(a) A case may be scheduled for trial at any time by order of the court. When the pleadings are closed on the issue or issues in the case as to all parties, an accurate certificate of closed pleadings shall be filed within ten days. Any party may file the certificate. Upon the filing of the certificate of closed pleadings, the case shall be scheduled for a trial as soon as the court’s docket permits if it has not already been scheduled for a trial.
Section 14-8.Certifying That Pleadings Are Closed
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule requires filing a certificate of closed pleadings within ten days after the pleadings close, which triggers trial scheduling, and explains how to claim privileged status or place an administrative appeal on the trial list.
Full Text of Section 14-8
(b) If the case is claimed as privileged, the ground of privilege as defined in Section 14-9 shall be stated. If the privilege claimed arises from some other statute or rule giving a matter precedence for trial, the applicable provisions shall be cited with specificity.
(c) An administrative appeal may be placed on the administrative appeal trial list at the direction of the judicial authority, pursuant to Section 14-7A or 14-7B or in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(d) This section shall not apply to summary process matters.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 258.) (Amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014.)
Plain-English Summary
A case can be scheduled for trial at any time by court order, but once the pleadings close as to all parties on every issue in the case, someone must file an accurate certificate of closed pleadings within ten days — any party may file it. Filing that certificate triggers trial scheduling as soon as the court’s docket allows, if the case has not already been scheduled.
If a case is claimed as privileged, the certificate must state the ground of privilege as defined in Section 14-9, or, if the privilege comes from some other statute or rule, cite that provision specifically. An administrative appeal may be placed on the administrative appeal trial list at the judicial authority’s direction, either under Section 14-7A or 14-7B or through the closed-pleadings process in subsections (a) and (b). This section does not apply to summary process matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon must a certificate of closed pleadings be filed?
Within ten days after the pleadings close on the issue or issues in the case as to all parties.
Who can file the certificate of closed pleadings?
Any party to the case may file it.
What happens after the certificate is filed?
The case is scheduled for trial as soon as the court’s docket permits, unless it has already been scheduled.
Does this rule apply to summary process cases?
No. Section 14-8(d) states that this section does not apply to summary process matters.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 14-8). 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: certifying pleadings closed Connecticutclosed pleadings certificate deadlinehow to get a trial date CT civil caseclaiming a privileged case for trialadministrative appeal trial list