Court Clerk

Court Clerk in the United States

A court officer primarily responsible for maintaining a court’s calendar and keeping the records of court proceedings. Court clerks file Pleadings (see more) and motions and often issue formal writs and process documents of a court. Attorneys communicate with court clerks on all matters related to scheduling. Court clerks also collect fines and court costs in criminal cases. Once judicial proceedings are completed, court clerks are generally responsible for maintaining the evidence introduced in cases.

See Also

Court Reporter (Judicial Personnel issue) Courtroom Work Group (Judicial Personnel issue).

Analysis and Relevance

The court clerk generally handles the management functions necessary for the effective operation of a court. The position of court clerk is part of the trial court structure. The court clerk is either elected by the public or appointed by the chief or senior judge of the court. In the latter instance, the position is usually a reward for political party service. In some states, the county clerk serves as the court clerk. The county clerk is responsible for all legal recordkeeping in the county and simply extends this function to the courts. The court clerk has little policy influence, but does does have an impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of local judicial operations.

Notes and References

  1. Definition of Court Clerk from the American Law Dictionary, 1991, California

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