After the case has been submitted to the jury, the jurors shall be in the custody of an officer who shall permit no person to be present with them or to speak to them when assembled for deliberations except a qualified interpreter assisting a juror who is deaf or hard of hearing. The jurors shall be kept together for deliberations as the judicial authority reasonably directs. If the judicial authority permits the jury to recess its deliberations, the judicial authority shall admonish the jurors not to discuss the case until they reconvene in the jury room. The judicial authority shall direct the jurors to select one of their members to preside over the deliberations and to deliver any verdict agreed upon, and the judicial authority shall admonish the jurors that until they are discharged in the case they may communicate upon subjects connected with the trial only while they are convened in the jury room. If written forms of verdict are submitted to the jury, the member of the jury selected to deliver the verdict shall sign any verdict agreed upon. (See Sec. 856, P.B. 1978-1997.)
Section 16-16.Jury Deliberations
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule governs how the jury deliberates after a case is submitted, requiring the jurors to stay together in the custody of an officer, keep discussions confined to the jury room, and select a foreperson to preside and deliver the verdict.
Full Text of Section 16-16
Amendment History
(P.B. 1998.) (Amended June 13, 2019, to take effect Jan. 1, 2020.)
Plain-English Summary
Once a case goes to the jury, Section 16-16 puts the jurors in the custody of an officer, who must keep everyone else away from them during deliberations — with one exception: a qualified interpreter may assist a juror who is deaf or hard of hearing. The judicial authority keeps the jurors together for deliberations as it reasonably directs, and if it allows a recess, it must admonish the jurors not to discuss the case until they’re back in the jury room.
The judge also directs the jurors to select one of their members to preside over deliberations and deliver any verdict reached, and must admonish the jurors that, until discharged, they may only discuss subjects connected with the trial while convened in the jury room. If written verdict forms are used, the juror chosen to deliver the verdict signs whatever verdict the jury agrees upon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can jurors discuss the case outside the jury room?
No. Section 16-16 says jurors may communicate about subjects connected with the trial only while convened in the jury room, and the judicial authority must admonish them of this.
Who leads the jury during deliberations?
The judicial authority directs the jurors to select one of their own members to preside over deliberations and deliver any verdict agreed upon.
Can anyone sit in on jury deliberations?
No, with one narrow exception: the rule permits no person to be present with the jurors or speak to them during deliberations except a qualified interpreter assisting a juror who is deaf or hard of hearing.
Who signs the verdict form?
If written forms of verdict are submitted to the jury, the member selected to deliver the verdict signs whatever verdict the jury agrees upon.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-16). 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: jury deliberation rules Connecticutjury foreperson selectionjurors kept together during deliberationswho can be in the jury roomsigning the jury verdict