Each party shall have the right to examine, personally or by counsel, each juror outside the presence of other prospective jurors as to qualifications to sit as a juror in the action, or as to the person’s interest, if any, in the subject matter of the action, or as to the person’s relations with the parties thereto. If the judicial authority before whom such examination is held is of the opinion from such examination that any juror would be unable to render a fair and impartial verdict, such juror shall be excused by the judicial authority from any further service upon the panel, or in such action, as the judicial authority determines. The right of such examination shall not be abridged by requiring questions to be put to any juror in writing and submitted in advance of the commencement of the trial.
Section 16-6.Voir Dire Examination
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 16-6 gives each party the right to question prospective jurors, in or through counsel, outside the presence of other jurors, about their qualifications, interests, and relationships with the parties, and lets the judicial authority excuse a juror who could not render a fair and impartial verdict.
Full Text of Section 16-6
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 305.)
Plain-English Summary
Each party may examine, personally or through counsel, each prospective juror outside the presence of the other prospective jurors. The questioning can cover the juror’s qualifications to sit on the case, any interest the juror has in the subject matter of the action, and the juror’s relations with the parties. If the judicial authority conducting or overseeing the examination concludes a juror would be unable to render a fair and impartial verdict, that juror is excused from further service on the panel or in the action, as the judicial authority determines.
The rule also protects the substance of this examination: the right to examine a juror cannot be abridged by requiring the questions to be put to the juror in writing and submitted in advance of trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can question prospective jurors during voir dire in Connecticut?
Each party, either personally or through counsel, may examine each prospective juror, and the questioning happens outside the presence of the other prospective jurors.
What can a party ask a prospective juror about?
The rule allows questions about the juror’s qualifications to sit on the case, the juror’s interest, if any, in the subject matter of the action, and the juror’s relations with the parties to the action.
Can a court require voir dire questions to be submitted in writing in advance?
A court can require questions to be submitted in writing in advance of trial, but doing so cannot abridge a party’s right to examine the juror under this rule.
When is a prospective juror excused during voir dire?
The judicial authority excuses a juror when the examination shows the juror would be unable to render a fair and impartial verdict.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 16-6). 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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