Who bears the mandatory duty to send the appeal to the appellate court?

• A. The clerk
• B. The defense attorney
• C. The judge
• D. The bailiff

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the clerk’s role in moving an appeal forward. After a valid appeal is filed, it is the clerk of the trial court who must prepare and transmit the record on appeal to the appellate court. The clerk is the official custodian of court records and handles the administrative tasks required to get the case to the higher court, including assembling the record, ensuring all necessary documents are included, and forwarding everything within deadlines. The defense attorney files the notice of appeal and briefs, but the actual sending of the appeal materials to the appellate court is an administrative duty of the clerk. The judge decides the case at the trial level, and the bailiff’s role is limited to courtroom security and procedure, not transmitting appeals.