Legal Definitions - court docket

A court docket is an official log or record maintained by the court that tracks the progress and key events of a specific legal case. It serves as a detailed timeline, listing all actions taken, documents filed, and scheduled proceedings from the moment a case is initiated until its conclusion. This record helps the court, attorneys, and interested parties monitor the status and history of a case, ensuring that all deadlines and events are properly managed. Court dockets are typically public records, meaning they can be accessed by anyone.

Here are a few examples illustrating how a court docket is used:

• Civil Lawsuit for Breach of Contract: Imagine a small business sues a supplier for failing to deliver goods as agreed. The court docket for this case would show the date the lawsuit was filed, when the supplier submitted their response, deadlines for exchanging evidence (known as discovery), scheduled mediation sessions, and any pre-trial conferences. If the case proceeds to trial, the docket would list the trial dates. This allows both parties' legal teams to stay informed about upcoming deadlines and past actions, ensuring they don't miss crucial steps in the litigation process.
• Criminal Case for Theft: Suppose an individual is arrested and charged with grand theft. The court docket for their case would detail the date of arrest, the arraignment (where charges are formally read), any bail hearings, dates for preliminary examinations, motions filed by the prosecution or defense (e.g., to suppress evidence), and the scheduled dates for a jury trial. Journalists, victims, or family members could consult this public docket to follow the progression of the criminal proceedings and learn about significant court events.
• Family Law Case for Child Custody: Consider a situation where parents are disputing child custody arrangements after a divorce. The court docket would record the initial filing of the custody petition, dates for temporary orders hearings (e.g., for immediate visitation schedules), filings related to financial disclosures, and the final hearing date where a permanent custody order might be issued. Attorneys for both parents would regularly check the docket to ensure all required documents are filed on time and to prepare for upcoming court appearances.