Subject to the provisions of Section 16-17, the judicial authority shall discharge the jury after it has rendered its verdict or after a mistrial has been declared. (See Sec. 870, P.B. 1978-1997.)
Section 16-33.—Discharge of Jury
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceOnce the jury has returned its verdict or a mistrial has been declared, the judicial authority must discharge the jury, subject to the court's power to send a jury back for further deliberations under Section 16-17.
Full Text of Section 16-33
Amendment History
(P.B. 1998; amended June 29, 1998, to take effect Jan. 1, 1999.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 16-33 is short and direct: the judicial authority discharges the jury after it has rendered its verdict or after the court has declared a mistrial. This closes out the jury’s service in the case once its work is done, whether that work ended in a verdict or in a mistrial.
The discharge duty is subject to Section 16-17, which allows the judicial authority to send a jury back for a second or, in limited circumstances, a third round of deliberations before accepting a verdict. Once discharged, the jurors are released from the case, which matters for related rules on polling and on contacting jurors afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must a Connecticut judge discharge the jury?
The judicial authority discharges the jury after it has rendered its verdict or after the court has declared a mistrial in the case.
Can a jury be sent back to deliberate instead of being discharged?
Yes. Discharge under Section 16-33 is subject to Section 16-17, which lets the judicial authority return the jury for further deliberations before accepting a verdict.
Why does the timing of jury discharge matter?
Jury polling under Section 16-32 can only happen before discharge, and rules limiting contact with jurors turn on whether the jury has been discharged.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-33). 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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