Is there discretion for the judge in performing docket maintenance duties?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Some items
• D. Only with approval

Answer: (B)

Docket maintenance is a clerical task handled by court staff to keep the record accurate and auditable. The judge should focus on deciding cases and issuing orders, not on routine updates to the docket. Granting discretion to the judge for these duties could blur roles, affect impartiality, and bypass established procedures for record-keeping. When corrections are needed, they are addressed through the court's clerical process under policy, not by the judge exercising discretionary power. Because of this, there is no discretion for the judge in performing docket maintenance duties.