Basic Procedures in a Civil Trial for Indian Court Clerks

• NCJ Number: 80508
• Author(s): R Bennett
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 43 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National American Indian Court Judges Assoc; National American Indian Court Clerks Assoc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Fourth in a series of booklets prepared for the use of Indian Court Clerks.

Annotation

This handbook is intended to provide guidelines for the use of Indian court clerks in a civil trial where no such procedures are in effect or to supplement procedures now existing.

Abstract

Procedures covered include preparation of the file, preparation of notes and minutes, preparation of documents for trial, jury trial procedures, use of reporters, posttrial procedures, default procedures, handling of funds, and clerk's procedure on small claims trials. Preparation of the file includes consulting with the judge to determine the judge's preferences about the arrangement of the file and checking for correct addresses. Preparation of notes and minutes involves having the following information on the note pad: present date, case number, title of case, lawyer's or parties' names and addresses, and clerk's notice of entry of judgment. Detailed instructions are given for preparing judgment papers, clerk's notice of entry of judgment, and evidence applying to a cross-complaint. Jury trial procedures include noting the names of all jurors who are sworn, examined, and accepted; preparing various jury forms; and asking all counsel for jury instructions. In handling funds, the clerk should enter jury fees, mileage fees, and reporter fees in the register of actions, showing amount, date received, receipt number, and depositor. Forms used in Indian court civil trials are appended.