Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule tells judges when they must state the reasons for a decision, orally or in writing, and lays out a backup schedule for briefing and a written decision when a pendente lite family order or a Section 14-3 dismissal is appealed without one.
(a)The judicial authority shall state its decision either orally or in writing, in all of the following:
(1)in rendering judgments in trials to the court in civil and criminal matters, including rulings regarding motions for stay of execution, (2) in ruling on aggravating and mitigating factors in capital penalty hearings conducted to the court, (3) in ruling on motions to dismiss under Sections 41-8 through 41-11, (4) in ruling on motions to suppress under Sections 41-12 through 41-17, (5) in granting a motion to set aside a verdict under Sections 16-35 through 16-38, and (6) in making any other rulings that constitute a final judgment for purposes of appeal under General Statutes § 52-263, including those that do not terminate the proceedings. The judicial authority’s decision shall encompass its conclusion as to each claim of law raised by the parties and the factual basis therefor. If oral, the decision shall be recorded by an official court reporter or court recording monitor and, if there is an appeal, the trial judge shall create a memorandum of decision for use in the appeal by ordering a transcript of the portion of the proceedings in which it stated its oral decision. The transcript of the decision shall be signed by the trial judge and filed in the trial court clerk’s office. This section does not apply in small claims actions and to matters listed in subsection (b).
(b)In any uncontested matter where no aspect of the matter is in dispute, in a pendente lite family relations matter whether contested or uncontested, or in any dismissal under Section 14-3, the oral or written decision as provided in subsection (a) is not required, except as provided in subsection
(c). The clerk of the trial court shall, however, promptly notify the trial judge of the filing of the appeal. (c) Within twenty days from the filing of an appeal from a contested pendente lite order or from a dismissal under Section 14-3 in which an oral or written decision has not been made pursuant to subsection (b), each party to the appeal Sec. shall file a brief with the trial court discussing the legal and factual issues in the matter. Within twenty days after the briefs have been filed by the parties, the judicial authority shall file a written memorandum of decision stating the factual basis for its decision on the issues in the matter and its conclusion as to each claim of law raised by the parties.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 334A.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000; amended June 26, 2020, to take effect Jan. 1, 2021.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 6-1 sets out when a judicial authority has to explain a decision rather than just announce the result. A stated decision, given orally or in writing, is required when rendering judgment after a trial to the court in civil or criminal cases (including rulings on a stay of execution), when ruling on aggravating or mitigating factors in a capital penalty hearing tried to the court, when ruling on motions to dismiss or motions to suppress, when granting a motion to set aside a verdict, and when making any other ruling that counts as a final judgment for appeal purposes under General Statutes § 52-263, even if the ruling doesn’t end the case. Whatever form the decision takes, it must address each legal claim the parties raised and the facts behind it. An oral decision must be recorded by a court reporter or recording monitor, and if the case is appealed, the trial judge orders a transcript of that oral decision, signs it, and has it filed with the clerk to serve as the memorandum of decision. The rule doesn’t apply to small claims cases or to the matters carved out in subsection (b).
Subsection (b) excuses the judicial authority from stating a decision in uncontested matters where nothing is in dispute, in pendente lite family relations matters whether contested or not, and in dismissals under Section 14-3 — though the clerk still has to tell the trial judge right away if one of these gets appealed. If that happens, subsection (c) supplies the missing decision after the fact: each party has twenty days from the appeal to file a brief on the legal and factual issues, and the judicial authority then has twenty more days after the briefs come in to file a written memorandum of decision covering the factual basis for the ruling and its conclusion on each legal claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Connecticut judge have to explain every ruling in writing?
No. The decision can be oral, as long as it’s recorded by a court reporter or recording monitor, and Section 6-1 excuses uncontested matters, pendente lite family relations rulings, and Section 14-3 dismissals from the requirement altogether.
What happens if a pendente lite order is appealed without a stated decision?
Each party has twenty days from the appeal to file a brief with the trial court on the legal and factual issues, and the judicial authority then has twenty more days to file a written memorandum of decision.
What must a decision under Section 6-1 cover?
It must reach a conclusion on each claim of law the parties raised and state the factual basis for that conclusion.
Does Section 6-1 apply to small claims cases?
No. The section expressly says it does not apply in small claims actions.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 6-1). 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:when must a CT judge state a decisionoral versus written decision Connecticutmemorandum of decision requirementpendente lite decision not requiredstatement of decision after trial to the courtappeal without a written decision Connecticut