Legal Definitions - intake day

Intake day refers to the specific day or period when a court system formally processes and distributes newly filed legal cases among its various judges or courtrooms. It is the designated time when new cases officially enter the active court docket and are assigned to a specific judicial officer for management and resolution.

• Example 1: Criminal Case Assignment

  Imagine a busy prosecutor's office that has filed 75 new felony charges over the past week, ranging from theft to assault. On Monday morning, the district court's clerk's office conducts its weekly "intake day." All 75 new felony cases are systematically entered into the court's electronic management system and then randomly assigned to the various criminal court judges who will preside over them. This ensures that the judicial workload is distributed fairly and that each new case has a designated judge to oversee its proceedings from the outset.

• Example 2: Civil Lawsuit Distribution

  Throughout the month, several new civil lawsuits are filed, including a complex intellectual property dispute, a personal injury claim, and a breach of contract case. The first Wednesday of each month is designated as "intake day" for the civil division of the superior court. On this day, all civil cases filed since the last intake are reviewed, categorized by type, and then distributed to the civil court judges based on a pre-established rotation system. This process ensures that new civil matters are collectively assigned to judges on a specific day, maintaining an organized flow of new litigation into the court's schedule.

• Example 3: Family Court Petitions

  A local family court receives numerous new petitions each week, such as requests for divorce, child custody modifications, and domestic violence restraining orders. Every Friday, the family court holds its "intake day." All new family law petitions received during the week are compiled and reviewed. During this session, a court administrator, often with judicial oversight, assigns each new petition to one of the family court judges, considering factors like the specific type of case and the judges' current caseloads, to ensure an equitable and efficient distribution of new matters.