The judicial authority may, upon stipulation of the parties, refer a civil action to a program of alternative dispute resolution agreed to by the parties. The judicial authority shall set a time limit on the duration of the referral, which shall not exceed ninety days. The referral of an action to such a program will stay the time periods within which all further pleadings, motions, requests, discovery and other procedures must be filed or undertaken until such time as the alternative dispute resolution process is completed or the time period set by the judicial authority has elapsed, whichever occurs sooner. Such referred action shall be exempt from the docket management program during the time of the referral.
Section 23-67.Alternative Dispute Resolution
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceAllows the court, when both parties agree, to refer a civil action to an alternative dispute resolution program for up to ninety days, pausing pleading and discovery deadlines while the referral is pending.
Full Text of Section 23-67
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 546T.) (Amended June 24, 2002, to take effect Jan. 1, 2003.)
Plain-English Summary
Unlike the fact-finding and arbitration programs, this rule covers a general referral to alternative dispute resolution that requires the parties' stipulation, not just a decision by the court on its own. Once the parties agree, the judicial authority may refer the civil action to whatever ADR program they agreed on, and it sets a time limit on the referral that cannot exceed ninety days.
While the referral is active, the deadlines for further pleadings, motions, requests, discovery, and other procedures are stayed — they stop running until the ADR process finishes or the court's time limit runs out, whichever comes first. The action is also exempt from the docket management program for as long as the referral lasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both parties have to agree before a case goes to ADR under this rule?
Yes. The referral happens upon stipulation of the parties, to a program they have agreed to.
How long can an ADR referral last?
The judicial authority sets a time limit that cannot exceed ninety days.
Does the case clock keep running during ADR?
No. Deadlines for further pleadings, motions, requests, discovery, and other procedures are stayed until the ADR process is completed or the time period set by the court elapses, whichever happens first.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 23-67). 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: alternative dispute resolution referral ConnecticutADR stipulation civil case CTstay of proceedings during mediationninety day ADR referral