No issues of fact in an equitable action shall be tried to the jury except upon order of the judicial authority. Upon the application of any party, the judicial authority may order any issue or issues of fact in any action demanding equitable relief to be tried by a jury, and such application shall be deemed to be a request for a jury of six. (See General Statutes § 52-218 and annotations.)
Section 16-10.Order by Judicial Authority for Jury Trial of Factual Issues in Equitable Actions
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 16-10 bars jury trials of factual issues in an equitable action unless the judicial authority orders one, and provides that any party's application for such an order counts as a request for a six-person jury.
Full Text of Section 16-10
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 307.)
Plain-English Summary
As a default, no issues of fact in an equitable action may be tried to a jury unless the judicial authority orders it. Any party may apply for such an order, and the judicial authority may then order any issue or issues of fact in an action demanding equitable relief to be tried by a jury. The rule specifies that such an application is deemed to be a request for a jury of six.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are equitable claims normally tried to a jury in Connecticut?
No. Issues of fact in an equitable action are not tried to a jury unless the judicial authority orders it upon a party’s application.
How many jurors sit on a jury ordered under Rule 16-10?
An application for a jury trial of factual issues in an equitable action is deemed to be a request for a jury of six.
Who can apply for a jury trial of equitable issues?
Any party may apply, and the judicial authority decides whether to order that any issue or issues of fact in the equitable action be tried by a jury.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-10). 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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