Legal Definitions - judgment docket

A judgment docket is an official public record, typically maintained by a court clerk, that lists all final judgments issued by the court. It serves as a ledger containing key details about each judgment, such as the names of the parties involved, the date the judgment was entered, the amount awarded (if monetary), and any specific orders or directives from the court. The primary purpose of a judgment docket is to provide public notice of these judgments, especially those that create a financial obligation or a lien against a party's assets, making them discoverable by interested parties like creditors, lenders, or potential buyers of property.

• Example 1: Business Debt Collection

  Imagine a small marketing firm, "Creative Campaigns LLC," sues a former client, "Local Eatery Inc.," for $25,000 in unpaid invoices. After a court hearing, the judge rules in favor of Creative Campaigns LLC, ordering Local Eatery Inc. to pay the outstanding amount. This final decision, the $25,000 judgment, would be promptly recorded on the court's judgment docket. This entry would serve as public notice that Local Eatery Inc. has a legal obligation to pay Creative Campaigns LLC, which could be discovered by other creditors or financial institutions assessing Local Eatery Inc.'s creditworthiness.

• Example 2: Personal Injury Award

  Consider a situation where Maria sues a negligent driver, John, for medical expenses and lost wages resulting from a car accident. A jury awards Maria $75,000 in damages. Once the court formally enters this award, it becomes a judgment against John. This $75,000 judgment would then be added to the judgment docket. This public record would inform anyone checking the docket that John has a legal debt to Maria, and in many jurisdictions, this judgment could automatically create a lien on any real estate John owns, making it visible during a property title search.

• Example 3: Post-Divorce Financial Obligation

  In a divorce case, the court issues a final decree that, among other things, orders one spouse, Sarah, to pay her ex-spouse, Michael, a lump sum of $50,000 as part of an equitable distribution of assets. This specific financial order, once finalized by the court, would be entered onto the judgment docket. While not always a lien on real property automatically in every state, its presence on the docket provides official public notice of Sarah's financial obligation to Michael. If Sarah were to seek a loan or sell property, a lender or potential buyer might check the judgment docket as part of their due diligence, revealing this outstanding financial judgment.