Criminal Defense

What Is a Judicial Pretrial in a Connecticut Criminal Case?

Published on: December 5, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

When your docket in your Connecticut criminal case says “Judicial Pretrial” (or “JPT”), it can feel mysterious and high-stakes. Clients ask me all the time: What actually happens? Do I have to go? Here’s the plain-English version.

What a Judicial Pretrial Really Is

Think of a JPT as a focused settlement meeting for your case. It’s usually the best chance to negotiate a fair outcome before trial—directly with the judge who would handle the case. No witnesses, no testimony, no jury. Just a candid conversation about the facts, the risk of trial, your background, and what a reasonable resolution could look like. You only get an opportunity to have a JPT after you reject the State’s offer of settlement. Once you reject the State’s Attorney’s offer, it is usually not put back on the table. At JPT, the Judge will make a Court’s offer which you are free to accept or reject. If you reject the Court’s offer, your case will be placed on the jury list, and you will have a trial. Generally, if you reject the Court’s offer and are convicted by the jury, you will get more jail time than the Court’s offer – this is what is known as the trial tax.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in Connecticut: Why a Pipe or Grinder Can Still Get You Charged

Published on: November 29, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Your Options to Keep This Off Your Record

If police found a pipe, grinder, scale, or “gear” in your car or backpack, it can still lead to a criminal case—especially if the State claims it’s tied to narcotics or other controlled substances. Even after cannabis reforms, Connecticut prosecutes possession of drug paraphernalia under C.G.S. § 21a-267, and a conviction can leave a drug-related mark on your record that follows you to jobs, housing, licensing, and immigration checks.

What Counts as “Drug Paraphernalia”

From Texts to TikTok: How Cyberstalking and Revenge Porn Cases Are Charged in Connecticut

Published on: November 26, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

From screenshot to courtroom: what really happens in CT

One angry text. One late-night post. One private photo sent in the heat of the moment.

That’s all it can take for a “digital argument” to turn into handcuffs and a court date in Connecticut. I see it every week. Most folks who call me about cyberstalking or revenge-porn charges aren’t predators—they’re regular people in the middle of a breakup, a messy situationship, or workplace drama who never thought a phone could land them in criminal court.

Gun Rights After a Connecticut Arrest: Immediate Fallout and Long-Term Consequences

Published on: November 22, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Gun Rights After a Connecticut Arrest: What to Expect and How to Protect Yourself

If you own guns and you’ve just been arrested in Connecticut, the fear hits fast:

“Are they going to take my guns?”
“Is my pistol permit gone for good?”
“Am I ever going to be able to own a firearm again?”

What to Do Immediately After Being Arrested in Connecticut—Your Rights, Critical First Steps, and How to Choose the Right Lawyer

Published on: November 22, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

If you’ve just been arrested in Connecticut, it can feel like your entire world is crashing down at once. People worry about everything all at once— “Am I going to jail? Will I lose my job? What happens to my kids? Is this on my record forever?”

Take a breath.

One stormy night, one misunderstanding, or one mistake does not have to ruin the rest of your life. I’ve been defending people in Connecticut for over 30 years as a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer. Good, hard-working people find themselves in the criminal system every single day. You are not alone in this.

No-Contact Orders and Social Media in Connecticut: Can You Like, Tag, or Watch Their Stories?

Published on: November 19, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Why “Just Looking” at Their Social Media Can Still Be a Violation

If you’ve been arrested in Connecticut and the judge issued a no-contact order, your whole life changes overnight—especially online.

I hear the same question in my office over and over:

Conspiracy Charges Explained: Why These Accomplice Laws Are So Common and How to Fight Them

Published on: November 19, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Charged As a “Helper”? Why CT Treats You Like the Main Actor

If you’ve just learned that you or a loved one is being charged with conspiracy or as an accomplice, you’re probably thinking:

“But I didn’t actually do it.”

Restitution and Civil Lawsuits After Shoplifting in Connecticut: What Stores Can Really Demand

Published on: November 17, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Why Paying a Store’s Civil Demand Letter won’t make your Shoplifting Case Go Away

If you or a family member has been arrested for shoplifting in Connecticut, you’re probably worried about more than just the criminal charge.

You’re also asking yourself:

Caught in the Squeeze: The High Stakes of Strangulation cases

Published on: November 15, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Strangulation — What You Need to Know if You Were Arrested

If you were arrested for strangulation in Connecticut, you’re probably scared, confused, and worried about what this means for your record, your freedom, and your family.

I frequently observe this in my practice. A heated argument gets out of control, the police are called, and suddenly one person is facing a serious family-violence strangulation charge based on what happened in a few chaotic seconds.

When Someone Else Drives Your Car and Runs: Can You Be Charged with Evading Responsibility in Connecticut?

Published on: November 13, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

When people hear “evading responsibility” (Connecticut’s version of hit-and-run), they usually picture the driver who caused the crash and then sped away. But in my practice, I get a very different kind of call all the time:

“Attorney Friedman, I wasn’t even driving. I lent my car to a friend. Now the police are saying my car was in a hit-and-run. How can I be in trouble?”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
In Connecticut, if your vehicle is involved in an accident and leaves the scene, and the actual driver can’t be identified, you, as the owner, can be charged criminally with evading responsibility.