Case Name: Barnes v. Lee, Bail of D. Easton
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1807-11
Citations: 1 Cranch 471
Docket Number: 
Parties: Barnes v. Lee, Bail of D. Easton.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 471–472

Head Matter:
Barnes v. Lee, Bail of D. Easton.
A clerical error in the record may be amended after the term.
After the Court had given an opinion on the law, upon the issue of mil tiel record, {ante, p. 430,) but béfore the judgment thereon was entered on the minutes, —
Mr. Jones, for the plaintiff,
moved to quash the scire facias, which the Court granted on payment of all costs. Mr. Jones then moved the Court to direct the clerk to amend the record by the minute-book. On certiorari upon suggestion of diminution, the Court below will order a clerical mistake to be corrected.
Mr. E. J. Lee, contra.
Errors in the office can only be corrected at the next succeeding term. The Court cannot correct even a clerical error after the term. The minutes of the District Court of Virginia, are full and complete records at length.
Mr. Jones, in reply.
This is a misprision of the clerk. The record is not made up during the term. The clerks make them up in vacation from the minutes, hence the minutes are directed by law to be signed. Virginia Law of 12ffi December, 1792, § 46, p. 81, § 28, p. 78; Virginia Law, 3d December, 1792, § 35, p. 89 ; Norton's case, Style, 110; Lovell v. Natchford, Id. 120; Frazier v. Crosbie, 2 Wash. 130; Poynes v. Francis, Style, 191; Sanderson v. Raisin, Id. 209; Daivkes v. Payton, Id. 218, 219 ; Finder v. Daivkes, Id. 232 ; Friend v. Baker, Id. 339; Kitchin-man’s case, Id. 374; Barker v. Elmer, Id. 412.
Mr. E. J. Lee. The minute-book, in this case, does not describe the form of the recognizance, so that there is nothing to amend by.

Opinion:
The Court
gave leave to amend.