The clerk shall give notice to each referee of a reference and note in the court file the date of the issuance of the notice. In addition to matters Sec. required to be referred to a judge trial referee, the judicial authority may refer any civil nonjury case or, with the written consent of the parties or their attorneys, any civil jury case, pending before such court, in which the issues have been closed, to a judge trial referee, who shall have and exercise the powers of the Superior Court in respect to trial, judgment and appeal in such case, and any proceeding resulting from a demand for a trial de novo pursuant to subsection (e) of General Statutes § 52-549z, may be referred without the consent of the parties to a judge trial referee who has been specifically designated to hear such proceedings pursuant to subsection (b) of General Statutes § 52-434. Any case referred to a judge trial referee shall be deemed to have been referred for all further proceedings and judgment, including matters pertaining to any appeal therefrom, unless otherwise ordered before or after the reference. The court may also refer to a judge trial referee any motion for summary judgment and any other pretrial matter in any civil nonjury or civil jury case.
Section 19-3.Reference to Judge Trial Referee
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section covers referrals to judge trial referees, describing the notice the clerk gives, the kinds of civil cases — nonjury always, jury only with written consent — that can be referred, and the referee’s power to act with the authority of the Superior Court.
Full Text of Section 19-3
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 430.) (Amended June 24, 2002, to take effect Jan. 1, 2003.)
Plain-English Summary
The clerk must give notice of a reference to each referee and note the date of that notice in the court file. Beyond cases required to be referred to a judge trial referee, the judicial authority may refer any civil nonjury case in which the issues have closed. A civil jury case with issues closed can also be referred, but only with the written consent of the parties or their attorneys. A judge trial referee who receives a case exercises the powers of the Superior Court over trial, judgment, and appeal in that case.
A proceeding arising from a demand for a trial de novo under General Statutes § 52-549z(e) may be referred without party consent to a judge trial referee specifically designated for such proceedings under General Statutes § 52-434(b). Unless otherwise ordered, a referred case is deemed referred for all further proceedings and judgment, including matters on appeal. The court may also refer a motion for summary judgment or any other pretrial matter, in either a civil nonjury or civil jury case, to a judge trial referee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a civil jury case need consent before being referred to a judge trial referee?
Yes, in general a jury case requires the written consent of the parties or their attorneys, with the closed-issues nonjury case category and the trial de novo exception being different.
What authority does a judge trial referee have once a case is referred?
The referee exercises the powers of the Superior Court with respect to trial, judgment, and appeal in that case.
Can a trial de novo proceeding be referred without the parties’ consent?
Yes, a proceeding resulting from a demand for trial de novo under General Statutes § 52-549z(e) may be referred without consent to a judge trial referee specifically designated under General Statutes § 52-434(b).
Can pretrial matters like summary judgment motions go to a judge trial referee?
Yes, the court may refer a motion for summary judgment or any other pretrial matter in a civil nonjury or civil jury case to a judge trial referee.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 19-3). 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: judge trial referee CTreference to judge trial refereetrial de novo referral Connecticutjury case consent to refereePractice Book 19-3