As used in these rules, the term ‘‘motion’’ means any application to the court for an order, which application is to be acted upon by the court or any judge thereof; and the term ‘‘request’’ means any application to the court which shall be granted by the clerk by operation of these rules unless timely objection is filed.
Section 11-2.Definition of ‘‘Motion’’ and ‘‘Request’’
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceDefines a “motion” as an application the court or a judge must act on, and a “request” as an application the clerk grants automatically unless a party timely objects.
Full Text of Section 11-2
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 197.)
Plain-English Summary
This rule gives Chapter 11’s two core terms their meaning. A “motion” is any application to the court for an order that a judge, or the court itself, must act on. A “request,” by contrast, is an application that the clerk grants automatically by operation of the rules, unless someone files a timely objection.
The distinction matters throughout the rest of Chapter 11: motions require action from a judicial authority, while requests proceed without one unless a party steps in to object in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a motion and a request in Connecticut civil procedure?
A motion is an application that a judge or the court must act on, while a request is an application the clerk grants automatically unless a party files a timely objection.
Who decides whether to grant a request?
Absent a timely objection, the clerk grants a request by operation of the rules, without action from a judge.
What happens if I object to a request?
The text of this rule establishes only that a timely objection prevents the clerk from granting the request automatically; the procedure for pursuing that objection is set out elsewhere in Chapter 11.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 11-2). 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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