Clerks may influence a judge's decision about a particular case if the defendant was difficult to handle.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes true
• D. Only in civil cases

Answer: (B)

In courts, clerks are neutral administrative staff who handle filings, records, scheduling, and the overall management of the case file. The judge’s ruling should come from the evidence presented, the legal arguments offered, and applicable law—not from the behavior of a defendant or the opinions of court staff. A defendant being difficult to handle might affect how smoothly proceedings proceed, but it does not provide a legitimate basis for influencing the judge’s decision. Any attempt by a clerk to sway a ruling would compromise fairness and could lead to disciplinary action. So, the idea that clerks can influence a judge’s decision is not correct.