Connecticut Case Commentaries

Managerial “Good-Faith” Is Not a Contractual Duty: Clinton v. Aspinwall and the Boundary Between Exculpation and Obligation

Date: Jul 31, 2025

Managerial “Good-Faith” Is Not a Contractual Duty: Clinton v. Aspinwall and the Boundary Between Exculpation and Obligation Introduction In Clinton v. Aspinwall, 352 Conn. 597 (2025), the Connecticut...

State v. Traynham: Clarifying “Degree-Versus-Kind” Inculpation and the Trustworthiness Standard for Dual Inculpatory Statements Against Penal Interest

Date: Jul 23, 2025

State v. Traynham: Clarifying “Degree-Versus-Kind” Inculpation and the Trustworthiness Standard for Dual Inculpatory Statements Against Penal Interest 1. Introduction In State v. Traynham, 0 Conn. 1...

“Contextual Nexus” Requirement for Third-Party Culpability Instructions – A Commentary on State v. Simmons (Conn. 2025)

Date: Jul 23, 2025

“Contextual Nexus” Requirement for Third-Party Culpability Instructions A Structured Commentary on State v. Simmons, 358 Conn. ___ (July 22, 2025) I. Introduction On 22 July 2025 the Supreme Court of...

Proposed Rule: Admit Showup Identifications Only in “True Exigencies” Where a Showup Is the Only Feasible Procedure

Date: Jul 23, 2025

Proposed Rule: Admit Showup Identifications Only in “True Exigencies” Where a Showup Is the Only Feasible Procedure Case: State v. McLaurin (Dissent) Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut Date:...

Reliability as the Decisive Safeguard: Connecticut Upholds a Showup Identification Even Assuming Unnecessary Suggestiveness (State v. McLaurin)

Date: Jul 23, 2025

Reliability as the Decisive Safeguard: Connecticut Upholds a Showup Identification Even Assuming Unnecessary Suggestiveness Introduction In State v. McLaurin (officially released July 22, 2025), the...

State v. Bolton: Neutral Handling of Juror Dissent During a Practice Book § 42-31 Jury Poll; No Per Se Need for a Chip Smith Charge

Date: Jul 23, 2025

State v. Bolton: Neutral Handling of Juror Dissent During a Practice Book § 42-31 Jury Poll; No Per Se Need for a Chip Smith Charge I. Introduction State v. Bolton (Supreme Court of Connecticut,...

State v. Iverson: Strategic Waiver Bars Golding Review of Confrontation Challenges to Nontestifying Autopsy Authors; Whistnant Requires a Real Dispute Between Intent and Recklessness

Date: Jul 16, 2025

State v. Iverson: Strategic Waiver Bars Golding Review of Confrontation Challenges to Nontestifying Autopsy Authors; Whistnant Requires a Real Dispute Between Intent and Recklessness Court: Supreme...

State v. Villanueva: Evidentiary Predicate for Investigative-Inadequacy Instructions; No Per Se Suppression for § 54-1p Warning Omissions; Autopsy Photographs Are Nonhearsay for Confrontation Purposes

Date: Jul 16, 2025

State v. Villanueva: Evidentiary Predicate for Investigative-Inadequacy Instructions; No Per Se Suppression for § 54-1p Warning Omissions; Autopsy Photographs Are Nonhearsay for Confrontation...

The Aquarion Rule: Prohibiting Hindsight Prudence Review and Isolating ROE from Cost Disallowances in Connecticut Utility Rate-Setting

Date: Jul 11, 2025

The Aquarion Rule: Prohibiting Hindsight Prudence Review and Isolating ROE from Cost Disallowances in Connecticut Utility Rate-Setting Aquarion Water Co. of Connecticut v. Public Utilities Regulatory...

State v. Maharg – Clarifying the Burden of Proof for “Tainted-Evidence” Claims under Golding and the Harmless-Error Standard

Date: Jul 11, 2025

State v. Maharg – Clarifying the Burden of Proof for “Tainted-Evidence” Claims under Golding and the Harmless-Error Standard 1. Introduction Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut – July 8, 2025...

State v. Maharg: The Connecticut Supreme Court Affirms a Police Duty to Halt Interrogations When a Suspect Exhibits Acute Medical Distress

Date: Jul 11, 2025

State v. Maharg: The Connecticut Supreme Court Affirms a Police Duty to Halt Interrogations When a Suspect Exhibits Acute Medical Distress 1. Introduction In State v. Maharg, 0 Conn. 0 (July 8 2025),...

State v. Moore: Narrowing the Definition of “Serious Firearm Offense” for 30 % Cash Bonds

Date: Jul 6, 2025

State v. Moore: Narrowing the Definition of “Serious Firearm Offense” for 30 % Cash Bonds Introduction Case: State v. Moore, Supreme Court of Connecticut (2025) Core issue: Whether conspiracy to...

State v. Moore: The Element-Focused Definition of “Serious Firearm Offense” in Connecticut Bail Law

Date: Jul 6, 2025

State v. Moore: The Element-Focused Definition of “Serious Firearm Offense” in Connecticut Bail Law 1. Introduction On 8 July 2025 the Supreme Court of Connecticut handed down State v. Moore, a...

State v. Hamilton: Foundation Requirements for Uncooperative Witnesses and the Inclusion of Adopted Statements Under the Whelan Doctrine

Date: Jul 3, 2025

Clarifying Whelan: Foundation for Inconsistency and the Admissibility of Witness-Adopted Statements – A Commentary on State v. Hamilton (Conn. 2025) Introduction On 1 July 2025 the Supreme Court of...

State v. Haynes: The Connecticut Supreme Court’s Robust Re-Endorsement of the Harris Impeachment Exception and Independent-Source Doctrine

Date: Jul 3, 2025

State v. Haynes: The Connecticut Supreme Court’s Robust Re-Endorsement of the Harris Impeachment Exception and Independent-Source Doctrine Introduction State v. Haynes, 345 Conn. ___ (July 1, 2025),...

State v. Haynes: Connecticut Re-Affirms the Full Harris Impeachment Exception under its State Constitution

Date: Jul 3, 2025

State v. Haynes (2025): Connecticut Re-Affirms the Full Harris Impeachment Exception under its State Constitution Introduction State v. Haynes presented the Connecticut Supreme Court with a chance to...

State v. Ramsey (2025): Clarifying the Appellate Test for Sufficiency of the Evidence where Self-Defense is Asserted

Date: Jul 3, 2025

State v. Ramsey (Conn. 2025): Clarifying the Appellate Test for Sufficiency of the Evidence where Self-Defense is Asserted Introduction In State v. Ramsey, 208 A.3d ___ (Conn. 2025), the Supreme...

“Participants, Not Accessories” – The Refined Scope of Felony-Murder Liability under § 53a-54c after State v. Hinton (2025)

Date: Jun 25, 2025

“Participants, Not Accessories” – The Refined Scope of Felony-Murder Liability under § 53a-54c after State v. Hinton (Conn. 2025) 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of Connecticut, in State v. Hinton,...

Substantial Compliance Suffices: Johnson v. Superior Court Clarifies Limits on Deferral and Recusal in Summary Criminal Contempt Under Connecticut Practice Book §§ 1-16 & 1-17

Date: Jun 20, 2025

Substantial Compliance Suffices: Johnson v. Superior Court Clarifies Limits on Deferral and Recusal in Summary Criminal Contempt Under Connecticut Practice Book §§ 1-16 & 1-17 Introduction Johnson v....

Ambiguity Trumps Advocacy: The Connecticut Supreme Court’s Remand Mandate When Separation Agreements Admit of Two Reasonable Meanings

Date: Jun 11, 2025

Ambiguity Trumps Advocacy: The Connecticut Supreme Court’s Remand Mandate When Separation Agreements Admit of Two Reasonable Meanings 1. Introduction On 10 June 2025 the Connecticut Supreme Court...

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