The clerk's duty like the judge's is to serve all participants fairly and equally in the legal system. However, the clerk's role differs from the judge's in that the clerk is the administrative arm of the court. The clerk must ensure that the court processes are accessible to all citizens. First, clerks should be knowledgeable in the court processes as well as with the rights of defendants and victims. Next, clerks should assess all procedures for assisting court participants.
Many issues involve making courts accessible.
The following information may help clerks to assess the court building, procedures and processes. To help defendants and victims understand municipal court procedures, clerks could provide pamphlets explaining procedures and services. The defendants' pamphlet should explain defendant's rights, how to make an appearance, the pleas and their consequences, requesting a copy of the complaint, driving safety course requirements, trial procedures, continuances, new trials, appeal procedures, court costs, and the sealing provisions of juvenile records. The pamphlet for victims should include the rights of victims, personal safety plans, emergency protective orders, and community resources. To help all court participants, courts should be user friendly.