Section 14-18.Cases Reached for Trial

Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026

In one sentenceSection 14-18 requires a case reached on its assigned day or week to be tried, defaulted, dismissed, or nonsuited unless the court, for good cause, reschedules it without bumping cases already assigned for trial.

Full Text of Section 14-18

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When a case is reached on a day or week certain it shall be tried, defaulted, dismissed pursuant to Section 17-19 or nonsuited, unless for good cause shown the judicial authority may assign it for trial on a future date. Such rescheduling shall not displace cases already assigned for trial.

Amendment History

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 274.)

Plain-English Summary

When a case’s turn comes up — on its assigned day certain or during its week certain — something has to happen with it. The default outcomes are that the case is tried, defaulted, dismissed under Section 17-19, or nonsuited.

The judicial authority can depart from that only for good cause, by assigning the case to a future trial date. But that rescheduling cannot displace other cases that are already assigned for trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when a case is reached for trial in Connecticut?

It must be tried, defaulted, dismissed under Section 17-19, or nonsuited, unless the judicial authority reschedules it for good cause shown.

Can a rescheduled case bump another case off the trial calendar?

No. Section 14-18 states that rescheduling a case for a future date cannot displace cases already assigned for trial.

What counts as good cause to avoid trial when a case is reached?

The section does not define good cause; it leaves that determination to the judicial authority based on the circumstances of the case.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 14-18). 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: cases reached for trial Connecticutday certain week certain trial CTdefault dismissal nonsuit trial reachedrescheduling trial for good cause CT