No party, and no attorney, employee, representative or agent of any party or attorney, shall contact, communicate with or interview any juror or alternate juror, or any relative, friend or associate of any juror or alternate juror concerning the deliberations or verdict of the jury or of any individual juror or alternate juror in any action during trial until the jury has returned a verdict and/or the jury has been dismissed by the judicial authority, except upon leave of the judicial authority, which shall be granted only upon the showing of good cause. A violation of this section may be treated as a contempt of court, and may be punished accordingly.
Section 16-14.Communications between Parties and Jurors
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule bars parties, attorneys, and anyone working for them from contacting or interviewing a juror or alternate about the case during trial until the jury has reached a verdict or been dismissed, absent a judge's permission for good cause.
Full Text of Section 16-14
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 309A.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 16-14 draws a firm line around jurors during trial. No party, and no attorney, employee, representative, or agent of any party or attorney, may contact, communicate with, or interview any juror or alternate juror — or that juror’s relative, friend, or associate — about the jury’s deliberations or verdict, or about any individual juror or alternate. This ban applies throughout the trial, up until the jury returns a verdict or is dismissed by the judicial authority.
The only way around the ban is leave of the judicial authority, and the rule sets a demanding standard for that: leave is granted only upon a showing of good cause. Violating this section can be treated as contempt of court and punished accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a lawyer talk to a juror during trial in Connecticut?
No. Section 16-14 prohibits any party, attorney, employee, representative, or agent from contacting or interviewing a juror or alternate about the deliberations or verdict during trial, unless the judicial authority grants leave for good cause.
Does the ban on juror contact extend to a juror’s family or friends?
Yes. It covers contact with any relative, friend, or associate of a juror or alternate juror concerning the deliberations or verdict.
What happens if someone violates the rule against contacting jurors?
Section 16-14 says a violation may be treated as a contempt of court and punished accordingly.
When does the restriction on contacting jurors end?
The restriction runs until the jury has returned a verdict and/or been dismissed by the judicial authority.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-14). 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: contacting jurors during trialjuror interview rules Connecticutattorney communication with juryimproper contact with jury memberstalking to jurors before verdict