# Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-6: Sec. 4-6. Habit; Routine Practice

> Connecticut · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_6

## Section

- **Citation:** Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-6
- **Heading:** Sec. 4-6. Habit; Routine Practice
- **Jurisdiction:** Connecticut
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Connecticut Court Rules / Connecticut Code of Evidence / Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-6

## Text

Habit; Routine Practice
Evidence of the habit of a person or the routine
practice of an organization is admissible to prove
that the conduct of the person or the organization
on a particular occasion was in conformity with
the habit or routine practice.
COMMENTARY
While Section 4-4 generally precludes the use of evidence
of a trait of character to prove conforming behavior, Section
4-6 admits evidence of a person’s habit or an organization’s
routine practice to prove conformity therewith on a particular
occasion. See, e.g., Caslowitz v. Roosevelt Mills, Inc., 138
Conn. 121, 125–26, 82 A.2d 808 (1951); State v. Williams,
90 Conn. 126, 130, 96 A. 370 (1916); Moffitt v. Connecticut
Co., 86 Conn. 527, 530–31, 86 A. 16 (1913); Birkhamshaw
v. Socha, 156 Conn. App. 453, 471, 115 A.3d 1, cert. denied,
317 Conn. 913, 116 A.3d 812 (2015); State v. Hubbard, 32
Conn. App. 178, 185, 628 A.2d 626, cert. denied, 228 Conn.
902, 634 A.2d 296 (1993). The distinction between habit or
routine practice and trait of character is, therefore, dispositive.
See State v. Whitford, 260 Conn. 610, 641–43, 799 A.2d 1034
(2002) (victim’s violent acts inadmissible as habit evidence to
Sec. 4-6

establish defendant’s claim of self-defense in criminal assault
case). ‘‘Our case law concerning this type of evidence,
although sparse, suggests that habit is not relevant to prove
wilful or deliberate acts.’’ Id., 642.
‘‘Whereas a trait of character entails a generalized descrip­
tion of one’s disposition as to a particular trait, such as honesty,
peacefulness or carelessness, habit is a person’s regular prac-
tice of responding to a particular kind of situation with a specific
type of conduct.’’ (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Birkhams-
haw v. Socha, supra, 156 Conn. App. 471; see State v. Whit­
ford, supra, 260 Conn. 641
f character entails a generalized descrip­
tion of one’s disposition as to a particular trait, such as honesty,
peacefulness or carelessness, habit is a person’s regular prac-
tice of responding to a particular kind of situation with a specific
type of conduct.’’ (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Birkhams-
haw v. Socha, supra, 156 Conn. App. 471; see State v. Whit­
ford, supra, 260 Conn. 641. ‘‘Habit and custom refer to a
course of conduct that is fixed, invariable, and unthinking, and
generally pertain to a very specific set of repetitive circum­
stances.’’ (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Birkhamshaw v.
Socha, supra, 472. ‘‘Testimony as to the habit or practice of
doing a certain thing in a certain way is evidence of what
actually occurred under similar circumstances or conditions
. . . . Evidence of a regular practice permits an inference that
the practice was followed on a given occasion.’’ (Emphasis in
original; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. Routine practice
of an organization, sometimes referred to as a business cus-
tom or customary practice, is equivalent to a habit of an individ-
ual for purposes of the foregoing standards. Cf. Maynard v.
Sena, 158 Conn. App. 509, 518, 125 A.3d 541, cert. denied,
319 Conn. 910, 123 A.3d 436 (2015).

## Nearby sections

- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 1-1 Sec. 1-1. Short Title; Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R1_1.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 1-2 Sec. 1-2. Purposes and Construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R1_2.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 1-3 Sec. 1-3. Preliminary Questions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R1_3.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 1-4 Sec. 1-4. Limited Admissibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R1_4.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 1-5 Sec. 1-5. Remainder of Statements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R1_5.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 2-1 Sec. 2-1. Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R2_1.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 2-2 Sec. 2-2. Notice and Opportunity To Be Heard](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R2_2.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 3-1 Sec. 3-1. General Rule](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R3_1.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-1 Sec. 4-1. Definition of Relevant Evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_1.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-2 Sec. 4-2. Relevant Evidence Generally Admis-](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_2.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-3 Sec. 4-3. Exclusion of Evidence on Grounds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_3.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-4 Sec. 4-4. Character Evidence Not Admissible To Prove Conduct; Exceptions; Methods](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_4.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-5 Sec. 4-5. Evidence of Other Crimes, Wrongs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_5.md)
- [Conn. Code Evid. Sec. 4-6 Sec. 4-6. Habit; Routine Practice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_6.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_CT_EVID_R4_6. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.