Any party may challenge an array on the ground that there has been a material departure from the requirements of law governing the selection and summoning of an array. Such challenge shall be made within five days after notification of the hearing or trial date, unless the defect claimed has arisen subsequent to the time required to make such motion.
Section 16-2.Challenge to Array
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section lets any party challenge the entire jury array for a material departure from the legal requirements governing how the array was selected and summoned, generally within five days of learning the hearing or trial date.
Full Text of Section 16-2
Amendment History
(P.B. 1998.)
Plain-English Summary
A challenge to the array attacks the whole panel of prospective jurors, not an individual juror. Any party may raise it, but only on the ground that there has been a material departure from the requirements of law governing the selection and summoning of the array. The challenge must be made within five days after notification of the hearing or trial date, unless the claimed defect arose after the time for making that motion had already passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a challenge to the array in Connecticut civil practice?
It is a challenge to the entire jury panel based on a material departure from the legal requirements for selecting and summoning that array, rather than a challenge to one juror.
How soon must a challenge to the array be filed?
Within five days after notification of the hearing or trial date, unless the defect being claimed arose after that deadline had already passed.
What happens if the defect in the array arises after the five-day window?
The five-day limit does not apply in that situation; the challenge is not barred because it arose later.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-2). 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: challenge to jury array Connecticutchallenging jury panel selection CTmaterial departure jury summoningfive day deadline jury challenge