Each court case file has a protocol sheet to help organize the contents of the file.
In most jurisdictions, everything that happens in a court case is recorded on what is known as a docket sheet. As a general rule, each court has a person who is responsible for entering the information on the record sheet for each case. The court clerk, as he is called, will generally have a variety of administrative functions within the court office, the principle of which is to keep the cards in each file, as well as in the court’s computer system, if applicable.
Court Clerks may vary slightly by jurisdiction; however, there are a few key officials found in most court offices. Most courts have a bailiff whose job it is to keep order in the courtroom, a stenographer who records the proceedings, and a clerk who maintains the court’s files. Depending on the size of the court, the clerk may also perform other clerical duties or may focus solely on file maintenance.
When a court case is opened, a physical file must be created to track all the records of the case. In many courts, an electronic file is also created on the court’s computer system. One of the first documents placed in the file will be a record sheet. The log sheet is simply a piece of paper that allows you to record everything that happens in the case and the date it happened.
When filing a petition in a court case, the initiating party generally must file the petition with the registrar. The clerk will then stamp the document with the date and time it was filed. The original document can then be placed directly in the file or sent to the judge for review, depending on the petition that is filed. It may also be necessary to enter the case into the court’s computerized record system.
In addition to keeping track of the documents filed in a case, a docket sheet can also include a summary of court proceedings. For example, if an initial or pre-trial hearing is being held, the score sheet would provide a basic summary of what happened at the hearing. The clerk is responsible for reporting the case each time the case is brought to court. When the case is closed, the file clerk will be responsible for properly closing the file.