Clerks may not conduct trials. This statement is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Clerks may conduct non-jury trials
• D. Clerks may conduct trials under supervision

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that clerks handle administrative tasks, not judicial decision-making. A trial is a courtroom proceeding where evidence is presented and the law and facts are decided. That authority rests with the judge (or magistrate) who presides over the case. The clerk’s role is to support the proceeding—managing filings and the docket, swearing witnesses, marking exhibits, coordinating jurors, and recording the proceedings—but they do not determine outcomes or conduct the trial itself. Therefore, clerks may not conduct trials, even with supervision, which is why the statement is true. The other options would blur the line between administrative duties and judicial authority, which is not allowed.