requires that before adoption, the proposed revisions (or a summary) be published in the Connecticut Law Journal along with notice of when, where, and how interested people can weigh in.
Subsection (c) lets the judges, on the Rules Committee's recommendation, waive that public-hearing notice requirement if circumstances call for expedited action. Any rule adopted this way takes effect on an interim basis until a public hearing is held and the judges act on it afterward. The judges then set the effective date for those interim rules once the standard process catches up, publishing it in the Connecticut Law Journal.
Subsection (d) describes a mail-vote procedure: written notice of a proposed rule or change, including its proposed effective date, goes out to all Superior Court judges. If no judge objects to the counsel to the Rules Committee within the time set in the notice, the rule takes effect on the date stated — until the judges take further action at their next meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long before a new rule takes effect?
At least sixty days after it’s promulgated by publication in the Connecticut Law Journal, unless the judges waive that sixty-day period because circumstances require faster action.
Can the public comment on proposed rule changes?
Yes. Before adoption, proposed revisions or a summary are published in the Connecticut Law Journal with notice of when, where, and how interested persons may present their views — unless that requirement is waived under subsection (c).
What is a mail vote?
Under subsection (d), it’s a way for judges to adopt a rule by written notice sent to all Superior Court judges; if no judge objects within the stated time, the rule takes effect on the date in the notice.
Can rules be adopted without the usual public hearing?
Yes. Subsection (c) allows the judges, on the Rules Committee’s recommendation, to waive the public-hearing notice process for expedited adoption, but only on an interim basis until a hearing is later held.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-9). 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: how rules are adoptedConnecticut Law Journal publicationeffective date of new rulessixty day rule adoption periodmail vote judges