Sec. 4-2. Relevant Evidence Generally Admis-

Relevant Evidence Generally Admis-

sible; Irrelevant Evidence Inadmissible

All relevant evidence is admissible, except as

otherwise provided by the constitution of the

United States, the constitution of the state of Con-

necticut, the Code, the General Statutes or the

common law. Evidence that is not relevant is inad­

missible.

COMMENTARY

Section 4-2 recognizes two fundamental common-law prin-

ciples: (1) all relevant evidence is admissible unless otherwise

excluded; e.g., Delmore v. Polinsky, 132 Conn. 28, 31, 42

A.2d 349 (1945); see Federated Dept. Stores, Inc. v. Board

of Tax Review, 162 Conn. 77, 82–83, 291 A.2d 715 (1971);

and (2) irrelevant evidence is inadmissible. Williams Ford, Inc.

v. Hartford Courant Co., 232 Conn. 559, 569, 657 A.2d 212

(1995); see State v. Mastropetre, 175 Conn. 512, 521, 400

A.2d 276 (1978).

Reference in Section 4-2 to the federal and state constitu­

tions includes judicially created remedies designed to preserve

constitutional rights, such as the exclusionary rule. See State v.

Marsala, 216 Conn. 150, 161, 579 A.2d 58 (1990) (construing

exclusionary rule under Connecticut constitution).