The issue of the “Vanishing Trial” has been a topic of discussion for the past several decades, with numerous articles, conferences and symposia devoted to examining its existence, causes and remedies. Connecticut has seen a number of such articles and conferences, especially following some thoughtful discussion generated by the late jurist Mark Kravitz. One particularly thorough discussion took place at a Connecticut Bar Foundation Conference in 2012.

Many varying opinions have emerged: whether the vanishing trial phenomenon in civil cases is something new and even whether it actually exists; what are its causes; and how it should be addressed going forward.