If the judicial authority gives additional instructions, it also may give or repeat other instructions in order to avoid undue emphasis on the additional instructions. Additional instructions shall be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 16-25 concerning exceptions. (See Sec. 861, P.B. 1978-1997.)
Section 16-26.Other Instructions after Additional Instructions
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceAfter giving a jury additional instructions, the court may repeat or add other instructions so the jury doesn’t give the new material more weight than the rest of the charge, and the same exception procedure applies.
Full Text of Section 16-26
Amendment History
(P.B. 1998.)
Plain-English Summary
Once a judge decides to give the jury additional instructions—whether after exceptions to the charge or on the court’s own motion under Section 16-25—this section lets the court balance things out. The judge may repeat other parts of the original charge, or add still more instructions, so the jury doesn’t assume the newest instruction matters more than everything that came before it.
The rule also folds the additional instructions back into the exception procedure from Section 16-25: if a party disagrees with what the judge just told the jury, that party has to object using the same process as for the original charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a judge repeat instructions the jury already heard?
Repeating or adding instructions keeps the jury from placing undue weight on whatever the judge just said, since the last thing a jury hears can otherwise stick out disproportionately.
Can a party object to these additional instructions?
Yes. Section 16-26 makes the exception procedures in Section 16-25 apply to additional instructions, so a party must object the same way it would to the original charge.
Does the judge have to give additional instructions on request?
This section doesn’t require it—it addresses what happens once the court has already decided, under Section 16-25, to give additional instructions.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-26). 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: additional jury instructions Connecticutrepeating jury charge to avoid emphasissupplemental instructions exceptions CTjury charge balance rule