A criminal court clerk assists a criminal court judge in the processing of evidence, documents, and records in criminal law cases heard in the courtroom. The legal files containing records of court cases or court trials held in the courthouse are one of the primary responsibilities of the criminal court clerk. Documents from attorneys and defendants that need to be filed in a criminal case are also delivered to the criminal court clerk.
Most criminal court districts have statutes requiring the filing and preservation of certain legal documents, which are typically required to be filed and kept on file for all criminal cases that occur in the district. As a result, the criminal court clerk bears a significant amount of responsibility for keeping these legal files in order. Attorneys, defendants, prosecutors, and the media can all request to see legal files, which are usually considered public records. In most cases, the clerk will receive these requests and respond with the necessary documents. A criminal court judge may occasionally order that all legal files pertaining to a specific case be sealed to the public, in which case the clerk must be aware of this and protect those files from public access.
Criminal court clerks also receive and process payments of fines imposed by a judge, as well as filing fees and other money required by statute at the time of a legal document’s filing. Criminal court clerks are usually subjected to extensive background checks at the time of employment due to the risk of theft and the sensitive nature of the legal documents under their control. In some districts, they may also be required to post a bond.
Courses in legal terminology, legal research, legal writing, and courtroom procedures are typically required of people who want to work as criminal court clerks and lead to an associate’s degree or certificate in legal education. A criminal court clerk must also become acquainted with the court rules and procedures of the district in which he or she will work. The courses required to work as a criminal court clerk are usually included in paralegal programs. Many community colleges and universities offer these programs, which are sometimes approved by the American Bar Association. In most cases, a student should also check to see if the program is properly accredited.