(a) In each court location the presiding judge, subject to the approval of the chief court administrator, shall assign to trial judges for trial those cases not resolved at pretrial in accordance with Section 14-12.
Section 14-16.Methods of Assigning Cases for Trial
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceSection 14-16 lets the presiding judge in each court location assign pretrial-resolved cases to trial judges, assign an unpretried case to trial if circumstances require, and postpone or reassign a case on a party’s request for good cause.
Full Text of Section 14-16
(b) The presiding judge may, if circumstances require, assign for trial a case that has not been pretried.
(c) Upon request of a party and for good cause shown, the presiding judge may postpone a case or reassign it to another judge.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 271.)
Plain-English Summary
This section puts the presiding judge in charge of moving cases from pretrial into actual trial assignments. Once a case has gone through pretrial under Section 14-12 without being resolved, the presiding judge — with the chief court administrator’s approval — assigns it to a trial judge.
The presiding judge also has flexibility outside that normal path. If circumstances call for it, the judge can send an unpretried case straight to trial. And if a party asks and shows good cause, the presiding judge can postpone a case or move it to a different judge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a case go to trial in Connecticut without a pretrial first?
Yes. Section 14-16(b) lets the presiding judge assign a case for trial even though it has not been pretried, if circumstances require it.
Who approves the trial judge assignment?
The presiding judge makes the assignment, but it is subject to the approval of the chief court administrator.
How does a party ask to postpone a trial or change the assigned judge?
A party can request postponement or reassignment to another judge, and the presiding judge may grant it upon a showing of good cause.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 14-16). 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: methods of assigning cases for trial CTpresiding judge trial assignment Connecticutpostpone trial for good cause CTreassign case to another judge Connecticuttrial judge assignment after pretrial