Upon an inquiry into the validity of a verdict, no evidence shall be received to show the effect of any statement, conduct, event or condition upon the mind of a juror nor any evidence concerning mental processes by which the verdict was determined. Subject to these limitations, a juror’s testimony or affidavit shall be received when it concerns any misconduct which by law permits a jury to be impeached. (See Sec. 871, P.B. 1978-1997.)
Section 16-34.—Impeachment of Verdict
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA verdict can be challenged with juror testimony about outside misconduct that the law allows to impeach a jury, but not with any evidence about how a statement, event, or condition affected a juror's mind or about the jury's internal mental processes in reaching the verdict.
Full Text of Section 16-34
Amendment History
(P.B. 1998.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 16-34 governs what evidence a court may consider when a party asks it to examine whether a verdict is valid. It draws a firm line: no evidence may be received showing the effect that any statement, conduct, event, or condition had on a juror’s mind, and no evidence may be received about the mental processes by which the jury reached its verdict. Those inner workings of deliberation stay off limits.
Within that limit, a juror’s testimony or affidavit is admissible when it concerns misconduct that the law recognizes as grounds to impeach a jury verdict. In other words, the rule separates what a juror thought or how the jury reasoned — which cannot be probed — from what a juror did or witnessed by way of misconduct, which can be presented to challenge the verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a losing party ask jurors why they reached their verdict?
No. Section 16-34 bars evidence about a juror’s mental processes or about how a statement, event, or condition affected a juror’s mind.
What kind of evidence can be used to challenge a Connecticut jury verdict?
A juror’s testimony or affidavit is admissible when it concerns misconduct that the law permits as a basis for impeaching a jury.
What is jury impeachment in this context?
It refers to challenging the validity of a verdict, and Section 16-34 limits that challenge to recognized misconduct rather than the jury’s reasoning or deliberative thought process.
Does this rule apply automatically, or only when someone raises it?
It applies whenever there is an inquiry into the validity of a verdict, setting the boundaries on what evidence the judicial authority may receive in that inquiry.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-34). 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: impeaching a jury verdict CTjuror misconduct evidence Connecticutjuror testimony after verdictattacking a jury verdict Connecticutmental processes of jury deliberation rule