Connecticut Case Commentaries

Self-Defense Unanimity: No Requirement to Agree on a Particular § 53a-19 Disqualification

Date: Feb 17, 2026

Self-Defense Unanimity: No Requirement to Agree on a Particular § 53a-19 Disqualification Case: State of Connecticut v. Kiyon Matheney (SC 20987) Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut Officially...

Colon Inapplicable to Habeas Actual Innocence; Insanity Acquittal Under § 53a-13 (a) Does Not Establish Lack of Conspiratorial Intent

Date: Feb 15, 2026

Colon Inapplicable to Habeas Actual Innocence; Insanity Acquittal Under § 53a-13 (a) Does Not Establish Lack of Conspiratorial Intent I. Introduction Case: Moon v. Commissioner of Correction (Supreme...

Connecticut “On-Premises Means Paid”: Mandatory Security Screening Time Is Compensable and No De Minimis Exception Applies

Date: Feb 8, 2026

Connecticut “On-Premises Means Paid”: Mandatory Security Screening Time Is Compensable and No De Minimis Exception Applies I. Introduction Case: Del Rio v. Amazon.com Services, Inc. Court: Supreme...

State v. Johnson (Dissent): Purcell “Stop-and-Clarify” Requires Narrow, Accurate Clarification; Re-Mirandizing Cannot Cure Misleading Counsel Deflection

Date: Feb 6, 2026

Purcell “Stop-and-Clarify” Requires Narrow, Accurate Clarification; Re-Mirandizing Cannot Cure Misleading Counsel Deflection Introduction In State v. Johnson (dissenting in part, D’Auria, J., joined...

State v. Johnson: Re-administration of Miranda Warnings Can Clarify an Equivocal Request for Counsel Under Purcell (and “Including, But Not Limited To” Does Not Necessarily Make a Carrier-Records Warrant General)

Date: Feb 5, 2026

State v. Johnson: Re-administration of Miranda Warnings Can Clarify an Equivocal Request for Counsel Under Purcell (and “Including, But Not Limited To” Does Not Necessarily Make a Carrier-Records...

Alternative Holdings in Unappealed Judgments Are “Necessary” for Collateral Estoppel (Connecticut)

Date: Feb 5, 2026

Alternative Holdings in Unappealed Judgments Are “Necessary” for Collateral Estoppel (Connecticut) 1. Introduction In Torrington Tax Collector, LLC v. Riley (Conn. Feb. 3, 2026), the Supreme Court of...

DeCicco v. Dynata, LLC — Meaningful Adequacy Review of a Foreign Forum Despite Defendant Consent (and the Proper Use of Conditional Dismissal)

Date: Jan 31, 2026

DeCicco v. Dynata, LLC: Meaningful Adequacy Review of a Foreign Forum Despite Defendant Consent (and the Proper Use of Conditional Dismissal) 1. Introduction Case: DeCicco v. Dynata, LLC (Supreme...

Objective Phone Records Can Establish Strickland Prejudice Without Habeas Testimony from the Impeached Witness

Date: Jan 22, 2026

Objective Phone Records Can Establish Strickland Prejudice Without Habeas Testimony from the Impeached Witness I. Introduction Case: Grant v. Commissioner of Correction (Supreme Court of Connecticut,...

Specific Unanimity Instruction Alone Cures Duplicitous “Multiple-Instances” Counts—Special Interrogatories Not Constitutionally Required

Date: Jan 18, 2026

Specific Unanimity Instruction Alone Cures Duplicitous “Multiple-Instances” Counts—Special Interrogatories Not Constitutionally Required 1. Introduction In State v. Carlos G. (Conn. Jan. 20, 2026),...

State v. Christon M.: Adequate Sixth Amendment Notice When Information Charges § 53a-100aa Generally and Allegations Necessarily Implicate Multiple Subdivisions

Date: Jan 15, 2026

Adequate Sixth Amendment Notice Where an Information Charges Home Invasion Under § 53a-100aa Generally and the Allegations Necessarily Satisfy Multiple Subdivisions Case: State v. Christon M. (SC...

Premature Subrogation Claims Are Ripe Before Judgment: Make Whole Doctrine Creates an Immediately Actionable Priority Injury

Date: Jan 7, 2026

Premature Subrogation Claims Are Ripe Before Judgment: Make Whole Doctrine Creates an Immediately Actionable Priority Injury Case: Orlando v. Liburd, 353 Conn. 845 (Conn. Jan. 6, 2026) Court: Supreme...

State v. Enrrique H.: “A Case Involving” Physical Force Under § 53a-217 (a) (4) (A) Encompasses the Whole Prior Proceeding, Not Merely Offense Elements

Date: Jan 5, 2026

State v. Enrrique H.: “A Case Involving” Physical Force Under § 53a-217 (a) (4) (A) Encompasses the Whole Prior Proceeding, Not Merely Offense Elements 1. Introduction In State v. Enrrique H. (Conn....

State v. Thorpe: Clarifying the Use of Prearrest Silence to Impeach a Self-Defense Claim under Connecticut’s Plain Error Doctrine

Date: Dec 27, 2025

State v. Thorpe: Clarifying the Use of Prearrest Silence to Impeach a Self-Defense Claim under Connecticut’s Plain Error Doctrine I. Introduction In State v. Thorpe, SC 21004 (Conn. Dec. 23, 2025),...

Mandatory Appeals from Misconduct Findings Before Cumulative Discipline Presentments: Commentary on Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel v. Vaccaro

Date: Dec 27, 2025

Mandatory Appeals from Misconduct Findings Before Cumulative Discipline Presentments: Commentary on Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel v. Vaccaro I. Introduction On December 23, 2025, the Supreme...

Actual Concealment, Not Mere Abandonment: The Meaning of “Conceal” in Connecticut’s Evidence Tampering Statute After State v. Bolden

Date: Dec 19, 2025

Actual Concealment, Not Mere Abandonment: The Meaning of “Conceal” in Connecticut’s Evidence Tampering Statute After State v. Bolden I. Introduction In State v. Bolden, SC 21063 (officially released...

Duso v. Groton and the Meaning of “Nature and Scope of Coverages”: Why Employer HSA Contributions Are Not “Coverage” or “Deductibles” for Retiree Health Parity

Date: Dec 11, 2025

Duso v. Groton and the Meaning of “Nature and Scope of Coverages”: Why Employer HSA Contributions Are Not “Coverage” or “Deductibles” for Retiree Health Parity I. Introduction In Duso v. Groton, 353...

Preserving Golding Review and Refining Forensic Confrontation Doctrine: Commentary on State v. Bester

Date: Dec 10, 2025

Preserving Golding Review and Refining Forensic Confrontation Doctrine: Commentary on State v. Bester I. Introduction The Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Bester (SC 20858, officially...

Miranda Custody, Child Hearsay, and U‑Visa Motive: A Comprehensive Commentary on State v. Lazaro C.-D.

Date: Dec 10, 2025

Miranda Custody, Child Hearsay, and U‑Visa Motive: Commentary on State v. Lazaro C.-D., 30 Conn. 1 (2025) I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Connecticut’s decision in State v. Lazaro C.-D., 30...

State v. Giovanni D.: Clarifying the Child’s-Understanding Requirement for the Medical Treatment Hearsay Exception in Forensic Interviews

Date: Dec 10, 2025

State v. Giovanni D.: Clarifying the Child’s-Understanding Requirement for the Medical Treatment Hearsay Exception in Forensic Interviews Note: This commentary is for informational purposes only and...

State v. Cooper: Connecticut Declines to Require Pre‑Waiver Adult Consultation for Juveniles; Totality of the Circumstances Governs Miranda Waivers

Date: Oct 8, 2025

State v. Cooper: Connecticut Declines to Require Pre‑Waiver Adult Consultation for Juveniles; Totality of the Circumstances Governs Miranda Waivers Introduction In State v. Cooper, SC 20865 (Conn....