What information is required to be entered on the docket?

• A. The style and file number of each criminal action, the nature of the offense charged, the plea offered by the defendant and the date the plea was entered, the date the warrant, if applicable, was issued and the return date made thereon, the date the examination of trial was held, and if a trial was held, whether it was by jury or by the justice or judge, the verdict of the jury, if any and the date of the verdict, the judgment and sentence of the court, and the date each was given, the motion for new trial, if applicable, and the decision thereon, whether an appeal was taken and the date of that action.
• B. The judge's name and district
• C. The defendant's height and weight
• D. The defendant's employment history

Answer: (B)

A docket serves as the court’s official log for a case, and its most essential identifying details are who is presiding and where the case is being heard. Recording the judge’s name and the district ensures the record is tied to the correct court system and helps distinguish this case from others with similar numbers in different locations. This foundational information fixes jurisdiction and accountability for the proceedings.

The other items listed—things like charges, pleas, dates of filings or rulings, and similar procedural details—while part of the case record, are handled through the broader case file and subsequent entries. They are important for the history of the case, but they are not the minimal identifiers required to locate and assign the docket within the correct court. Personal attributes such as height, weight, or employment history are unrelated to docketing and would not belong on the docket.